Lock the shaft.
Free the sail.
Shaft Lok properly positions, locks and automatically unlocks your propeller — quickly and easily, without leaving the cockpit.
A freewheeling propeller is a dripping faucet
It steals speed, makes noise and grinds away your drive train. One press of a knob fixes all three.
Sail faster
A locked shaft means reduced drag from a spinning propeller. The blade locks in the most efficient position — one blade vertical — to optimize boat speed.
Sail quietly
Transmission noise is eliminated — no more clunking from a free-wheeling prop.
Protect the drive train
Prevents transmission and propeller shaft bearing wear while under sail.
No power needed
Saves your batteries — no electrical wires or hydraulic hoses. A stainless steel spring is the engine.
Automatic unlock
Start the engine, engage the transmission, and Shaft Lok releases on its own. No trip to the engine room, no manual steps — it simply gets out of the way.
Four decades of marine excellence
By Kenneth R. Nigel — July 28, 2023
The Beginning
Dick Badzinski and George Nigel, both sailboat owners, faced a common problem: propellers spinning freely while sailing, causing reduced speed, noise, and drive train wear.
"It was like a dripping faucet which just got on one's nerves." — Kenneth Nigel
The Invention
Kenneth, working at Rex Chain Belt in Milwaukee, encouraged pursuing the invention for worldwide marketing. They built a working model and secured three patents through a Boston connection, maintaining confidentiality during the patent filing process.
Early Success
The breakthrough came at the Chicago Boat Show with Borg Warner, leading to overwhelmingly positive dealer response and the first Mod I shipments in 1979.
Engineered to outlast the boat
- No power required — saves batteries, no wires or hoses
- Simple design with few moving parts, easy installation
- Stainless steel spring "engine" with thousands of life cycles
- Marine-grade polyurethane housing for saltwater environments
- All-stainless steel hub, bracket and fasteners
- Maintenance-free double-shielded ball bearing system
Find the right Shaft Lok for your vessel
From 20-foot sailboats to mega-yachts — eight models cover every shaft from 45 mm to 200 mm.