In the process they've become known nationwide for their ability to design propellers tailored to the size, speed and needs of a particular vessel. About half the company's sales are outside Washington state. I think they can command just about everything on the West Coast, and a lot on the East Coast, for propeller construction. Towboat owners, who need propellers fixed fast while they're paying for expensive dry-dock time, appreciate Sound's ability to respond rapidly. For repair work mainly, you're not shipping a propeller off to Louisiana to have it straightened.
Propellers are a subtle mix of heavy metal and exquisite curves.
Large ones can weigh up to nine tons, and moving them requires the massive cranes that rumble across the ceiling of the company's production area. But after rough casting is done, the big stainless steel propellers also need the touch of an artisan to balance and burnish them before they're ready to drive a ship. The other two are Jim D'Agosto and Terry McKeon. The company employs about 20. It's heavy work, but it's an art form, too.