Shaft Lok

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53211 USA

Phone: 1-262-786-6800

Sailors enjoy sailing with the "quiet" that Shaft Lok adds to the experience. Shaft Lok locks the propeller in the most efficient position with one blade vertical. This will produce the best boat speed, quiet operation and without transmission or propeller shaft bearing wear. The propeller is held stationary regardless of the yacht speed. All that is necessary to unlock the unit is to start the engine and engage the transmission. Shaft Lok automatically unlocks.

Shaft Lok Inc. History

by Kenneth R. Nigel

July 28, 2023

Dick Badzinski and George Nigel both owned sailboats that would allow the propeller to rotate when sailing, not using the engine. This freewheeling of the propeller would slow the boat, create vibration, noise and cause unnecessary drive train wear which took the joy out of sailing. Both sailors said it was like a dripping faucet which just got on one’s nerves.

Both Dick and George decided to fix the problem! That was back in 1978. I was working at Rex Chain Belt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the time as a Product Marketing Manager and encouraged them to pursue the invention which they could market worldwide.

Once they decided on the concept design, they built a working model. Around the same time, we contacted a cousin of Anne’s in Boston who helped us apply for three patents. At the time we were advised to refrain from going “public” until the all the documents were in the hands of the government.

All three of us put a few dollars into the company to publish a four color bulletin, build a web site and start advertising.

We attended the Chicago Boat Show and set out to visit the Borg Warner booth. Borg Warner was building transmissions for small RV sailboats, probably under 100 feet long. We wanted to find out if BW would be interested in marketing the Shaft Lok Mod I unit. BW had invited their east and west coast dealers to the show. Those people were very receptive. In a few week’s time, we were shipping Mod I units to these dealers in 1979.

We changed from a 2V design to the Easy Lok concept which made locking the unit much easier.

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office:

Patent Number: #4389199

Patent Number: #D271583

Light Sailboats

Mod I

Maximum Bore: 45mm

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