Double Your Propeller
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday May 7, 1993
SOME new products have the knack of making you sit up and take notice.
One such item is the Quicksilver Power 2, a revolutionary propeller from Marine Power International, for use with MerCruiser stern drive units. This propeller alters its pitch, delivering, Marine Power says, "twice the options and twice the control".
The propeller is a three-bladed wheel of stainless steel alloy with the individual blades fitted through the wall of the hub. Five sizes are available. For details, check with your nearest Mercury or MerCruiser dealer or telephone Marine Power International, Melbourne, on (03) 791 5822.
VOLVO Penta's popular Duoprop, the system which employs two contra-rotating propellers on a single outdrive leg, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. When first introduced in early 1983 the Duoprop was regarded as quite radical by boaters, but it has gone on to prove itself in numerous evaluations, demonstrating its superiority over single-prop drives.
In lay terms, the Duoprop system doubles the blade area and creates transverse forces which counterbalance one another. Cavitation is reduced, noise and vibration lowered, and fuel consumption improved.
ENGLAND'S Royal Ocean Racing Club has announced officially that eight nations, including Australia, have entered challenges for the 1993 Admiral's Cup. The six-race cup series is set to start off Cowes, Isle of Wight, on July 29 and concludes with the gruelling Fastnet race on August 7.
Official challenges received to date are from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Britain and Australia. Organisers are confident two late challenges, including that of the United States, are in the mail.
Australia's team - Ragamuffin (Syd Fischer), Great News II (John Calvert-Jones) and Ninja (Peter Kurts) - is confident of a strong showing.
YACHTSMEN will be pleased to hear that the Boating Industry Association of NSW, organiser of the Sydney International Boat Show, is making a concerted effort to lift sailing interest this year.
The show, staged on a floating marina in Cockle Bay and through four halls of the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre, opens on July 29 and will run for seven days. In recent years, powerboats have tended to dominate the event, with only Beneteau, Catalina and Cavalier mounting major displays of larger offshore yachts.
The association's promotions manager, Doug Joyner, is hoping to arrange sailing displays by yacht clubs and class associations to increase interest. Contact the association on (02) 438 2077.
© 1993 Sydney Morning Herald