Prop Scan Boat Propeller Repair, Tuning Propellers WILDCAT
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Propeller Knowledge:
Blade Area & Pitch : Corrosion : Engine Loading : ISO 484 Standard : Dynamic Balancing : Propeller Terminology
Propeller Corrosion
Engine Loading = Performance
Engine Loading: The Key to Performance

Understanding engine loading is critical to achieving maximum performance
.

To get the necessary loading information it is necessary to Sea Trial the vessel. These trials are best done on a nice day with no significant wind or waves at about 80% normal full load (weight) with the synchronizer off. There are two ways to measure engine loading. On gasoline engines or diesel with mechanical governors engine loading is measured as the Top RPM Wide Open Throttle that can be achieved.

The top rpm's should be read with either a phototach or off a quality digital tachometer.
Accurate readings are critical. More modern diesel engines are computer controlled and electronically governed.

For these engines it is necessary to measure the Percent Load at Wide Open Throttle.
Engine Loading = Performance
Engine Loading = Performance

This information allows us to establish where, on the power curve, the propellers are loading the engines.
Too high an rpm or too low a percent load indicates that the propellers are not utilizing all the horse power available.

The vessel will be accelerating slowly at a perceptibly high rpm and once at speed the engines will seem to be running fast for the speed. Too low a top Rpm or too high a percent load indicated that the propellers are overloading the engines and the engines are not being allowed to produce the power they are capable of producing. In this situation the engines would be running hot and using too much fuel.

Additionally, idle speed will be unacceptably high and maneuvering will be difficult because the vessel will have
the tendency to “jump” when put in gear.





 
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