Method of designing a custom propeller

Abstract

A method of designing a custom boat propeller with optimized geometry for a boat and motor combination based upon a user generated performance data set.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of designing a custom boat propeller with optimized geometry for a boat and motor combination based upon a user generated performance data set comprising:
 a. Selecting an available stock propeller for the boat and motor combination;   b. Operating the boat and generating usage and performance data;   c. Collecting the motor, boat and propeller performance data during boat operation; and   d. Calculating custom propeller geometry based upon the motor and boat performance data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining a user performance profile from actual usage and incorporating the user performance profile into the custom propeller design. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising incorporating user desired performance into the custom propeller design. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the motor and boat data collected is at least one selected from the group consisting of boat velocity, motor rotational speed, motor torque, thrust, propeller geometry, input electrical current to the motor/inverter and input electrical voltage to the motor/inverter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the motor is at least one selected from the group consisting of outboard motor, inboard/outboard motor and inboard motor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising fabricating the custom boat propeller based upon the motor and boat performance data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising fabricating the propeller using a 3D printer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a boat operator uploads the performance data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising using a data-gathering device on the boat for gathering performance data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the data-gathering device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of one or more internal sensors, one or more external sensor and one or more global positioning devices. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising accumulating global positioning data using at least one portable mobile device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, tablet and laptop. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising using a mobile application for combining the global positioning data with boat and motor performance. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  where in the gathered data is uploaded to a portable data storage device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the gathered data is transmitted wirelessly to a remote location. 
     
     
         15 . A method of designing a custom boat propeller with optimized geometry for a boat and motor combination based upon a user generated performance data set comprising:
 a. Selecting an available stock propeller for the boat and motor combination;   b. Operating the boat and generating usage and performance data;   c. Collecting the motor, boat and propeller performance data during boat operation; and   d. Selecting a more suitable propeller based upon the motor and boat performance data.   
     
     
         16 . A method of designing a custom boat propeller for a boat and motor combination comprising:
 a. Gathering motor and boat performance data during operation;   b. Calculating custom propeller geometry based upon the motor and boat performance data; and   c. Designing the propeller based upon the motor or and boat performance.