Throw a propeller blade | WordReference Forums

Throw a propeller blade

Revans

Senior Member
Latvia, Latvian
Hello!
I'm still translating the subtitles for movie "Titanic":)
Found another quite incomprehensible sentence (coloured one).
Couls someone explain a little bit closer?

<< Excess quoted text deleted by moderator >>

Stewart: I shouldn't worry, madam.
We've likely thrown a propeller blade.
That's the shudder you felt.

May I bring you anything?
<< ... Deleted question is in another thread. >>
And what does he mean with "a propeller blade"?

Thank You!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Hi,

    I shouldn't worry..because"to throw a propeller blade" is to break ONE of the blades that drive the boat so the boat won't sink..just go slow.

    Propeller Blade..drives the boat from UNDER the water.

    Propeller Blades are fitted to AIRCRAFT wings ( before JET engines )

    J.
     
    The propeller blades are the curved pieces of sheet metal which radiate from the central axis of the propeller. If they break off while the propeller is spinning they may fly off at some speed, hence the term 'throw'.
     
    Titanic had three propellors, one in the middle and one on either side.
    The small one in the middle, diameter 17' 0", had four blades and weighed 22 tons; those on either side, diameter 23' 6", had three blades and weighed 38 tons.

    The central prop was manganese bronze, cast in one piece.
    Those on either side had a cast steel centre with bronze wings/blades, each weighing about 8 tons..

    If one of propellors "threw a blade" while at full speed (somewhat below 100 rpm) the resulting out of balance rotation would have caused the whole ship to shudder.

    (My grandfather built the Titanic ... with a few pals.)
     
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