Weedless propeller

Claim 2

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant poiny on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; and means establishing said hub diameter to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades.

Claim 3

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing said hub diameter to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 4

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing said hub diameter to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 5

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the fluid medium through said hub means; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said forward end of said hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 6

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the fluid medium through said hub means; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said forward end of said hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 7

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the fluid medium through said hub means; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; each of said plurality of blades progressively decreasing from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades;

Claim 8

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the fluid medium through said hub means; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; each of said plurality of blades progressively decreasing from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades;

Claim 9

said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said forward end of said hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 10

said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said forward end of said hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 11

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the fluid medium through said hub means; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to prouce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means including a primary hub adjacent said rearward end and a secondary hub adjacent said forward end; said primary hub axially extending between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of said plurality of blades; said secondary hub having an axial dimension which is at least as great as the axial dimension of said primary hub; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the diameter of said secondary hub to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 12

A propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within a fluid medium having a fibrous material therein, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the fluid medium through said hub means; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to prouce thrust in the fluid medium upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means including a primary hub adjacent said rearward end and a secondary hub adjacent said forward end; said primary hub axially extending between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of said plurality of blades; said secondary hub having an axial dimension which is at least as great as the axial dimension of said primary hub; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the diameter of said secondary hub to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 13

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: a generally cylindrical hub means having an outer surface; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means. means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; and means establishing said hub diameter to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades.

Claim 14

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: a generally cylindrical hub means having an outer surface; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means. means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; and means establishing said hub diameter to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades.

Claim 15

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: a generally cylindrical hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said forward end of said hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 16

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: a generally cylindrical hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said forward end of said hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 17

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: a generally cylindrical hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the water through said hub means; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; each of said plurality of blades progressively decreasing from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means including a primary hub adjacent said rearward end and a secondary hub adjacent said forward end; said primary hub axially extending between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of said plurality of blades; said secondary hub having an axial dimension which is at least as great as the axial dimension of said primary hub; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said forward end of said hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 18

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: a generally cylindrical hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the water through said hub means; a plurality of blades; each of said plurality of blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said plurality of blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; each of said plurality of blades progressively decreasing from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said plurality of blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means including a primary hub adjacent said rearward end and a secondary hub adjacent said forward end; said primary hub axially extending between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of said plurality of blades; said secondary hub having an axial dimension which is at least as great as the axial dimension of said primary hub; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said plurality of blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said forward end of said hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said plurality of blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 19

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the water through said hub means; said hub means having only a first and a second blade; each of said blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; each of said blades progressively decreasing from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means including a primary hub adjacent said rearward end and a secondary hub adjacent said forward end; said primary hub axially extending between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of said blades; said secondary hub having an axial dimension which is at least as great as the axial dimension of said primary hub; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said secondary hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 20

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the water through said hub means; said hub means having only a first and a second blade; each of said blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; each of said blades progressively decreasing from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means including a primary hub adjacent said rearward end and a secondary hub adjacent said forward end; said primary hub axially extending between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of said blades; said secondary hub having an axial dimension which is at least as great as the axial dimension of said primary hub; said hub means defining a hub diameter upon the rotation of a hub point disposed on said outer surface axially midpoint between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of one of said blades; said blades defining a blade length extending radially from said axis of said hub means between said hub diameter and a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; each of said plurality of blades being swept back in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller with the majority of the surface area of each of said blades being disposed on one side of a radial line extending through said hub point; means establishing the maximum diameter of said secondary hub means to be at least as great in linear dimension as said blade length of each of said blades; and said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades.

Claim 21

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: a generally cylindrical hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the water through said hub means; said hub means having only a first and a second blade; each of said blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; each of said blades progressively decreasing from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip; each of said blades being swept back from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means including a primary hub adjacent said rearward end and a secondary hub adjacent said forward end; said primary hub axially extending between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of said blades; said secondary hub having an axial dimension which is at least as great as the axial dimension of said primary hub; said hub means defining a hub diameter; said blades having a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades; and said hub means being of a sufficient hub diameter relative to said blade diameter to provide a weedless propeller.

Claim 22

A weedless propeller for producing thrust upon rotation by a rotatable shaft within water having weeds, comprising: a generally cylindrical hub means having an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end; wall means for preventing the flow of the water through said hub means; said hub means having only a first and a second blade; each of said blades having a blade root, a leading blade edge, a trailing blade edge and a peripheral blade tip; means connecting said blades to said hub means with said blade roots adjacent said outer surface of said hub means; each of said blades progressively decreasing from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip; each of said blades being swept back from said blade root to said peripheral blade tip in a direction generally opposite to the normal rotation of the propeller; means for connecting said hub means to the rotatable shaft enabling said blades to produce thrust in the water upon rotation of said hub means about an axis of said hub means; said hub means including a primary hub adjacent said rearward end and a secondary hub adjacent said forward end; said primary hub axially extending between said leading blade edge and said trailing blade edge of said blades; said secondary hub having an axial dimension which is at least as great as the axial dimension of said primary hub; said hub means defining a hub diameter; said blades having a blade diameter defined by the rotation about said axis of the most distant point on said one of said blades; said rearward end of said hub means terminating in a terminating plane in close proximity to a plane defined by the rotation of the most rearward point of said one of said blades; and said hub means being of a sufficient hub diameter relative to said blade diameter to provide a weedless propeller.