Chris_Stannard
New member
I have now had a chance to give my boat a get sailing and motoring test to try out the Flex-o-Fold propeller I fitted recently. My boat is a 37 foot Najad with a stationary waterline of 32 feet, but this goes up to about 36 feet when the counter sits down giving a theoretical hull limiting speed of about 8.1 knots. The boat was fitted with and 18 inch 13 inch pitch fixed propellor but on the advice of Yanmar, I fitted a 17inch 13inch pitch folding replacement.
Motoring.
The boat goes ahead and astern with no noticeable difference. I cannot detect the delay, and the Flex-o-Fold has pads so it does not go clunk when the blades extend. At 2500 rpm, my normal cruising revs, the log showed 6.6 knots, which is about 0.1 knots less than the fixed gave. At 3700 rpm, (I still find it difficult to do this inspite of being told by diesel engineers you should give the engine the odd bash flat out), the log showed 8.1 knots. My general view is that no performance has been lost.
Sailing.
Before the folding prop was fitted the boat struggled to make 7 knots on a close reach with the apparent wind 60 degrees on the bow and 13 gusting 18 knots indicated. Going into the wind, apparent wind 35 degrees on the bow and same force, the boat was making about 6.2 knots.
This weekend, with much the same conditions, I went from Cowes to Portsmouth on Saturday. Boat speed, when on a close reach, did not drop below 7 knots for long periods, was usually in the 7.3-7.4 range and I did see 7.8 on occasion. Going to windwards the boat speed was about 6.6-6.8 knots. The gain is at least half a knot if not more.
Conclusion, if you are like me an ex-racing sailor and like to get the maximum out of your boat, this offers a substantial improvment.
In case you think I am an agent for CJR, who market the Flex-o-Fold, the downside is that the propeller was very late being delivered, one of the blades was chipped, not enough to make a difference but annoying in a new product, and CJR did not have the courtesy to respond to my letter about this. I was told delivery was two weeks. I gave two months notice and finally got the propellor the Friday before I was due to go back in the water. This after many phone calls and much chasing. I was not impressed by the company's (lack of) performance.
Chris Stannard
Motoring.
The boat goes ahead and astern with no noticeable difference. I cannot detect the delay, and the Flex-o-Fold has pads so it does not go clunk when the blades extend. At 2500 rpm, my normal cruising revs, the log showed 6.6 knots, which is about 0.1 knots less than the fixed gave. At 3700 rpm, (I still find it difficult to do this inspite of being told by diesel engineers you should give the engine the odd bash flat out), the log showed 8.1 knots. My general view is that no performance has been lost.
Sailing.
Before the folding prop was fitted the boat struggled to make 7 knots on a close reach with the apparent wind 60 degrees on the bow and 13 gusting 18 knots indicated. Going into the wind, apparent wind 35 degrees on the bow and same force, the boat was making about 6.2 knots.
This weekend, with much the same conditions, I went from Cowes to Portsmouth on Saturday. Boat speed, when on a close reach, did not drop below 7 knots for long periods, was usually in the 7.3-7.4 range and I did see 7.8 on occasion. Going to windwards the boat speed was about 6.6-6.8 knots. The gain is at least half a knot if not more.
Conclusion, if you are like me an ex-racing sailor and like to get the maximum out of your boat, this offers a substantial improvment.
In case you think I am an agent for CJR, who market the Flex-o-Fold, the downside is that the propeller was very late being delivered, one of the blades was chipped, not enough to make a difference but annoying in a new product, and CJR did not have the courtesy to respond to my letter about this. I was told delivery was two weeks. I gave two months notice and finally got the propellor the Friday before I was due to go back in the water. This after many phone calls and much chasing. I was not impressed by the company's (lack of) performance.
Chris Stannard
