folding props on a catamaran

[IANROLFE]

I am looking to fit folding props to my Fontaine Pajot Belize 43´cat. Can anyone advise which type to fit. Also I ahve a Zodiac dinghy which does noit ahve a puncture but deflates. There seems to eb a problem with the valves. can anyone suggest an answer to this.

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[Sybarite]

As far as the dinghy is concerned it takes about one minute to change the valve. I had the same problem and the dealer changed it in my presence.

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[snowleopard]

it depends...

on the engines you have.

if they are yanmar saildrives you must have a rubber-bushed prop. we have the flexofold. with 27 hp motors we are using 17x13, we could have used 16x14. for the 18hp engines the size would be 15x12.

they are very effective, even in reverse and give us 11 knots. astern response is instantaneous and will stop us in our own length from full speed.

we go ours from CJR props in southampton who will do the size calculation for you, and guarantee their results (they replaced the blades f.o.c. when the first set were too fine pitched)

i believe the volvo 3-blare are good.

for a cat owner you shouldn't use brunton autoprop. at sailing speeds above 15 knots they could turn the engine over. the maxprop can turn itself to full pitch at speed and can also bump-start the engine. (not everyone believes this but that's what the manufacturers told me at the boat show).

re the zodiac, you should know that the valves are not designed to be airtight unless they have the outer cap screwed home. if the non-return valve leaks badly you can replace the little rubber mushroom quite cheaply and easily.

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