Left-Rotation

Left-Rotation

Not every propeller is designed to turn the same direction when the boat travels forward. There are always two possibilities when the propeller is viewed from behind the boat: left-rotation(counter-clockwise) or right-rotation (clockwise). If replacing a propeller and you use the incorrect type, your boat will wind up going backwards when you try to drive forward. A left-hand rotation propeller is one that will move a boat forward when it turns counterclockwise when viewed from the back. Motors that have 2 motors or outdrives commonly have one right-hand rotation unit and one left-hand rotation unit. Because the propellers turn in opposite directions, the torque they generate on the boat cancels out and allows the boat to track straight. Most single outboards and sterndrives have right-hand rotation propellers with the exception of many Volvo-Penta sterndrive made before 1994