Frequently Asked Questions

1. Level your boat by placing a level beneath the hull pad and adjusting the trailer jack.
2. Level your motor using the trim until it's perfectly horizontal.
3. Measure from the ground to your boat’s pad and record the measurement.
4. Measure from the ground to the center of the prop shaft.
5. Subtract the two measurements; this difference is your prop shaft height.
6. Adjust your jack plate accordingly, monitoring water pressure and RPM closely.
7. Mark the neutral trim position on your gauge for future reference.

Propeller pitch refers to the theoretical distance your boat moves forward with one prop rotation. Correct pitch is essential to ensure your engine operates efficiently within its recommended RPM range at wide-open throttle (WOT). If the pitch is too high, your engine struggles and can't reach optimal RPM; too low, your engine over-revs. Selecting the proper pitch ensures optimal performance and extends engine longevity.

1. Engineered to Fail (in a Good Way) Composite hubs include built-in fail-safe points. If you whack a log or shift too abruptly, the hub is designed to give out before the drivetrain does. Think of it like a stunt double taking the hit so your main actor (the engine) escapes unharmed.

2. Easy, On-the-Spot Replacement If you do manage to damage your composite hub, no worries—field replacement is a breeze. Knock out the old sleeve, pop in a new one, and you’re off. You won’t even need a specialized toolkit or an advanced degree in mechanical engineering to get the job done.

3. “Limp-Home” Advantage That fail-safe design also means you can still limp back to the dock if you have a prop strike. Sure, you might not set any speed records, but at least you won’t be stranded wondering what on Earth just happened under the hull.

4. High-Temperature Toughness Unlike rubber hubs, composite hubs laugh in the face of high exhaust temperatures. They’re built to handle the heat—literally. On high-horsepower engines, rubber hubs can break down from all that scorching exhaust. Composite? It just shrugs and keeps going.

5. Incredible Versatility One of the coolest things about composite hubs is their adaptability. You can switch out the thrust washer and driver adapter, and voilà—your prop fits virtually any engine. Think of it like having a magic key that opens every lock in the marina.

6. Save More in the Long Run Rubber hub propellers are usually made for a single, specific application. Replacement parts tend to be pricier, and you’ll likely need a pro to install them. Composite hubs, on the other hand, let you swap components cheaply and easily all by yourself.

7. We’ve Got You Covered We carry a full range of composite hub replacement parts so you can keep spares handy or quickly fix things when life (or a submerged rock) happens.

What is Chine Walking?

Chine walking is that side-to-side rocking you sometimes get with high-performance boats—especially those with a “pad hull.” Think of it like trying to ride a bike on one wheel: once you’re balanced, it’s amazing and fast, but if you’re not careful, things can get wobbly in a hurry.

Why Does It Happen?

• Pad Design & Boat Speed
  The shape of the pad (the narrow, flat surface on the hull’s underside) has a huge impact on both speed and stability. Generally, the more V-shaped the pad, the less hull is in contact with the water, which reduces friction and increases speed.
  That’s the upside. The downside is, with less hull in the water, the boat can more easily tip or roll when the prop’s torque wants to twist it off dead-center. Boom—chine walking has entered the chat.

• “Drive the Boat”
  You’ll often hear this phrase when people talk about chine walking, but what does it really mean? Essentially, it’s about carefully balancing three factors:

  1. Motor Height (with the jackplate)
  2. Motor Trim
  3. Steering Input

  Get these three right, and you’ll keep your boat on the pad without that dreaded side-to-side shimmy.

Counteracting the Prop’s Torque

Because the prop’s rotation usually pulls the boat to the right, the driver has to gently steer to the left—sometimes with quick, small “twitches”—before a full-blown chine walk starts. If you wait until the boat’s already rolling around, it’s sort of like trying to tame a bucking bronco with a pool noodle.

Practice Makes Perfect

Over time, you’ll get a feel for when your boat is about to start chine walking. You’ll sense that subtle shift just before it happens. That’s your cue to make slight corrections and keep the ride smooth and steady. With the right balance of motor height, trim angle, and steering finesse, you can ride that narrow pad like a pro.

AtThe Custom Props Shop, propellers are modified to perform in rpm’s, for what the customer is attempting to obtain.

Pitch changes and or progression changes are made to obtain exact top end rpm’s per application.
Rake angles can also be changed to obtain higher bow lift.
Leading edges can be modified for better hole shots.
Blade sharpening can also be done to help with an increase in rpms and higher top end mph.
All blades are matched exactly in pitch, progression, and rake angles.
All blades are highly polished after they are balanced to perfection.
Exhaust ports can be expanded or welded to obtain the correct amount of exhaust ventilation per application.

Absolutely—if it’s designed well. By matching the prop size, pitch, and blade shape to your boat’s weight and power, you can optimize performance across the board. Bonus: fewer fuel stops = more time on the water.

1. • It can. By increasing fuel efficiency and reducing strain on your engine, you might see big savings over time. Plus, fewer repairs and upgrades down the line mean more cash in your pocket—and more fun on the water.

• • Absolutely. You can dial in pitch and blade area for a snappier hole shot if that’s your top priority—just be aware it might tweak your top speed or fuel economy. Props are all about trade-offs.

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Yes, a custom prop can make a big difference if you’re boating in shallow or debris-filled waters. We can design a prop specifically for that environment — like one with a smaller diameter or different blade shape to reduce the risk of impact and improve handling. You’ll get better performance, less chance of damage, and more peace of mind when you’re skimming over the skinny stuff or dodging underwater junk.