How do I select the right propeller?

Find the right propeller in 3 easy steps!

1. Find out which propeller size (diameter and pitch) you have now (written on your prop)
2. Select your engine type on our site and automatically find the propellers that fit!
3. Select your current pitch propeller, or optionally choose a different pitch to change the performance (read below)

If you are currently satisfied with the performance of your engine, we recommend to choose the same pitch. However, if you wish to change performance you can consider a different pitch. For example if you want to use your boat for a specific purpose (eg. waterskiing). Also, if your engine currently makes too much or too few RPM at full throttle.

Think of pitch as the gear of your car. Starting in the first gear (small pitch) you can accelerate quickly, but your top speed is limited. Driving away in a higher gear (larger pitch) is slower, but your top speed will be higher. But, if you choose a too large gear (pitch) the engine will not be able to reach enough RPM (rotations per minute) and will thus also not be able to come up to speed. With a too small gear (small pitch) the engine will make too much RPM which may also damage your engine.

A good indicator for selecting the optimal pitch is the RPM your engine makes at ´wide open throttle´ (WOT). Each engine has a prescribed ´optimal´ RPM that it should be making at wide open throttle. This differs per engine but often it is between 4500 and 6000. Check your manual, or check this RPM Range Chart. If the actual RPM is too high, you may consider a larger rpm pitch that will improve your top speed. If the actual RPM is lower than prescribed by the manufacturer, the engine is not reaching its full potential because of a too high pitch. In this case choosing a lower pitch can result in better acceleration (smaller pitch) and higher top speed (now it can reach full RPM).

If you’re changing pitch on a recreational boat, remember that each inch of pitch is worth about 200 rpm. Lowering the pitch will increase rpm and choosing a higher pitch will make it less. For example, going from a 23 pitch to a 21 pitch will increase engine rpm by about 400 to 600 revolutions. For smaller horsepower engines (up to 30 hp) this difference is usually bigger: one pitch can already make a difference of 500 rpm.

Also see our video to see the effect of a different pitch.