How does
the Prop Guard® reduce hull and engine
stress?
Prop Guard® allows a vessel with a
planing or displacement hull to be trimmed so efficiently that porpoising or
pounding of the hull can be greatly reduced.
The fact of less pounding on the hull should reduce hull stress. When a boat is porpoising, sometimes the
upper portion of the propeller will be in and out of the water allowing the
engine to rev and release. The
improved handling can also help reduce this type of engine stress.
How does the Prop Guard®
make a vessel safer?
There are no “minor” propeller accidents. Installation of the Prop Guard® on all propellers would greatly reduce
prop blade injuries to humans and marine life. The added thrust also allows for better handling control of the
vessel. The Coast Guard, life guards
and military vessels are preparing to order Prop Guards® because of the greater propeller safety
factor and increased vessel control that they can achieve.
In a statement from the celebrated Philadelphia court case of
Fitzpatrick vs. Madonna & Outboard Marine corporation, Dr. Robert Taggart
states that, “the Schultz nozzle (Prop Mate® ” combines the majority of the recommended
features into a structurally and hydrodynamically sound design” and that “the
Schultz nozzle is a basis of a near optimum additional device to provide
protection from outboard motor propellers”.
Current Federal and State lobbying groups predict a mandatory
propeller guard law to be mandated in the very near future. Florida predicts the prop protection law
could be passed in 1999 to protect the manatees and humans. Marine insurers are offering premium
reductions for policy holders who install safety devices on their vessels now,
with further incentives for propeller guards coming.
What is a Prop Guard® ?
Prop Guard® is the next patent
generation of propeller protection from the noted engineer and inventor
Wilderich Schultz. Mr. Schultz has
spent his life creating products that improved safety and performance for many
aircraft and marine products. Mr.
Schultz’s father invented the first propeller nozzle guard, the “Kort Nozzle”
for canal and river boats in the early 1930’s. Mr. Schultz took this well proven product and used present
technology and hydrodynamic principals to adapt it to the needs of today’s
boating industry. Now with the joint engineering and design modifications
between Mr. Schultz and Mr. Morrell, the new Prop Guard® will
accept motors from 1950 to the present.
Prop
Guard® is a two piece plastic
injection molded cage that will completely cover the propeller. The Prop
Guard® is attached by a specially
designed clamp system and bolts. The Prop Guard’s® two
halves are attached like a clam shell to the cavitation plate and the skeg of any outboard or stern drive motor. The easy installation can be accomplished by anyone with simple tools in about 20 minutes.