Aluminium or steel spotter?

Often the outboard is supplied with an aluminium propeller as standard. If you are looking for better performance such as top speed and acceleration you should consider a steel propeller.

Good to know when choosing a propeller

Check your outboard engine model and hub trim and propeller size. The propeller size is marked on the side of the propeller hub or on the end of the hub. For example, 13×15, where the first number is the diameter of the propeller and the second is the pitch in inches.

When an engine is purchased, it is often supplied with a propeller designed for the widest possible range of applications, and this propeller is considered to be suitable for as many boat/engine combinations as possible. This propeller may not be the best choice in all cases. Two identical boats with identical engines may have different propeller sizes if they are used with different loads or if one boat is used for water skiing, for example.

A change in propeller pitch can increase or decrease the engine speed. An increase or decrease of two inches (2") of pitch will usually affect engine speed by about +- 300-400 rpm. Also check the engine manufacturer's recommended rpm range for your outboard engine!

In general, you should choose a propeller with a higher pitch when the load is small and a lower pitch when the load is large. If the boat's load varies a lot, a propeller should be selected which will allow the engine to reach the correct speed at maximum load. However, it should be noted that the throttle may need to be reduced when the boat is under a lighter load in order to maintain the engine speed within the recommended speed range for that engine.