feathering, folding or scooper

T

tyce

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hi all,
ive started taking part in a bit of club racing and am looking at ways to increase performance at reasonable cost.
which do you think would give me the best performance, a spinaker/scooper which can only be used on certain legs of the race and conditions or would my money be better spent on changing my 2 blade fixed prop and buying a folder or feathering, and could anyone give me an idea of cost for the props, the boat is a hunter horizon 272.
thanks in anticipation

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Go for a big three-blade prop and an underwater exhaust. No-one will be able to catch you, and they won't see the exhaust gas or cooling water anyway.

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If cost is a factor go for the sail. A friend races a contessa and reckons his fixed 3-blader is not much of a handicap. With a 2-bladed prop he could always mark the prop shaft and brake it so the prop is in line with the keel. Not an option for those with a P-bracket tho'.

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conventional wisdom is that you only get the sail out for part of the time, whereas the drag from the prop is there all the time. A folding/feathering prop is not glamorous, and not spectacular like a chute, but will always be there making a difference - suggest a gori or an autoprop.

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The handicappers are ahead of you, all the options you suggest will increase performance but cost you in a higher hcp figure!

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
 
Have to agree - go for a change of prop from fixed to feather/folding. Better speed in all directions - especially beating where extra drag is likely to result in more leeway as well (as result of slowing boat down). Made a significant difference to Aeolus, and I only took off a fixed 2-blade prop for a folding one. A quality modern folding prop should not present any major differences in handling from a fixed prop. Gori was my choice of folding prop.

IMHO of course.
Regards, Jeff.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://users.swing.be/FDB/centurion/index2.html>Centurion 32 Web site</A>
 
You have more fun with a sail, the prop just sits there invisibly and your fun is in maintaining the thing at haul out.

<hr width=100% size=1>It was all so different before it changed
 
Buy the folding prop new and buy a second hand spinnaker from one of your "serious" racers, get your crew out practicing and when you are racing concentrate hard on helming, don't allow chit chat on the rail you are racing so you should only have the race on your minds, plan your mark roundings in plenty of time so you don't find yourselves with spinnaker sheets or the headsail on the wrong side at the mark, on a boat that size I launch and retrieve the spinnaker out of the companionway hatch the turtle is kept in the hatch with quick release hooks and the kite is hauled in to windward ( don't do this in more than F4) or leeward depending on what side the next hoist will be the kite is then stuffed in the bag ready to go again, this keeps the crew on the rail upwind as no spinnaker packing needs to be done below,
there are lots of good websites with advice on tactics etc sailingworld.com is a good place to start, enjoy your racing it brings a new dimension to your sailing and will make you a better cruising sailor as you will be able to get the best out of your boat.

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We fitted a Brunton autoprop which seems to be excellent. Have only done 500 miles so far since launching in late July though. But through August we have had flat calms to nice little force 6/7's. Still managed 30 hours of motoring, and managed to loose all the water once. Now fixed

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