Got a propeller that's not giving enough your boat enough "ummph," is dragging down fuel efficiency or is adding bad vibrations to your sailing days? Then it's time to call on brothers Terry and Lloyd Fray.

The pair have set up a state-of-the-art propeller repair service that uses computerised diagnostics to pinpoint exactly where a propeller blade has been bent out of shape and to realign it to its optimum condition with accuracy going down to 1000th of an inch.

It is the same technology that is being used by world class navy's including the US, UK and Australia. Cruise operators are also utilising Prop Scan to keep their vessel's propellers in optimum shape.

Terry Fray underwent extensive training in Brisbane, Australia, with the developers of the Prop Scan system before bringing the technology to Bermuda.

After only three months of business word-of-mouth endorsements are bringing more and more business to the door of the Fray's business Boater's Choice Propellers, at the boat storage park off St. David's Road and near the fast ferry pick-up point for St. David's.

The digital diagnosis and repair of propellers is just the start of a business plan the brothers have in mind, which within a few months will also feature an indoor boat servicing facility including the capacity to deal with multi-hulls.

For the moment it is all about Prop Scan. The technology is impressive, and relatively simple to understand. Explaining what happens when a customer brings in a damaged propeller, Terry said it is firstly cleaned up.

Rust, barnacles and alike are sanded off and the propeller polished before it is put on a calibration instrument which uses the Prop Scan programme to locate the most minute bends and dents to its blades.

The imperfections of the blades' camber are located using a scribe and then the propeller is placed on a custom-built bench that clamps it down with a 30-ton equivalent hydraulic compression system, and another automatic hydraulic hammer capable of delivering 15 tons of pressure that knocks the thickest part of the propeller back into line. After that Terry sets to work with hammers to re-align the outer portions of the blades.

The Prop Scan computer diagnostics will register when the propeller is back in optimal shape up to the "perfect" Class S standard, or the lower specification Class 1 if that is all the customer requires.

Other big selling points of Prop Scan are:

*A computer certification for each propeller.

*Job price quotes automatically shown on the computer.

*Free diagnosis of propellers.

*Database stores details of all jobs so a re-damaged propeller can be restored exactly to its previous specifications.

Terry first came across the system while at a boat show in Miami two years ago and, after discussing with his brother and business partner Lloyd, enrolled in Prop Scan training in Australia.

Once he had learnt the techniques and skills he had custom-built equipment shipped to Bermuda and set up in business in April. It is the first step towards a more comprehensive boat servicing business the Fray brothers have planned.

Why would you want to have a perfect propeller? Terry replies: "For some people it is to gain a few more knots, for most it is to save fuel or to get a smoother ride.

"With Prop Scan customers can see what's on the screen and decide what they want done. The billing is done on the system, the details are on the computer and you can't manipulate any of it, so there's no deception."

As well as camber realignments and repairs, the pitch of a propeller can be tuned meet a customer's RPM goal.

The brothers will pick up propellers for repair in Hamilton, or they can be brought straight to the workshop at St. David's. Propellers up to 62 inches diameter can be repaired.

A further advantage of Prop Scan is the network of companies using the system, which means that should a problem or difficulty occur with a propeller the details can be sent across the internet for others to examine and offer advice about how to correct the problem. So far the Frays have not come across a problem they couldn't fix themselves.