All about Tohatsu propellers
Tohatsu is an excellent manufacturer of outboard engines. Both pleasure boaters and those who need propulsion for business purposes such as chartering or fishing use Tohatsu motors. Outboard motors, however, are all but useless unless they are paired with an appropriate propeller. Aftermarket solutions for Tohatsu boat propellers allow boating enthusiasts to customize their propulsion systems so that they are ideal for the individual circumstances associated with each boat and how it is used.
Tohatsu boat props are available in both stainless steel and aluminum, coming in both right-hand and left-hand rotation – a consideration that can be crucial in dual prop systems. Tohatsu boat propellers generally work with several different kinds of engines. The Apollo 993155 propeller, for example, will work with a variety of engines, including some that date as far back as 1987 or are as recent as the current motor year. This propeller has 19 inches of pitch and 3 blades, but Tohatsu propellers are also available in many other dimensions. A three-bladed arrangement, however, is quite common for Tohatsu props.
An example of an aluminum propeller for Tohatsu engines is the Vortex 992113, which works on six different Tohatsu engines, including the 90, 115, 120, and 140 horsepower models. Boating enthusiasts should keep in mind that each Tohatsu engine usually has a number of different propellers that will work with it. This gives boaters a wide range of choices and is part of what makes the sport of boating so interesting and compelling for so many people.
A Guide to Tohatsu Outboard Propellers
The Tohatsu company manufactures more than a dozen different models of outboard motor. Propellers designed to work with Tohatsu outboard motors may be manufactured of aluminum or stainless steel. Aluminum is, by far, the more popular variety because aluminum propellers are both lightweight and relatively inexpensive.
Tohatsu outboard propellers are best described in terms of diameter and pitch. To find the diameter of a propeller, boating enthusiasts should measure from one edge of the blade rotation circle to the opposite edge. That is, the diameter equals the distance across the entire circle swept out by the movement of the propeller blades. Tohatsu outboard props come in a variety of diameters, ranging from almost eight inches across to more than 13 inches across. Depending on the exact propeller selected, rotation will proceed in either a right- or left-handed direction.
The pitch of a propeller is another essential measurement that boating enthusiasts must keep in mind. Pitch measures how much a propeller will move forward based on one full rotation. This may sound technical, but in fact, the pitch of a propeller can alter the acceleration and highest speed that a particular motor can achieve. Larger pitch figures result in a higher top speed but reduce the boat’s ability to accelerate as fast. Smaller pitch figures tend to have the opposite effect. Pitch figures on Tohatsu aftermarket propellers can be as low as 4.5 inches or as high as 21 inches.
Basic Considerations for Tohatsu Propellers
Tohatsu is a manufacturer of aftermarket propellers designed to be installed on outboard motors. The standard sizes of Tohatsu Boat Propellers vary from a diameter of a few inches to much larger propellers that measure almost a foot across. The different sizes of propellers from Tohatsu also differ in pitch, a term that refers to the distance that a full revolution of the propeller will move the boat forward.
Materials Used in Construction
A majority of Tohatsu props are manufactured of aluminum, but the company also makes some that use stainless steel as their base material. The latter propellers generally fit on motors that are rated at 25 horsepower and above. Aluminum propellers are more lightweight for their surface area and can have additional advantages. Some boating enthusiasts report that some aluminum propellers produce a quieter ride than do stainless steel models.
Pitch and Load Considerations
Pitch has more implications than simply the distance a boat will move forward as the propeller spins. Propeller pitch is also a major factor in determining what the top speed of a boat will be as well as how fast that boat can accelerate to reach its top speed.
Another important thing to consider is the load rating of a propeller. A light load is considered to be from 100 to 500 pounds. Propellers that can handle boats and contents weighing between 500 and 1,500 pounds are classed in the medium load rating. A heavy load varies from 1,500 pounds to 3,000 pounds.