Why haven't any of the boat companies come out with a variable pitch prop?

[wakejunky]

A variable pitch prop seems to be the next viable "innovation" They're used in ships and would certainly fix any problem people have with pulling up skiers on one pass and pulling up a wakeboarder fully loaded on the next.

[core-rider]

I would think multi-speed transmissions or v-drives would come before that similar to what MB used a few years ago... Especially with the size most of these boats are getting now they shouldn't be constrained by space limitations or weight savings with the added size one of those units would use.

[bturner]

Actually both have hit the market in the past. Casale was an old school vDrive manufacture that made a 2 speed gear box that was popular in the early to mid 70s mostly used on flat bottom drag boats out west.

Land and Sea made the Torque Shift propeller back in the 80s that was a variable pitch propeller for I/Os that worked on a cam system that increased the pitch with the speed of the prop. You could order cam sets to customize the rate and overall pitch of the propeller. Came close to buying one for a Wellcraft 180XL that I had but just couldn't part with the cash they were asking for the prop. I actually found a real old video on youtube of the prop.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5niXCY-ikM

When I did the search to see if I could find the name of the first manufacture I found this one that's apparently still being made....

http://aerostarmarine.aerostaraircraft.com/ppp.html

but once again this is for the I/O market.

[Phil8uga]

That video is awesome. The boat literally popped a wheelie or got air born from a complete stop. Where can I download that music.


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[MTRBTR]

I just don't think the market is there. There aren't a lot of us Crossover guys anymore. Most are into either surfing or skiing. Mostly the former. You don't need a variable pitch prop for either. I think the demand just isn't there.

[bturner]

They were really well made. Everything was machined, polished and anodized. I was really close to buying one but I just remember they were like twice what a really good SS prop was at the time. I was also worried about repair if you hit something.

[Adrenaline1]

I just don't think the market is there. There aren't a lot of us Crossover guys anymore. Most are into either surfing or skiing. Mostly the former. You don't need a variable pitch prop for either. I think the demand just isn't there.

Seems if they are still selling crossover boats, this might be something that they could use.