Flex o fold prop anodes

Lucky Duck

Lucky Duck

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My last two boats had volvo engines and folding props which while they ate anodes, getting hold of replacements was easy enough even if rather expensive.

As far as I can tell the only way to get them for my current prop is by mail order via the manufacturer, has anybody found an alternative source?
 
Hi Simon

If you get them from Solent Anodes, get them in plenty of time and make sure they are the right size if you only have a small window for fitting them. I got some for my Volvo folder from them a few years back, they were not Volvo parts, probably explaining the saving, the first set were fine, but the second set did not fit. A bit awkward if you just have an hour on the Sea Lift!
 
I've bought twice from Solent anodes for a flex-o-fold three blade prop and had no such issues. Mine is a saildrive with stripper. I also buy the basic anode for this and drill the extra hole to anchor the blade. It's about 2/3rd the price compared to the one with predrilled hole.
 
Just as an addendum to this discussion. I am currently waiting for a delivery from Flexofold and (having initially invoiced me for £100 more than was due - now corrected) they are charging vat on the third party courier delivery charge. Surely the courier charge includes vat and the supplier of the goods should not be charging vat on the vat already included by the courier. I've never seen this before - is it another rip off?
By the way - this is Darglow, not Flexofold directly.
 
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Malo37 said:
Just as an addendum to this discussion. I am currently waiting for a delivery from Flexofold and (having initially invoiced me for £100 more than was due - now corrected) they are charging vat on the third party courier delivery charge. Surely the courier charge includes vat and the supplier of the goods should not be charging vat on the vat already included by the courier. I've never seen this before - is it another rip off?
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I bought a Flexofold propeller direct from Flexofold about 4 weeks ago, and the order confirmation/invoice showed the cost of the propeller, VAT, which was 25% of that (which is the Danish rate of VAT) and then additionally €50 for freight, which was by UPS. So they did not appear to be "double charging" the VAT on the freight cost, though that wasn't broken down.

I must admit that I did not look too closely since I was very pleased with the price buying direct from Flexofold which came out about 18% less than I was quoted by the UK distributor Darglow, based on a £/€ exchange rate of just over 1.28 which was what I got paying by credit card. The Propeller arrived from Denmark in less than a week
 
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Malo37 said:
Just been quoted £32 + vat by Flexofold which seems to be a rip off to me.
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I have just got 2 from flexofold for £52 inc vat and delivery for 3 blade. A bit pricey agreed. However, I cant fault the service and delivery was very quick. for me its worth the reduction in hassle in sourcing them locally. Lazy I know!
PS They come with cap head bolt with threadlock applied. That saves me a couple of pence at least!
 
Maxi Windsong said:
I bought a Flexofold propeller direct from Flexofold about 4 weeks ago, and the order confirmation/invoice showed the cost of the propeller, VAT, which was 25% of that (which is the Danish rate of VAT) and then additionally €50 for freight, which was by UPS. So they did not appear to be "double charging" the VAT on the freight cost, though that wasn't broken down.

I must admit that I did not look too closely since I was very pleased with the price buying direct from Flexofold which came out about 18% less than I was quoted by the UK distributor Darglow, based on a £/€ exchange rate of just over 1.28 which was what I got paying by credit card. The Propeller arrived from Denmark in less than a week
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Out of interest what prompted you to change from the Volvo prop?
 
I struggle to see why a 3 blade Flexofold would need anodes (at such a price) when the 2 blade needs none. The materials would appear to be exactly the same and there is little fundamental difference in design between the two. My 2 blade has never shown any sign of corrosion, protected by a hull anode.
If I had a 3 blade I would be tempted to do without the anodes, except that the investment in the prop is so large.
 
I have a 2 bladed prop (for sail drive) and it needs two small anodes as shown in the following link (item 11) http://www.flexofold.com/upload_dir/docs/2-blade-US-SDz-2_0_2013.pdf

There wasn't a massive amount of erosion when I inspected the prop last Friday but years of owning boats with Volvo props have made me want to replace them 'just in case'
 
Maxi Windsong said:
I bought a Flexofold propeller direct from Flexofold about 4 weeks ago, and the order confirmation/invoice showed the cost of the propeller, VAT, which was 25% of that (which is the Danish rate of VAT) and then additionally €50 for freight, which was by UPS. So they did not appear to be "double charging" the VAT on the freight cost, though that wasn't broken down.

I must admit that I did not look too closely since I was very pleased with the price buying direct from Flexofold which came out about 18% less than I was quoted by the UK distributor Darglow, based on a £/€ exchange rate of just over 1.28 which was what I got paying by credit card. The Propeller arrived from Denmark in less than a week
Click to expand...

I must admit I've been stating Flexofold in this thread but have actually recently been dealing with Darglow who seem to be significantly more expensive. I did buy the prop originally direct from Flexofold in Denmark and they were very helpful.
 
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Little Grebe said:
Out of interest what prompted you to change from the Volvo prop?
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I was quite satisfied with the Volvo three blade folder in terms of performance, and it was fitted to the boat when we bought it (second hand). However as is well documented, the 3 piece prop anode disappears very quickly. After our first season with the boat the anodes had disappeared completely and the prop showed some corrosion. The following two seasons I painted the area of the anodes around the fixing screws with nail varnish to prevent them eroding in that area and dropping off and at the end of each season I found a tiny amount of anode remaining, and no further corrosion of the prop. However when the boat was lifted last autumn the anode had gone completely and the prop was showing further corrosion. In particular when I looked at the teeth which engage between each blade and compared with the Volvo prop on the adjacent boat it was clear it needed replacing.

The boat has been in the water for about 30 weeks each year, in a marina, but with the shore power physically disconnected unless we are on board. Clearly If I'd had a mid season lift to change the anode every year then the prop would have survived, and that would probably have been a cheaper solution than having to replace it, but a pain when you are time poor and live 130 miles from the boat, and the marina will only lift out on weekdays.

I chose a Flexofold because I'd fitted one to our previous boat (to replace a fixed propeller) and been very happy with the performance under power and sail, and frankly because it has a big anode! When I told Mrs MaxiWindsong that we needed a new propeller she immediately said "can we get one with a bigger anode!" I've also seen comment by Tranona and others that the materials used by Flexofold are more resistant to electrolytic corrosion than Volvo.

I chose a three blade rather than two blade for the ultimate power in rough water, and better maneuverability in the marina, and initially because, as commented in another post, the two blade Flexofold did not have an anode at all. However when I asked Flexfold for a quote I discovered that they have now added an anode to the two blade. I wonder if that's actually necessary, or just to address the prejudice of those of us who have had Volvo props! I'm certainly going to be replacing the anode every year "just to be sure", however illogical that is!
 
This very much echoes my experience with the Volvo prop, and yes it does mean £68 a year. Fortunately I usually come out on the Sea Lift in Haslar Marina once a year and in an hour the boat gets scrubbed off, the prop is cleaned and the anodes are replaced in an hour. They also work at weekends!
 
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