The Back Story

SHARROW PROPELLER™

Twelve years ago, Greg Sharrow embarked on a quest that would change the world of propeller technology forever. A Berklee College of Music graduate, Greg was then working as an Executive Producer and Director in video production. His mission? To create an ultra-quiet drone that could film live music productions without disturbing the soundscape. This pursuit of silence was not just for the entertainment industry; it had critical government applications where noise could be a game-changer.

Greg's vision was clear: by reducing or eliminating tip vortices, he could drastically cut the noise produced by traditional propellers. He realized, "If you want silence, you need to get rid of the tip altogether." This led him to ponder a crucial question: "What would a tipless propeller look like, and how would it function?" Greg asked himself this one night before going to bed, and the question stayed with him as he woke up the next morning. While walking his dog, the idea for the SHARROW PROPELLER™ came to him.

This vision led to the invention of the SHARROW PROPELLER™, a breakthrough that would become the most significant advancement in propeller technology in two centuries. During the rigorous R&D and design process, Greg and his team of engineers discovered that the SHARROW PROPELLER™ offered a multitude of advantages across various applications and fluid densities. Yet, it all began with a simple, powerful idea: to make a quiet drone.

Driven by a commitment to American innovation, Greg brought his groundbreaking invention back to his hometown of Detroit, MI, to manufacture the Sharrow Propeller in America. This journey of innovation, driven by Greg’s relentless pursuit of perfection, has now set new standards in propeller design and performance, all while proudly being made in the USA.

Sharrow Propeller Testing

Independent, Third Party Verified

Independent, third-party testing led by the University of Michigan’s Marine Hydrodynamic Laboratory demonstrates the Sharrow Propeller is dramatically more efficient than the industry standard Wageningen B-series screw. The Sharrow Propeller is "80% quieter than competitors, making it less disruptive to wildlife, and its looping design makes it up to 30% more efficient than standard boat propellers.” - TIME.com

Dramatic Reduction In Cavitation From Tip Vortices

Sharrow Engineering funded the development of an enhanced 12-stream dye injection visualization system with high-speed 750 fps camera at the University of Michigan’s Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory.

As the video shows, the larger volume of the captured stream of the Sharrow Propeller™ and greater downstream mixing. Note in the photo the outer orange streamline that is ingested into the Sharrow Propeller™ passes beyond the tip of the standard propeller. The standard propeller produces a concentrated tip vortex while the Sharrow Propeller™ has no tip vortex; the tip vortex is an induced loss and a source of cavitation.

Here we see underwater video captured on a test vessel which demonstrates one of the greatest strengths of the Sharrow Propeller™. The standard propeller shows tip vortices cavitation (TVC), which coalesces into the typical helical paths from each blade. This phenomenon is expected from a standard blade and a source of energy loss. At this operational point, the speed of advance is low, and the loading is high, so TVC is very likely. Notice that the Sharrow Propeller™ (on the top) doesn't show any TVC, which is one of the many reasons the Sharrow Propeller™ is more efficient than a standard blade.

 Up To 80% Quieter At Cruising Speeds

The noise reduction that you will experience on your boat with a Sharrow MX™ is incredible. Cavitation created by standard propellers is a huge source of noise for boaters. The Sharrow MX™ dramatically reduces traditional tip vortices and cavitation, providing you with a smooth and quiet ride like you’ve never experienced before.

Sharrow True Advance™ Technology

True Advance™ is a design feature within all Sharrow Propellers™ that contributes to the incredible efficiency and performance of the Sharrow Propeller™. It allows our propellers to achieve their maximum advance rate and efficiency much earlier on in the RPM and speed range of a boat compared to standard propellers. The benefits of Sharrow True Advance™ include:

  • Unmatched Efficiency
  • Greater Range
  • Superior Fuel Economy
  • Increased Load Capacities
  • Faster Speeds (up to 10 MPH FASTER) at Cruising RPM’s
  • Enhanced Handling and Maneuvering
  • Up to 50% More Reverse Thrust for Greater Stopping Power
  • Lower Emissions / Reduced Carbon Footprint
  • Quieter Operation
  • Less Driver and Passenger Fatigue
  • Longer Engine Life
  • Can be Utilized on Virtually any Propeller Driven Craft
  • Each Sharrow Propeller can be Custom Tuned to Each Specific Application

An analysis of a boat’s performance data reveals that the actual traditional propeller “slip” is significantly more than expected at cruising speeds, while the Sharrow propeller achieves dramatically higher efficiency percentages much earlier on the boat’s total operating range.

Sharrow’s True Advance™ Delivers 97+% of maximum efficiency as soon as the boat reaches planing speed

In this example, the conventional propellers don’t reach 97% of maximum efficiency until nearly full speed.

Greater efficiency means increased fuel economy, increased range, fewer fill-ups, lower emissions and quieter operation

Sharrow’s True Advance™ design delivers higher advance rates earlier in the operating range when compared to conventional propeller designs, delivering superior performance, enhanced control and a safer overall boating experience.

Greater propeller efficiency means increased fuel economy, increased range, fewer fill-ups, lower emissions and quieter operation

Sharrow’s True Advance™ design also results in faster speeds at the same engine RPM. Cruise at the same speed at a much lower RPM or cruise up to 10 MPH FASTER at the same RPM. The choice is yours!

Sharrow’s True Advance™ design delivers higher advance rates earlier in the operating range when compared to conventional propeller designs, delivering superior performance, enhanced control and a safer overall boating experience.

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