bbladesprops

SERIOUS RIGGERS “DIAL-IN” WITH NEW BBLADES VI-DRIVE STUD SPACERS
-- New concept saves time and money when changing drive depth for optimum performance
Performance boaters and riggers will find it easier and less expensive to “dial-in” the optimum VI-Drive depth - the “X” dimension - using the innovative, new, BBLADES Performance Propellers VI-Drive Stud Spacers. Used in combination with BBLADES exclusive quarter-inch spacer plates and the industry’s only spacer plate test program, boaters can save even more money while maximizing their boats performance.
Until now, adding spacer plates to lower a drive’s “X” dimension required changing the eight drive studs that hold the lower unit in place with each different spacer plates. At an average cost of around $200 per set, changing studs alone can be an expensive proposition. Not to mention the time and special tool required to properly change-out the studs. With the BBLADES VI-Drive Stud Spacers, the drive studs can be changed once – to the maximum length required, and then “shortened,” as needed, using the stud spacers; all at less than half the cost and two-thirds the amount of time involved.
BBLADES VI-Drive Stud Spacers, like the BBLADES VI-Drive Spacer Plates, come in exclusive quarter-inch increments from ¼” to 2¾”. BBLADES also offers the only VI-Drive Spacer Plate Test Program available.
“At one time a serious performance boater could go to a facility like Lake X and experiment with drive heights until they found what worked best,” says BBLADES co-founder Brett Anderson. “With those facilities closed, boaters are left with fewer options. Our test program gives them some measure of flexibility for dialing-in a boat.”
BBLADES will allow boaters 15 days to test spacer plate kits at a cost of $200 per plate. If the spacer plate delivers the desired result, the test fee is applied to the purchase price and the transaction can be completed over the phone. If further testing is required, boaters can swap test plates until the correct drive depth is determined. Customers are responsible for shipping costs in both directions and a modest late fee if the test period is exceeded.
Spacer plates allow for adjusting the “X” dimension of a VI-Drive. Put another way, spacers allow for changing the depth of the propeller in the water. Raising the “X” dimension generally will increase speed, while lowering the “X” dimension can improve handling or boat attitude. Spacer plates lower a drive to help improve overall performance, decrease prop slip percentage, reduce the time it takes to get on plane and increase bow lift.
Based in Princeton, Wisconsin, BBLADES Professional Propellers is a full service propeller company offering consultation, inspection and repair of any aluminum, stainless steel, nibral and brass propellers; “Lab-Finishing” or “Blueprinting” of stainless steel propellers; competitive pricing on new props from Mercury, Hering, Hydromotive, Acme and Turbo; and the most comprehensive propeller testing program in the marine industry.