Thousands of personal injuries and propeller accident deaths happen to people also.

The RingProp propeller is the result of extensive research and development in Australia at the Australian Maritime Engineering Co-operative Research Centre, at the Maritime Research Institute in the Netherlands and at maritime research facilities in Norway.

Unique to RingProp is a great structural strength and integrity which allows the propeller to be injection moulded from a polymer based glass-filled nylon. It will match the wear characteristics of stainless steel propellers but can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost.

Additionally, RingProp claims its product will match a conventional propeller for top speed and outperform it in acceleration and manoeuvrability.

RingProp will initially focus on the $1 billion per year worldwide new and replacement outboard propeller market but the technology will later be applied to larger vessels, including commercial shipping.

Another consideration in RingProp's favour was voiced by company chairman Johnny Townsend, who said, 'Class actions for personal injury cases, which up to this point have been unsuccessful due to there being no substitute for an open bladed propeller, will now put all manufacturers in an indefensible position if the RingProp is not used. The RingProp will become standard for all outboard motors dictated by public liability litigation and pressure from the insurance industry.'

MJ Information No: 16801