Solas Aluminum vs. Stainless Video

Video Transcript: Today I want to discuss materials that propellers are made of.

Propellers need to be made of a non-corrosive material, because they spend most of the time submerged in water. Solas manufactures their propellers using either aluminum or stainless steel.

Solas aluminum propellers use an exclusive squeeze cast process to make them more durable and non-porous compared to traditional die cast propellers on the market. Solas uses a state of the art paint process that ensures excellent corrosion control. Light weight and efficiency are the primary benefits of aluminum propellers. They're a cost-effective choice and still deliver great performance.

Solas stainless steel propellers are made with the industry's highest percentages of chromium, nickel and molybdenum, resulting in a propeller that is more durable, highly rust-resistant and less brittle.

Stainless steel propellers are more expensive; however, they do have several advantages over aluminum propellers. They have less flex, thus offering better hole-shot and top-end speed. They're stronger with less chance of impact-damage and resist corrosion in salt water.

Solas offers a variety of aluminum and stainless steel propellers to accommodate many different boat and motor combinations.

If you're thinking of changing your propeller from aluminum to stainless steel, you may want to consider changing your pitch as well. In lower horsepower applications, say 90 horsepower or smaller, you may want to drop one to two pitches to make up for the changes in blade design and weight. If you're running a high-horsepower engine, you can typically go pitch-for-pitch.

Applications vary from boat to boat, so I recommend consulting your marine dealer before making any major decisions on prop changes.

So, to sum it up: aluminum propellers offer a durable option at an affordable price, whereas for performance and longevity, stainless steel propellers are the ideal choice.

Thank you.