CJR Propulsion

What CJR Propulsion does

CJR Propulsion is a privately-held UK marine propulsion manufacturer founded in 1948 and headquartered in Southampton. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures bespoke fully CNC-machined Class S propellers and complete sterngear packages — including shafts, rudders (notably proprietary flow-aligned twisted rudders), shaft brackets, stern tubes, bearings, couplings, and ancillary tooling — for commercial vessels, motor yachts, superyachts, sportfishing boats, and pilot/patrol/SAR craft. Its technical differentiation rests on an integrated end-to-end capability combining in-house CFD and FEA simulation, patternless robotic mould making, true 5-axis CNC machining (including a newly acquired Mazak Integrex e-670), 3D scanning and reverse engineering, and proprietary product lines such as the patent-pending Sailfish biomimicry propeller.

The business operates on a project-based, quote-driven model with two revenue streams: bespoke marine propulsion hardware sales and engineering/consultancy services (CFD, FEA, shaft alignment, TrialsApp sea trials, problem-solving). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales to boat builders, yacht owners, and commercial operators with a global distributor network (Navantec in Turkey, Wingate Marine on the US West Coast, Wildcat Propellers in the US, and Lindsay Hutchinson Hill in South of France). The company holds manufacturing certifications from all major IACS classification societies — Bureau Veritas, DNV, RINA, Lloyds Register, ABS — alongside ISO 484 Class S propeller certification, which collectively serve as a regulatory gateway to commercial and classed-vessel programmes.

CJR targets four primary segments: superyachts, motor yachts (OEMs including Sunseeker, Princess, Ferretti, Galeon), commercial vessels (ferries, CTVs, patrol, pilot, SAR), and sportfishing boats. A standout offering is its rapid-turnaround Class S propeller replacement service delivering bespoke replacement propellers in as little as two weeks via 3D scanning and reverse engineering — a capability the company claims is unique in Europe. The business is family-controlled by the Russell family (Mark Russell as Managing Director), with Alex Stevens leading global sales across both CJR Propulsion and the adjacent CJR Fabrication brand.

Name

CJR Propulsion

Legal name

CJR Propulsion Ltd

Website

https://cjrprop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CJR Propulsion is a UK-based marine propulsion manufacturer, founded in 1948, that designs and manufactures bespoke CNC-machined Class S propellers and complete sterngear packages for commercial vessels, motor yachts, superyachts, and sportfishing boats. It sells directly to boat builders and via global distributors, holding certifications across all major classification societies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Propulsion Equipment

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Propellers & Waterjets (IMAJAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Propulsion Drives, Gearboxes & Shaftlines (IMAJAHAD), Propulsion MRO, Spares & Field Service (Overhauls, retrofits, upgrades) (IMAJAHAN), Propulsion, Shafting & Rudder Repair (Engines, Gearboxes, Thrusters) (IMAJAFAC)

Keywords

• Marine propellers
• Stern gear components
• Marine propulsion systems
• CNC machined propellers
• Marine engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bitterne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Marine Propulsion Hardware Sales: Sale of bespoke propellers, sterngear packages, rudders, shafts, shaft brackets, stern tubes, bearings, couplings, and related marine components. Products are custom-manufactured for each vessel with pricing based on specifications and requirements.
2. Engineering and Consultancy Services: Provides boat performance analysis, CFD predictions, FEA analysis, propeller and sterngear design, shaft alignment calculations, problem-solving consultancy, and sea trials services using TrialsApp.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CJR Propulsion designs, engineers, and manufactures bespoke, fully CNC-machined ISO 484 Class S marine propellers and complete stern gear packages (rudders, shafts, brackets, stern tubes, bearings, couplings) for motor yachts, superyachts, and commercial vessels. The offering includes proprietary propeller ranges (Nautica, MRK Revolution, Billfish, MRK Superprop, MRK Pilot, Sailfish) and a unique two-week rapid replacement service for damaged Class S propellers, supported by in-house CFD design, FEA, 5-axis CNC machining, and 3D scanning capabilities.

Product overview

CJR Propulsion is a UK-based marine propeller and sterngear manufacturer offering precision-engineered propulsion systems. The product portfolio centres on fully CNC-machined Class S propellers (including Nautica, MRK Revolution, Billfish, MRK Superprop, MRK Pilot, and Sailfish series), complemented by complete sterngear components including shafts, rudders (including flow-aligned twisted rudders), shaft brackets, stern tubes, rudder tube assemblies, bearings, couplings, shaft seals, tie bars, and tillers. The offering is structured as a combination of core manufactured products plus consultancy and design services (CFD analysis, FEA, TrialsAPP, shaft alignment calculations, 3D scanning) that together enable bespoke propulsion packages. Key differentiators include rapid two-week turnaround for Class S replacement propellers, proprietary computational fluid dynamics design tools, and an end-to-end manufacturing capability from casting through 5-axis CNC machining. The company serves motor yachts, superyachts, and commercial vessels including SAR boats, patrol vessels, workboats, and fishing boats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MRK Revolution: Most popular custom-made propeller range designed for vessels looking for minimal noise and vibration at medium speed range of 20-30 knots, particularly popular with large luxury yachts, semi-displacement and planing production motorboat builders.
• Billfish Propeller
• MRK Superprop
• MRK Pilot
• Nautica
• Sailfish
• Propsmith
• TrialsApp
• CJR Fabrication

