Rake is the degree that the blades slant forward or backwards in relation to the hub. Rake can affect the flow of water through the propeller, and as implications with respect to boat performance.

Aft Rake helps to trim the bow of the boat upward, which often results in less wetted surface area and therefore higher top end speed.

Forward, or negative rake, helps hold the bow of the boat down. This is more common in workboat type applications.