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The
most effective propeller protection available in New
Zealand is the Rope Stripper. Henleys
Propellers and Marine is proud to be the agent of this
product that keeps propellers clear of rubbish by
shredding it to harmless fragments.
The stripper is an assembly
of rotating cutting blades that interlock around the
shaft in front of the propeller. A fixed blade runs in
bearings integral with the rotating cutter resulting in a
shearing action as the blades pass each other.
The stripper is
made up of stainless steel material the same as that used
in propeller shafts, thereby avoiding electrolysis with
the shaft and enabling a long service life. It utilises
scissor action serrated blades to cut through any fouling
item. This system, based on a centuries old principle has
proved to be the most reliable and efficient, and has
helped to make the stripper a world market leader.
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The stripper
comes in two, three and four blade variants to match the
number of propeller blades.
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The consequences of a boat
not fitted with rope stripper can be varied. Engines wrenched off their
mountings, sterngear and gearboxes damaged as shown in the photos below.
These photos were from the gearbox of a Mussel Industry vessel, wherein
no rope cutter was fitted to the shaft. For more protection to the
gearbox, a flexible coupling is normally suggested to be fitted in
between the shaft half coupling and gearbox output flange. The
flexible coupling not only serve as
vibration dampener, it also designed to fail first
before any damage can be transferred to the gearbox.
"To install a rope cutter is minimal compared to the price to get a new
gearbox, however the cost of life is even far more greater." |
©
Henleys Propellers and Marine Ltd - 110 Sunnybrae Road, Glenfield, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 443 5886 Fax: +64 9 443 5892 |
