Toroidal propellers have potential to impact the fan, ceiling fan, wind turbine, and aerospace industries. They have made the most progress in the marine propulsion market, to-date.
Sharrow Engineering, through its marine division Sharrow Marine, is undergoing major expansion in 2025 after introducing new versions of its proprietary propeller in 2024. This expansion includes moving operations to a large, newly acquired 60,000-sq-ft facility in Detroit’s Eastland Commerce Center, which will more than triple its production area. Beginning September 2025, Sharrow Marine aims to manufacture up to 2,000 propeller units per month. This scale-up is designed to meet rising demand across the recreational, commercial, and governmental marine segments. Further, Sharrow is building a nationwide network of 5-axis CNC manufacturing partners, ensuring all meet stringent standards like ISO 9001:2000, AS9100 for aerospace, and ITAR for defense-related production.
Sharrow’s core innovation lies in its radically reimagined propeller design. Instead of traditional thin blades, Sharrow’s products use “closed loops,” engineered to virtually eliminate tip vortices that sap efficiency, resulting in smoother hydrodynamics. The company claims these propellers offer up to 30% better fuel efficiency than conventional models while simultaneously reducing noise and vibration. Independent tests and third-party reviews have substantiated performance boosts at both idling and operational speeds, with improvements noted in fuel efficiency, acceleration, noise reduction, and maneuverability. For example, the propellers showed a significant increase in fuel efficiency and made boats quicker to plane while sustaining higher speeds at the same RPM.
Sharrow has developed various models to address different market needs. The CX stacked contra-rotator represents advanced, high-performance technology, while the MX-A model is designed for broader market accessibility and affordability, starting at $1,995—a notable reduction from previous models that cost between $4,995 and $11,995. The MX-A is compatible with popular outboard motors, making it more viable for mainstream consumers.
Beyond marine applications, Sharrow is positioning itself as a broader technology innovator. Its new global headquarters at Michigan Central station in Detroit also houses Sharrow Labs, a dedicated R&D hub. Sharrow Labs is tasked with pioneering new propulsion technologies, venturing into clean energy and next-generation mobility solutions. Ambitions extend into aerospace, wind energy, and defense industries.
The advanced manufacturing approach has been integral to Sharrow’s progress, employing modern computer modeling, additive manufacturing, and rigorous testing with third-party facilities to iterate innovative designs. The “closed loop” design process underpins Sharrow’s ability to generate new geometries for varied uses, from tugboats and supertankers to drones and aircraft. This iterative process allowed Sharrow to secure dozens of patents worldwide, establishing its technology as a major step forward in propeller innovation.
Sharrow Engineering is scaling up to meet increased demand by expanding its production capacity and launching strong R&D initiatives. Its closed-loop propeller designs offer substantial real-world improvements in efficiency, noise, and vibration, addressing cost and mass-market accessibility while targeting future innovation in multiple advanced-mobility industries.
More information is available here.
Image: Sharrow. A flowery propeller that promises efficiency and range gains of up to 30%, reduced noise, reduced vibration, improved handling and more.
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