On Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:20:34 -0500, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:

IT RAINED!!!!!!!! 2.8 INCHES. That means I now have time to do important
stuff and not spend my life watching the irrigator.

Anyway, my apple packing line uses an electric trolling motor propeller in a
tube to pump water and thus make the apples move down the flume. This prop
has a very small lead so I run high RPM to get enough flow. The bearings on
the prop shaft have went out a dozen times (over 20 years) and its a bitch
to change them. Its really noisy in the room when I keep on running with a
bearing out.

I want to install a VFD on this motor to slow it down and then get a prop
with more thrust. The pipe has a 12" I.D. So, I need to find a prop that has
11" span maximum. My 5hp kicker outboard has only 8" span. Plan "A" was to
use that, but I'd like to find a bit larger one.

Can anybody take measurements off of old common small outboards so I can
start asking for a certain model? I'm guessing that old 9.5 mercury ,common
as dirt, might be the right size. Better yet, anybody know of an outboard
salvage yard?

Better idea - redesign the pump. You need low pressure high volume.

They have a nifty way of moving the water in boat flume rides (It's
A Small World, Pirates Of The Caribbean, among others...) to create a
current and push the boats - submersible well pump motors with a high
attack-angle propeller and volute cone on the end to direct a water
jet, instead of the regular well pump head.

And it's QUIET! The motor is "TEWO" for long life.

Might want a screen around the inlet so you don't make applesauce if
one gets in the wrong place...

-- Bruce --