ConturProps.com

Find out more about Contur^® carbon fiber props and get a no obligation quotation for your vessel.

For our customers in Europe, please visit Fleet Water Marine or Telephone +44 (0) 23 8023 5421.

We are the owners of an 82 foot motor yacht A Volonte', which needed new propellers after an engine change to Cat C-30.
We did our research and installed a pair of Contur® props. Performance, reduction in vibration, and increased fuel economy 10% was as described.

We are so enthused that we became the only U.S. distributor for Contur® carbon fiber propellers. Get out of the "Bronze Age", put a pair of these propellers on your vessel, save the cost of propeller reconditioning with each bottom job, extend your range, or increase your speed with the efficiency gained, then you too can have "Props for Free."

The Propeller Design ~ Each propeller is designed for the vessels special use i.e. work, fish cruise ,race, sail etc. Our customers measurements are input into our computer model developed and constantly refined by a staff of engineers over many years and different vessel use. Consistent design quality results in a 3-10+ percent improved efficiency.

Carbon fiber composite material, unusual in propeller design allows each blade to be identical in size, weight and shape which dramatically reduces vibration and noise caused by metal props. This is coupled with the dramatic reduction in weight at the end of the shaft which enhances the smooth ride while the blade design reduces prop cavitation. The typical noise reduction is seen on the accompanying bar graph usual 5db or more.

All blades are made from the customers same custom mold assuring their identical shape and weight no balancing is necessary, no electrolysis is possible since they are not conductive and a hard polished surface allows the props to run free of antifouling or protective paint. Any marine growth can be removed without scraping. Improved strength compared to metal props reduces the risk of impact damage.

Resistance to corrosion is guaranteed by the very high chemical resistance of the material to seawater. In addition the coating applied to the propeller blade is non conducting, so corrosion is also avoided.

The propeller leaves the factory with the carbon fiber reinforced blades covered with a hard polished surface so there is no further need to apply an antifouling or protective paint. A further characteristic of high strength fiber composites, is the improved strength relating to conventional propeller materials such as bronze or stainless steel. A combination of high strength material at the edge of the blades guarantees a very high resistance to impact thereby reducing blade damage as a result of grounding or contact with submerged objects.

Contur^® Propeller Sound Chart

1 meter diameter Contur^® prop

Contur^® Propeller Speed Graph

The Flexibility of the Propeller ~ A feature that was not originally recognized but which has proved to be extremely effective is the flexibility of the carbon fiber material used for the Contur^® propeller blades. This propeller series was developed specifically for yachts and guarantees a high level of traveling comfort and performance during long voyages. The Contur-F^® series propeller is the only propeller in the world, which adjusts its pitch automatically without external setting mechanisms. Based on comprehensive calculation models our engineers are able to define the material composition, which allows a predetermined deformation of the propeller blade as a result of the load applied by the water pressure.

The blade is no longer rigid and stiff, but flexible - we call it an "intelligent propeller". A rigid propeller is rated for a specific operating point, usually maximum speed. At this point its pitch is optimal, it takes up the full power of the engine and reaches its maximum efficiency level. In contrast, a flexible propeller deforms in operation, the pitch accurately adapts to the acting load. This means that the propeller has the optimum pitch across a wide operating range. The benefits to the yacht owner are: improved acceleration, increased fuel savings, and the smoothness of operation. The propeller behavior is essentially influenced by the yacht's hull form. A deadwood or a broad keel disturbs the water flow past the propeller. Each time a propeller blades rotates through the "lee" side of the stern, the load is higher than the other blades. This is when cavitation can occur. Cavitation is a phenomenon, which is the result of high propeller loads, which create water-vapor bubbles on the blade surface. The bubbles implode "tearing off" minute material particles. The consequences will be damage to the propeller, vibrations and a high noise level. In contrast, the load acting on the Contur-F^® propeller is reduced by the deformation of the blade. Cavitation can therefore be prevented or at least delayed. The propeller runs much more smoothly and free of vibration, and its operating life is extended. Reducing the thickness of the blade tips results in a further increase in protection against cavitation. By using special surface materials, it is possible to triple the propeller's resistance to cavitation and reduce the risk of damage due to cavitative corrosion.

Product History of the Carbon Fiber Propeller ~ In 1993 the AIR Fertigung-Technologie GmbH started the development of carbon fiber reinforced composite marine propellers. In 1995 the first composite propellers were successfully tested and since then continuously improved. The carbon composite material is well known in the aerospace industry. This material presents a excellentweight-performance ratio with a perfect matching of shape and function which was not achievable before.

Today AIR GmbH manufactures composite propellers under the brand name "CONTUR®" up to 3,0m (9,0ft) in the size and in the power range over 3,500 kW (5,000 HP). The propellers are installed on several ships and luxury yachts up to 100m length. More than 1,000 satisfied customers particularly in the USA, Mediterranean, Australia and Germany prove these unique Contur® propellers have been accepted throughout the world.

For our customers in Europe, please visit Fleet Water Marine or

Telephone +44 (0) 23 8023 5421.