Aero Star

[roffey]

I checked on iboats and could find no information on AeroStar props. So,,, I have two questions here.

1) Does I boats sell them?
2) Has anyone used them or heard much about them?

They look interesting. Its like a two speed automatic transmission for your boat but its all at the prop.

 

[GA_Boater]

No, iboats does not sell them.

Never heard of them and for 2 grand a pop, not me

 

[spoilsofwar]

Never used one or even heard about them. Variable pitch props aren't new, but have never become a mainstream product on powerboats. I believe they're quite common on sailboat pod drives, but I might be confusing this with something else.

On Aerostar Marine's website, the props are listed at $1,995 for all models... Enough right there to make me no longer interested

 

[roffey]

I hear ya. here in Canada when you add the dollar conversion you are at $2500 + tax + shipping and when you install the prop and hit that rock 25 feet off the dock... I was just interested. I can't really see how they would work. The pitch changes from 17 to 26 while under power...

 

[spoilsofwar]

Here's a thread with some info on variable pitch props, to include mention of the Aerostar:

Http://forums.iboats.com/forum/gene...estions-and-topics/518370-variable-pitch-prop

 

[Sea Rider]

I hear ya. here in Canada when you add the dollar conversion you are at $2500 + tax + shipping and when you install the prop and hit that rock 25 feet off the dock... I was just interested. I can't really see how they would work. The pitch changes from 17 to 26 while under power...

Works pretty well, for that high price probably adjusts pitch automatically when at wot while boating with different loads. Propulse has variable pitch props, need to adjust pitch mechanically in one step increment/decrement, its an interesting tech concept.

Happy Boating

 

[Bondo]

I was just interested. I can't really see how they would work.

Ayuh,.... I've seen one of those props before,....
A Bud that used to own the local Prop Shop called me one day, As I'm into the Land, 'n Sea, Torque-shift props,....
Some guy had stopped by Don's shop tryin' to sell it,... $500. I think,.. I didn't buy it, it's much different than the Torque-shift props,....

The Torque-shift props are no longer bein' built, as the factory in NH burnt down several years ago,....
A retired shop teacher in Cali. bought the parts, 'n rights, as well as has developed some service kits for 'em,....
I've got maybe 1/2 dozen I've collected over the years, never payin' over $350. for any one of 'em, some much cheaper, 'n a cut-up, 'n destroyed one from a poster here, for free,....
I LOVE 'em,....

I don't use it for skiin' per say, but for fishin',....
The torque-shift starts out at 11" of pitch,...
That gives me an ultra-slow troll, rarely ever need the trollin' socks anymore, just the over-sized Bennett trim tabs at full down, 'n the torque-shift gives me sub-1 mph possibilities,...
It allows me to bump up the idle abit, 'n keep the juices flowin' abit better for the motor, 'n drive,....
I run the standard cams, with heavier springs to hold low-gear longer, consequently, I gotta over-trim abit to force it to up-shift, when I'm runnin' hammer-down,...
I also limit the top pitch to 'bout 20", with my 4.3l Alpha, at 1.65:1 ratio,....
I finally got a 1.84:1 drive on the barge this year, but have yet found the time to service a Torque-shift prop to run on it,...
The adjustment range controls max pitch, from 'bout the 20" I was runnin', up to 26",....
I'd like to get it more into the middle of the range,... easier on the cams I hear,...

Last I ran it, I'd drop the throttle, 'n the motor pinned to 4800 rpms, the boat gained speed as the prop shifted, 'n it just stayed at 4800 rpms, while speeds went from nothin' to 'bout 42/ 43 mph, Quickly,,....
Skiin' behind it I gotta be careful, as I could probably rip the arms right off a man doin' a deep water slalom start,...
205hp at 11" pitch is Alota pull from a dead stop to Flyin',....

 

[spoilsofwar]

Hey, small world. Don's saved a weekend camping trip of mine, afterr I'd wrecked a prop hitting a shoal in the river. He was the only one around who had an appropriate spline and pitch prop available. Weekend was a success

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Don's is gone, Rick Gregware bought the whole shebang, 'n moved it to his marina in Spicer bay,....

Rex, aka: 4 fingers, went with the prop shop, to Rick's marina,...
It's now a smaller operation, 'n Rick ain't Don, but I still use 'em, as Rex is a Great prop talent,....