Re: Need help with understanding the "pitch" of a prop
Pitch is the angle of the blade . It indicates the amount of distance it would travel through the water in one revolution if there was no slip.
Think of it as a screw, for example a 1/2 diameter X 13 threads per inch. The threads per inch is the pitch and one inch is the distance a nut will travel when turned 13 times.
depending upon the load, you choose a pitch, as diameter is relatively set for a given engine. It is like changing gears to keep an auto engine in the correct speed range. Light loads---use a higher pitch prop. Heavy loads---use a lower pitch prop. Choosing the correct pitch allows you to keep the engine in the correct RPM range at full throttle, allowing the engine to develop its full potential power.