Products and services

• CJR Propellers (Nautica, MRK Revolution, Billfish, MRK Superprop, MRK Pilot, Sailfish) Precision-engineered, fully CNC-machined propellers certified to ISO 484 Class S standards, available across multiple application-specific series for fishing boats, motor yachts, superyachts, pilot boats, patrol craft, and high-speed sportfish vessels.
• Boat Rudders Custom performance-oriented rudders including standard rudders and flow-aligned twisted rudders, designed using CFD and FEA tools and tailored to specific hull forms, cast in nickel aluminium bronze or alternative materials.
• Shafts High-performance propeller shafts manufactured from Marinemet 25, 316L, F51 Duplex, Aquamet 22HS, Aquamet 17, or Super Duplex materials, from 1.75 to 180mm diameter and up to 10 metres length, fully CNC machined with keyways, tapers and threads.
• Shaft Brackets A and P brackets for stern gear support, designed using CFD and FEA, range from 45mm to 160mm bore diameter and up to 600kg weight, with low-drag aerofoil section applied for exceptional efficiency.
• Stern Tubes Shaft tube assemblies manufactured from polyester or epoxy GRP, mild steel, aluminium or bronze, hydrostatically tested to meet IACS requirements and available up to 180mm shaft diameter.
• Rudder Tube Assemblies Through-hull rudder tube assemblies for stock diameters from 30mm to 180mm, manufactured from GRP, mild steel, aluminium or bronze, supplied fully machined with polyacetal or composite bearings and IACS approved when required.
• Bearings Stern tube and rudder tube bearings including brass shell nitrile inner, phenolic, composite, polyacetal and UHMW designs, available as bespoke in-house designs or standard off-the-shelf sizes with water or grease lubrication options.
• Couplings Shaft couplings for torque transfer from gearbox to shaft, designed and machined to IACS rules, with keyed tapered, keyless tapered, and parallel clamped options in mild steel or high tensile steel.
• Shaft Seals Shaft sealing solutions including Sure Seal self-aligning units and traditional gland and packing pusher designs, with Sure Seal offering removable cap for easy seal replacement and servicing.
• Tie Bars Twin rudder synchronisation bars adjustable to suit CFD-optimised rudder toe-in angles, calculated to withstand buckling force from rudders and hydraulic rams, available in mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium or carbon fibre.
• Tillers Steering tiller arms designed for high loads from hydraulic rams, rudders and tie-bars, with single arm, double arm, single fork arm and double fork arm options cast in nickel aluminium bronze or fabricated in stainless/mild steel.
• Ducted Propellers Ducted propeller systems including nozzles (19A, 37, 22, custom shapes) and impellers (Kaplan type, modified Kaplan, custom), popular for tugboats, mooring vessels, harbour boats, trawlers and bow/stern thrusters, designed for highest bollard pull and towing performance.
• Rapid Propeller Replacement Service Emergency replacement service delivering bespoke, fully-machined Class S propellers in as little as two weeks using 3D scanning, reverse engineering, CFD design, patternless robotic mould making and 5-axis CNC machining; unique in Europe.
• Superyacht Propulsion Packages Fully optimised, CNC-machined Class S propellers and complete stern gear packages for superyachts, fully certified to major classification societies with two-week rapid production capability.
• Motor Yacht Propulsion Packages Complete design and engineering service for motor yacht propeller and stern gear packages for vessels up to 30 metres, serving builders including Sunseeker, Princess, Galeon and Ferretti with two-week rapid production available.
• Commercial Vessel Packages Complete propulsion systems for commercial vessels including GRP, aluminium or steel boats, using CFD and lifting surface theory design for specific operating requirements, suitable for ferries, CTVs, windfarm vessels, patrol vessels and workboats.
• Large Propeller Manufacturing Service New service for designing and supplying larger propellers using the latest CFD tools for optimum bespoke design, enabled by the Mazak Integrex e-670 5-axis CNC machine.
• Propsmith Professional propeller installation and removal tool designed for fast, simple and precise fitting with no risk of propeller damage, eliminating risk of prop loosening on taper and compact for onboard stowage.
• Hydraulic Propeller Pusher & Puller Hydraulic pushing and pulling system for propellers or couplings, generating approximately 25t maximum force from a small hydraulic pump to simplify medium and large propeller installation and removal.
• TrialsApp Sea Trials Data Acquisition System Sea trials data acquisition system running on Android tablet, with wireless vibration FFT/sound sensors, optical RPM sensors, GPS for boat speed and 3-axis gyroscopes, producing real-time PDF performance reports.
• Hull & Sterngear CFD Analysis Computational fluid dynamics analysis using in-house developed software coupled with vortex lattice code, analysing fluid flow past hull and appendages, reducing appendage drag by 10-15% and calculating running trim angle and hull resistance.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Stress calculation in complex geometries under various loading conditions using ANSYS software, converting designs to 3D solid models and applying boundary conditions and external forces to identify high-stress regions.
• Shaft Alignment Calculation Advanced computational modelling for shaftline analysis that optimises bearing positions, minimises realignment costs and ensures bearing alignment to minimise gearbox bearing loads and vibration; IACS approved service available.
• 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering Handheld 3D laser scanning service that travels to vessels worldwide, capturing undamaged propellers for reverse engineering to enable identical replacement propellers within 14 days.
• Problem Solving Service Expert investigation services for vibration, underperforming vessels, excessive cavitation, and component breakage, including failure analysis, vibration diagnosis and performance optimisation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 10% efficiency gains compared to standard rudders and hand-finished propellers
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Solent UniversityminorOthers · 1 January 2026Educational partnership supporting next generation of marine engineers and naval architects. CJR participates in student design reviews and provides facility tours for MSc Sustainable Marine Craft and Superyacht Design students.
• ARES ShipyardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025CJR supplies complete sterngear packages including fully CNC-machined Class S propellers for 16 Search and Rescue vessels being built by ARES Shipyard in Turkey. Project includes Navantec as Turkish distributor partner.
• Wingate MarinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2023West Coast Master Distributor providing experienced on-the-ground technical support for CJR customers in the US West Coast region.
• Wildcat PropellerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS partnership for 3D hull scanning and propeller fitting services. Collaborate on achieving optimum performance for vessels like Scarborough Boatworks' sportfish boats.
• NavanteccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTurkish distributor partners providing technical support and project coordination for CJR products in Turkey, supporting ARES Shipyard SAR vessel projects.
• Lindsay Hutchinson HillminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional representative based in South of France who visits CJR's Southampton facility and represents the company to customers in the South of France region.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Teignbridge Propellers: UK-based marine propeller and sterngear manufacturer serving commercial, naval and superyacht customers with CNC-machined propellers and after-sales service. Closest like-for-like domestic competitor to CJR, competing on similar Class-certified propellers and integrated sterngear packages in the UK and European marine hubs.
• VEEM Propellers: Australian manufacturer of marine propellers and Sterngear, including CNC-machined controllable pitch and fixed-pitch units, serving commercial, defence and superyacht markets. Highly comparable to CJR in offering class-approved propellers with in-house design, foundry and machining capabilities for global customers.
• Michigan Wheel Marine: US-based marine propeller manufacturer producing fixed-pitch and controllable-pitch propellers plus sterngear accessories for recreational, commercial and military applications. Comparable to CJR as a propeller-focused specialist with a broad SKU range serving both leisure and workboat customers.
• Nakashima Propeller: Japanese manufacturer of large marine propellers and propulsion systems for commercial ships, naval vessels and superyachts, with strong in-house design and class-society certified production. Most directly comparable to CJR's newly expanded large-propeller capability (e.g., 1.8m five-blade superyacht refits) and Class S/IACS-certified offering.
• Brunvoll: Norwegian supplier of marine propulsion and manoeuvring systems, including propellers, nozzles, thrusters and complete sterngear packages for commercial, offshore and naval vessels. Comparable to CJR on integrated propeller/sterngear scope and class-certified manufacturing, but with a broader product portfolio including thrusters.

