DO NOT ATTEMPT
DO NOT ATTEMPT
Eddy is designed to be the safest propeller on the market.
Maelstrom fins are blunt, and cannot cut people or animals.
While most boat operators grasp the danger of spinning propeller blades, surprising and horrific accidents still occur daily. Propellers injure approximately 200 per year and kill 30-40, and that is just in the United States. Adding to the tragedy, the victims are often family members or friends of the operator. Injuries are usually catastrophic leading to multiple surgeries and amputations. Every boat operator has a horror story.
The Impact on Wildlife
A highly endangered North Atlantic Right whale and her calf were sliced open
by the propeller of a 56- foot sportfishing boat in St. Augustine, FL. The calf died. Photo: https://www.sail- world.com/photo/373618
Every year, propeller strikes kill untold thousands of marine animals: whales, manatees, dolphins, turtles, sharks, seals, otters, penguins, manta rays, and more. The impact on endangered populations is severe, including North Atlantic right whales, Ridley sea turtles, and whale sharks to name a few. While mostly larger ships kill whales, recreational boats are responsible for much of the rest of the damage, e.g., 25% of all manatee deaths in Florida. Approximately 95% of all manatees suffer from propeller scars.
Maelstrom propellers are much safer for wildlife.
Large ships regularly strike and kill whales. The full numbers are unknown because it is believed most whales sliced and killed by propellers sink, while whales float if they are killed by collision with the ship’s bow. The number is estimated at 20,000 whales/ year, and the failure of the endangered, protected Right Whale population to recover has been blamed on ship strikes. Low-speed zones to reduce whale strikes are now implemented in many jurisdictions; expansion is being considered in many others, including the entire Eastern Seaboard of the US applying to all boats over 26 feet long (including recreational craft). Propellers on these vessels remain a threat.
Faster Emergency Stops = Fewer Collisions
Emergency stops for ships are slow, measured in distance, not time, with 4 to 6 miles being common. The International Maritime Organization dictates that a “full astern stopping test” should not exceed 15-20 ship lengths. For a 1200 foot-long ship, 20 lengths equals 4.5 miles. Stopping is so problematic that companies are now installing electronic systems that automatically execute emergency stops and optimize thruster output in an attempt to minimize the distance. Despite this trend, ship collisions/losses continue, with ~50 ships lost each year.