Posted on August 28, 2023
The Sharrow Propeller™ was invented by Gregory Sharrow in 2012 and is the first major advancement in propeller technology since the 1830s. Its design has solved the most basic problem of rotary propulsion. Specifically, tip cavitation and vortices have been eliminated or significantly reduced, offering incredible performance gains over traditional propellers.
More than 180 U.S. and international patent and design applications have been filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and foreign countries to protect the intellectual property rights for the Sharrow Propeller™. Already, 144 patents and design registrations have issued in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Europe (13 countries), Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Russia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, United Kingdom and Taiwan – with many other patent applications pending in countries around the globe.
About Sharrow Marine & Sharrow Engineering
Sharrow Engineering revolutionized propeller technology with the introduction of the SHARROW™ Propeller. Invented by Greg Sharrow, the SHARROW™ Propeller is recognized as the first major advancement in propeller technology since the 1830s. Sharrow Engineering’s team of world-class engineers are dedicated to reinventing the methodologies and technologies used for propulsion and flow control, and leaving the world better than we found it. Sharrow Engineering holds over 140 patents around the world and is the parent company for Sharrow Marine, a nautical engineering and manufacturing company that produces and sells the award-winning SHARROW™ Propeller for the maritime industry. Sharrow Marine is headquartered in the Greater Detroit, MI area.
Independent, third-party testing led by the University of Michigan’s Marine Hydrodynamic Laboratory demonstrates the Sharrow Propeller is 9-15% more efficient than the industry standard Wageningen B-series screw. Efficiency gains of this magnitude are a game changer for the global propeller industry where 1% is considered substantial.
Dramatic Reduction In Cavitation From Tip Vortices
Sharrow Engineering funded the development of an enhanced 12-stream dye injection visualization system with high-speed 750 fps camera at the University of Michigan’s Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory.
As the video shows, the larger volume of the captured stream of the Sharrow Propeller™ and greater downstream mixing. Note in the photo the outer orange streamline that is ingested into the Sharrow Propeller™ passes beyond the tip of the standard propeller. The standard propeller produces a concentrated tip vortex while the Sharrow Propeller™ has no tip vortex; the tip vortex is an induced loss and a source of cavitation.
Here we see underwater video captured on a test vessel which demonstrates one of the greatest strengths of the Sharrow Propeller™. The standard propeller shows tip vortices cavitation (TVC), which coalesces into the typical helical paths from each blade. This phenomenon is expected from a standard blade and a source of energy loss. At this operational point, the speed of advance is low, and the loading is high, so TVC is very likely. Notice that the Sharrow Propeller™ (on the top) doesn’t show any TVC, which is one of the many reasons the Sharrow Propeller™ is more efficient than a standard blade.
Up To 80% Quieter At Cruising Speeds
The noise reduction that you will experience on your boat with a Sharrow MX™ is incredible. Cavitation created by standard propellers is a huge source of noise for boaters. The Sharrow MX™ dramatically reduces traditional tip vortices and cavitation, providing you with a smooth and quiet ride like you’ve never experienced before.
Sharrow True Advance™ Technology
True Advance™ is a design feature within all Sharrow Propellers™ that contributes to the incredible efficiency and performance of the Sharrow Propeller™. It allows our propellers to achieve their maximum advance rate and efficiency much earlier on in the RPM and speed range of a boat compared to standard propellers. The benefits of Sharrow True Advance™ include:
- Unmatched Efficiency
- Greater Range
- Superior Fuel Economy
- Increased Load Capacities
- Faster Speeds (up to 10 MPH FASTER) at Cruising RPM’s
- Enhanced Handling and Maneuvering
- Up to 50% More Reverse Thrust for Greater Stopping Power
- Lower Emissions / Reduced Carbon Footprint
- Quieter Operation
- Less Driver and Passenger Fatigue
- Longer Engine Life
- Can be Utilized on Virtually any Propeller Driven Craft
- Each Sharrow Propeller can be Custom Tuned to Each Specific Application
An analysis of a boat’s performance data reveals that the actual traditional propeller “slip” is significantly more than expected at cruising speeds, while the Sharrow propeller achieves dramatically higher efficiency percentages much earlier on the boat’s total operating range.
Sharrow’s True Advance™ Delivers 97+% of maximum efficiency as soon as the boat reaches planing speed
In this example, the conventional propellers don’t reach 97% of maximum efficiency until nearly full speed.
Greater efficiency means increased fuel economy, increased range, fewer fill-ups, lower emissions and quieter operation
Sharrow’s True Advance™ design delivers higher advance rates earlier in the operating range when compared to conventional propeller designs, delivering superior performance, enhanced control and a safer overall boating experience.
Sharrow’s True Advance™ design also results in faster speeds at the same engine RPM. Cruise at the same speed at a much lower RPM or cruise up to 10 MPH FASTER at the same RPM. The choice is yours!
Sharrow’s True Advance™ design delivers higher advance rates earlier in the operating range when compared to conventional propeller designs, delivering superior performance, enhanced control and a safer overall boating experience.
