|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Piranha President Brad Stahl out on the water.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Piranha propellers work on all size boats - down to 9.9 HP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broken Prop? Not a problem with Piranha.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blade replacement is a simple fix.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Piranha propellers perform competetively with aluminum and steel props.
|
Hear What Our Customers Have To Say
Ken Denman from Quebec, Canada says: I‘m sold! I bought the kit for my 90 hp, 1990 Force, with an additional set of 15‘ and 17‘ blades. I no longer have to cart around multiple, heavy props and am able to change for different fuel, gear and people load in under 5 minutes. Moving from my stock 15‘ to the Piranha 17‘ has upped my top end to 32 mph, from 25mph on a 19‘ Bayliner Capri. My next purchase will be 19‘ and an extra set of 17‘ blades.Rich Ahlers from Waco, TX says: I have a 19‘ Sea Ray powered by a 190 hp Mercruiser Alpha I. I purchased a 14x21 prop to replace the existing aluminum prop which was slightly damaged by an underwater obstruction. The most impressive feature to me is the fact that if I hit an underwater obstruction, the blade(s) affected will break instead of destroying my stern drive unit. In fact, this past summer someone who didn‘t have much experience was trailering my boat and didn‘t raise the motor all of the way. The concrete ramp took off half of the skag and 2 blades from the prop, but the stern drive was not damaged. If I was using an aluminum prop, the stern drive would have been damaged and I would‘ve been without a boat the rest of the summer. I would‘ve also spent over $200 to buy more aluminum props and thousands to repair the stern drive. As you can see, I am very satisfied with your product.Randy Viessman from Granite City, IL says: I believe I have been using my Piranha Prop since 2001. I wouldn‘t use anything else. I fish and don‘t want a damaged prop ruining my day. I carry extra blades in the boat and I can change them on the water. I have a Carolina Skiff with a 90hp Merc. I use a 21 pitch, 3 blade. It will run 42 mph top speed. I drive it 32 mph most of the time. One friend of mine broke his lower unit with a stainless on a new 125 hp Merc and it cost him over $3000.00. I ordered him a 4 blade, 22 pitch Piranha. He is very happy. |
|
The History of Piranha Propellers
A Christmas get-together, a time for the family... that is
how the idea for Piranha Propellers began in 1988. Two
half-brothers, Brad Stahl and Eric Jochim, sat around
talking about boating, waterskiing, and fishing. Each had
an engineering background in a different field.
Stahl was a 1984 graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in
aeronautical engineering and Jochim was a 1971 graduate of
Oregon State University in civil engineering.
Jochim complained about the cost and inconvenience of
damaged propellers. Stahl wondered about the possible
applications for an incredible new composite he had found.
"What can we build out of this new material that will
allow someone to repair his propeller in just a matter of
minutes for less cost?" Neither realized this was the
start of a project that would revolutionize the
recreational-boat propeller market.
Stahl, founder of BCSI - an aeronautical consulting firm -
had the first design completed by February 1989, and soon
the name Piranha was chosen and the distinctive logo was
designed. By April 1989, the first molds were built. Then
the hundreds of hours of testing and modifications started,
followed by the many nights of indecision.
In late 1989, everything finally worked and the pair
obtained a booth at the Cow Palace for the San Francisco
Boat Show to see what the public thought of the new
invention.
The response was overwhelming. it seemed that everyone had
a horror story to share about damaging propellers, and they
all loved the idea of being able to change each blade
separately, and do it themselves in just a few minutes.
In June 1990, the two were issued U.S. patent #4,930,987.
They continued to make refinements and realized the world's
first modular composite propeller was on its way.
At the Chicago IMTEC 1990 - the industy's big trade show
for boats and accessories - the response again was great.
Piranha was one of the top five innovative products of the
year.
Now, Piranha has a complete line of props for sterndrives,
outboards, and inboard-outboards ranging from 9.9 to well
over 280 horsepower.
Meet the Piranha Team
Laura
Since 2006, Laura has assisted retail customers and Piranha
dealers in sizing propellers for specific applicaitons. As
she continues her goal of earning an International
Buisness degree, Laura serves as Lead Tech Support for
Piranha. Laura also attends several boat shows each year,
feeding her desire to travel and her constant aspiration to
learn. When not answering tech calls at the factory, or
attending boat shows with Cindy, Laura enjoys the outdoors.
Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are among her favorite
past times, and she enjoys spending time with her friends.
Brad
Brad, a Cal Poly University alum with a B.S. in
Aeronautical Engineering. He worked with Lockheed
Aircraft Corp. evaluating missle control
systems for fleet ballistic missles. In 1989, Brad formed
Piranha, with manufacturing facilities in San Luis Obispo,
California. Brad helped Piranha move from an idea, to the
leader in composite marine props. His second passion is
flight, and has engaged in test flights as a flight test
engineer. He is an active instrument-rated pilot and uses
both his 1970 Beechcraft Bonanza and a 1946 Globe Swift.
Brad is readying a ground-up restoration of a 1951 Bell 47
D1 helicopter.
Piranha Featured in Various Articles
Click on a magazine cover to read the full article.
|
