The Sharrow VX-Pro is built around Sharrow Marine’s distinctive looped-blade geometry, a design that looks radically different from the conventional three- or four-blade propeller. Instead of terminating in traditional blade tips, the Sharrow blades form a continuous loop. According to Sharrow, that geometry is designed to reduce the tip vortices created by conventional propellers, improving the way thrust is generated while reducing vibration and noise.
That concept has already made waves with Sharrow’s MX propeller for outboards. In a Boating test of the MX3 on a Robalo R302 powered by twin Yamaha F300 outboards, the Sharrow-equipped boat planed about a second faster than it did with conventional stainless-steel props and reached 30 mph roughly a half-second sooner. The MX3 also demonstrated smoother handling and less vibration during the test.
The VX-Pro takes that technology in a different direction. Wake boats present a unique propulsion challenge because they are frequently asked to generate substantial thrust at relatively low speeds. Whether pulling a skier out of the water, accelerating a wakeboarder onto plane or maintaining a carefully controlled surfing speed, the propeller has to deliver authority at the bottom end of the rpm range.
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That’s where Sharrow says the VX-Pro is intended to shine. The company describes it as a performance propeller specifically tuned for wake, surf and tow boats, with faster hole-shot, a smoother pull, quieter operation and improved efficiency as its primary objectives.
For watersports enthusiasts, the hole-shot claim may be the most intriguing. A boat that gets on plane more quickly doesn’t just save a few seconds—it can make repeated starts less taxing for the rider and driver while giving the boat a more immediate, responsive feel. Smooth, consistent thrust is equally important when a driver is trying to maintain a steady pull for a skier or wakeboarder.
The unusual blade shape is only part of the story. Sharrow notes that its propeller design can produce additional stern lift, and proper engine trim is particularly important to achieving maximum performance. In practice, that means installation and setup are not simply matters of bolting on a prop and heading for the lake; owners should follow Sharrow’s recommendations for engine trim and application-specific fitment.
At the time of publication, the Sharrow Marine VX-Pro is listed for a price of $4,995.
Fitment is handled differently than with a typical off-the-shelf propeller. Sharrow says that after an order is placed, its team collects detailed information about the boat, engine, existing propeller and intended use before confirming the appropriate pitch and blade configuration. Each VX-Pro is built to order in Detroit.
The price reflects the technology and manufacturing involved. The VX-Pro is currently listed at $4,995, putting it well above the cost of a conventional stainless-steel watersports propeller. Sharrow includes a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and offers its Sharrow Care protection plan for accidental-damage repairs.
Ultimately, the VX-Pro is aimed at boaters who want to extract more performance from an existing propulsion package rather than simply add horsepower. That’s an appealing proposition for wake and surf boats, where the propeller is asked to balance acceleration, low-speed thrust, cruising efficiency and smoothness every time the throttle moves.
The VX-Pro may look strange compared with the propeller hanging off the back of most tow boats. But Sharrow’s pitch is that conventional appearance doesn’t necessarily equal conventional performance. If the company’s claims translate into real-world improvements in hole-shot, pulling power and refinement, the VX-Pro could prove that one of the biggest performance upgrades on a watersports boat may be the component hiding beneath the surface.
