Folding Prop Prices?

[dedwards]

Hi All,
To save me doing a load of phoning around, can anybody give me an indication of current prices for any of the various folding/feathering props that are on the market? It will help me to immediately discount the most expensive options.

I am looking for a prop for 34 ft sailer with a volvo 2002 saildrive. Not after anything particularly spectacular but am willing to consider a step up from a standard 2 blade prop if the price is right.

thanks

 

[Easticks28]

Hi All,
To save me doing a load of phoning around, can anybody give me an indication of current prices for any of the various folding/feathering props that are on the market? It will help me to immediately discount the most expensive options.

I am looking for a prop for 34 ft sailer with a volvo 2002 saildrive. Not after anything particularly spectacular but am willing to consider a step up from a standard 2 blade prop if the price is right.

thanks

In the order of £600 - 800 the last time I looked.

 

[seumask]

speak to darglow engineering.

 

[Quandary]

2 years ago I paid just under £2k for a Flexifold three blade (PBO test favourite) from Darglow for a Moody S31 with a 2020, Darglows winter discount,made it marginally cheaper than buying it directly from Denmark, added about 20% to our motoring speed compared to Volvo 2 blade folder. At the time the Volvo three blade was a bit cheaper but I was more comfortable dealing with Darglow, though I had found the Volvo on my previous boat very efficient, I could not get a full year out of the little ring anodes.

 

[Norman_E]

If cost is a big factor you might also consider the Kiwiprop feathering propeller, Less than £1,000.

 

[Halo]

+1 speak to Darglow to make sure you get the right size and pitch
Personally I Recommend flex o fold - a great product - but very expensive
Beware not all folders and featherers are compatible with sail drive
Darglow will do a modification which is needed if you use a stripper or similar

 

[Concerto]

I have always been very please with Gori 2 bladed folding props and have had a number without any problems. Sillette are the UK agents.
gori_standard_2_blade_folding_propellers

As to cost the list price is £800 to £1000 plus VAT depending on prop size. See top of page 2 for prices. You can usually get up to a 20% discount off list, so the list price ex VAT is similar to what you will pay including VAT.
https://www.sillette.co.uk/price_pdf_files/gori_propellers.pdf

 

[[70521]]

I have a 10.1m boat with a VP2002 engine. Delighted with the service from Brunton I had a twin blade fitted last year.

 

[dedwards]

Thanks everyone. I've spoken to Darglow and they've quoted me £1200 incl for a 2 blade flexofold.

 

[dedwards]

.. and RKMarine's website is saying a similar Volvo prop is about 1050 incl. Though I've no idea how that compares to the flexofold as its not in that big YBW test they did.

 

[neilf39]

Featherstream will likely be over £1000

 

[matt1]

Thanks everyone. I've spoken to Darglow and they've quoted me £1200 incl for a 2 blade flexofold.

Another vote for flex of fold - just fitted one. Darglow very helpful too. I’d go for the f-o-f over anything else even if a couple of hundred more

 

[davidwf]

I recommend Brunton I have had a couple of Varifold on two different boats and the latest replaced a Flexofold. They are head and shoulders above the Flexofold in terms of resistance to corrosion at least on my boat hence why I had to change it to a Brunton Varifold.

Brunton will specify your prop for you and it will be a lot cheaper than the Flexofold. And they are a British firm based in Clacton.

 

[Quandary]

When I was buying Darglow were offering a composite Flexofold prop as a higher priced alternative to bronze, being conservative I stuck with bronze but would be interested to hear from anyone who bought the composite version.
Props can be a bit like anchors, nothing beats what you have?
I have ony had long term experience of Volvo two blades, (20yrs but two boats), one Volvo thee blade,( 8yrs.) and one Flexofold three blade (only 3 years so far), I actually think the Volvo 3 blade is the most sophisticated design and I got eight years out of ours with no detectable wear but I had always hoped to have the option to come ashore every second year, the VP anodes meant leaning her against a wall every 8 months. There is a considerable gain from the three blade over VPs two blade but I have been told that Flexofolds two blade is very much better.

 

[Bradders]

+1 for Bruntons Varifold, we’ve had ours a year now and are very pleased with it !

 

[Catalina36]

If cost is a big factor you might also consider the Kiwiprop feathering propeller, Less than £1,000.

I had a Kiwiprop for a season 10 years ago. Good in ahead, it has variable pitch. In astern, pitch fixed at about 21 degrees and my engine couldn't muster enough torque from tickover to stop the boat. I added SS shoulders to the hub to remedy the problem but eventually got a refund (full marks to Kiwi) and bought a Darglow Featherstream. All good since then.

 

[richardbrennan]

I have had a Volvo three blade folder for about 15 years and it is wearing well. You do need to change the anodes every six months or so, but this is a quick and easy job.

 

[stav]

Sorry just need to ask if you are fitting a feather/folding prop, why would you fit a two blade version over a three blade? Cost?

 

[Lucky Duck]

When I was buying Darglow were offering a composite Flexofold prop as a higher priced alternative to bronze, being conservative I stuck with bronze but would be interested to hear from anyone who bought the composite version.
Props can be a bit like anchors, nothing beats what you have?
I have ony had long term experience of Volvo two blades, (20yrs but two boats), one Volvo thee blade,( 8yrs.) and one Flexofold three blade (only 3 years so far), I actually think the Volvo 3 blade is the most sophisticated design and I got eight years out of ours with no detectable wear but I had always hoped to have the option to come ashore every second year, the VP anodes meant leaning her against a wall every 8 months. There is a considerable gain from the three blade over VPs two blade but I have been told that Flexofolds two blade is very much better.

I have the composite hub, the only remarkable thing about it is that the procedure for re-fitting the blades is a bit more complicated than either Volvo or Flex-o-Fold's bronze offerings