Broad incumbents

• Schottel: German manufacturer of marine propulsion systems, best known for azimuth thrusters and rudder propellers used on tugs, offshore vessels and navy ships. Overlaps with CJR in marine propulsion manufacturing and CFD-driven propeller/rudder design, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader product scope.
• Wärtsilä: Finnish global leader in marine engine and propulsion systems, offering integrated ship power solutions including propellers and sterngear services. Comparable to CJR on propulsion technology and class-certified manufacturing, but addresses a far broader marine customer base with much larger R&D and service footprint.
• Rolls-Royce Power Systems (MTU): German-based marine propulsion business supplying high-speed engines, propulsion systems and integrated drivelines for commercial, naval and yacht applications. Comparable to CJR as a propulsion technology provider serving superyacht and patrol/military segments, but at far greater scale and with a bundled engine+driveline offering.
• Volvo Penta: Swedish supplier of marine diesel engines and complete driveline systems (engines, gearboxes, propellers) for leisure and commercial boats. Comparable to CJR on the propulsion side of the marine value chain and overlaps on commercial and pilot boat segments, but Volvo Penta sells integrated engine-plus-propulsion packages rather than bespoke propellers.

Others

• ZF Marine: German manufacturer of marine propulsion components, primarily gears, transmissions and thruster systems supplied to OEMs and shipyards. Adjacent to CJR as a fellow Tier-1 marine driveline supplier with overlapping sterngear customer base (superyacht, commercial), but does not directly compete in bespoke CNC propeller design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cjr_propulsion
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CJRPropulsion
• Facebookfacebook.com/CJRPropulsion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cjr-propulsion-limited

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CJR Propulsion