feathering and folding propellors - opinions

[sailorman]

I use a maxprop on my Najad 440 - no propwalk in reverse and same thrust in reverse and ahead - brilliant. Only downsides are it is tricky to get it to stop freewheeling without recourse to reverse gear after stopping the engine and the prop anode is poorly designed - the screws are too close to the outer perimeter of the anode which leads to anode replacement at 75%. Agree with previous comments on necessity to keep grease topped up to reduce wear.

we have a hydraulic box so no spinning

 

[snowleopard]

we have a hydraulic box so no spinning

All the hydraulic boxes I've come across will freewheel with the engine stopped. Most feathering props will stay pitched until something is done to nudge the blades into the feathered position. With a mechanical gearbox, putting it in gear with the engine stopped should do the job.

 

[RAI]

I use a maxprop on my Najad 440 - no propwalk in reverse and same thrust in reverse and ahead - brilliant. Only downsides are it is tricky to get it to stop freewheeling without recourse to reverse gear after stopping the engine and the prop anode is poorly designed - the screws are too close to the outer perimeter of the anode which leads to anode replacement at 75%. Agree with previous comments on necessity to keep grease topped up to reduce wear.

Have you tried stopping the engine while still in gear, then shifting to neutral. It stops free wheeling with my Maxprop.

I dab some antifouling on and a little around the three screws retaining the Maxprop anode. It is enough to persuade the errosion to occur nearer the centre of the anode where the most mass is.

 

[dratsea]

Currently got a Radice folder which vibrates like a road drill if I put it into reverse when going forward. They all do that says the agent, and true there is nothing much apparently wrong with it. So maybe I need to replace with a better brand.

Would be interested in hearing about people's experiences of other makes, both folders and featherers, particularly if they have changed ove from ( say) a fixed prop and can give a comparison of performance.

Boat is used for both cruising and racing so a fixed prop is out of the question.

Got a maxprop. 70,000M logged, only 4500 hours on engine so say 20,000M under engine. Just serviced (£330) seems OK, thanks Darglow,

John