Shaping Speed: Dave Harwood on Propellers, Power and UIM F2

Dave Harwood runs Steel Developments, the propeller company his father founded in 1958. From offshore racing to UIM F2, the South London-based firm is behind many of the blades powering boats at the highest level.

Powerboat News caught up with him in Portugal to talk about his work, the evolution of race propellers, and what goes into a race weekend.

John Moore: Dave, you run Steel Developments, which is a company your father founded.
Dave Harwood: Yes, Dad founded it in 1958, so we’ve been going a long time.

JM: Your main function is to repair propellers, isn’t it?
DH: Yes – racing propellers for both circuit and offshore, all classes.

JM: How many propellers are you working on this weekend here in UIM F2 in Portugal?
DH: Most of the British teams.

JM: So you concentrate on the British teams?
DH: No, we do other teams as well.

JM: And those teams are…?
DH: I’m not allowed to say on that.

JM: You’re based in South London?
DH: Yes.

JM: How does your working week look?
DH: Mainly general repairs on propellers up to six feet in diameter. Then I like to keep Thursdays and Fridays purely for race props.

JM: Six-foot diameter props would be for what?
DH: Anything from a small coaster to a superyacht.

JM: And with race props, how much evolution have you seen over the years?
DH: Dramatic. A big difference in materials and in design.

JM: In terms of materials, what are they running now?
DH: We’ve been developing props in 17-4 stainless steel, then hardening them from there.

JM: And in UIM F2 now, what type of propellers are being run?
DH: Three-blade and four-blade, but generally four-blade cleavers.

JM: Would there be a different prop choice for qualifying and the race?
DH: Yes.

JM: How does that work in terms of size?
DH: Generally we go bigger for qualifying, then smaller for the race.

JM: This weekend, what are you particularly looking at? Do you study the course?
DH: Yes, we look at the course, talk to the drivers, and work out what’s working on the day.

JM: Thank you very much, Dave.
DH: No problem.