Rope Stripper

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.

The stripper comes in two, three and four blade variants to match the number of propeller blades.

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.