FullCircle - just a gentle reminder

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Deleted member 478

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Jim

Some time back, you promised to give us a review of your kiwi prop. I've been sitting on the edge of my chair in anticipation for months and probably now have piles.

And please don't say I've suffered for nothing, because you have posted it a while back and I must have missed it.
 
There's a good user review of the Kiwi in this months YM...Can be scanned & emailed if needed.

Written by the owner of a big world-straddling wooden yacht, so not sure how relevant it will be to the good ship Stingo.
 
The cynic in me never takes magazine reviews seriously because I think that it's been paid for by the manufacturer - hence asking FC for his humble whatsit.

But thanks for the offer.
 
There's been plenty of good reports on Kiwis here. We are very happy with it so far (one season). It does what it says on the pot and the UK importers are genuine and very helpful at all stages, including post-acquisition!
 
Here it is

Alright, alright, give me some space...... I will be back shortly.

Kiwiprop

Installation
2005 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35, Lifting keel, Twin Rudders, Yanmar 3YM30 engine with 2.62:1 reduction, LH.
Vessel is always loaded for cruising, and is thus low in the water,


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/jimdew/Jeanneau/Kiwiprop.jpg

Purchase price £795+vat all sizes

Documentation prior to delivery:
4 page diagrammatic requesting all vessel required details, and also current prop.
Simple, clear concise, no specialist knowledge required

Communication prior to delivery.
Order confirmation call,
Order despatch call., request if the greasing kit required.

Delivery
On time, with greasing kit (optional).
Robust packaging


Instructions
Owners Documentation, fitting instructions and warranty cert details included, in plastic sealed wallet.
Good photographs and details. Simple, clear concise, no specialist knowledge required
However, this could be improved if a clear acetate protractor template was included to be able to check blade angles.

Construction
Good quality stainless machinings to an acceptable finish. End stop faces for blade adjustment are not a machined surface, appearing to be an as forged condition. Tolerance not known, but appear to be similar for each of the 3 faces.
Blades are preassembled to hub and cut to length for arc of swing. Blades are factory adjusted for calculated best performance angles.
Blades appear to be uniform within a good plastic tolerance. Not individually weighed.
Grub screws for adjustment, and bush pins for blade retention appear to be of good quality.
Bush pins are an interference fit in the Zytel blades, passing through a machined shoulder in the blade hub spigots. These are robust, as I changed my blades. No looseness.
Retention hub for unit is good quality, and locking allen key feature is good fit to tool.
No prop mounted anode (standard on Jeanneau fit)

Installation
Removal of existing propeller took longer than installing new one.
Tapered hole in hub, keyways and keys good alignment fit.
Hub retention lock fitted and the unit locked at correct point on the shaft at top of taper.
Supplied grease was used, no issue.
Added extra grease to blade spigot nipples, all blades free to rotate about spigots, no binding.
Total installation time, less then 10 minutes with checks.

Note: I installed an Ambassador Stripper at the same time, which required a 10mm spacer in the shaft joint to gearbox. All items interfaced well.


Antifouling.
I used International Trilux, 3 coats.
Instructions advise not to cover screw adjustment faces.
After 8 weeks, some barnacle on the stainless areas, but not on the blades. (River Crouch, high fouling year)
After 8 weeks, blades free to rotate to correct angles.


1st Performance trial, motoring
Initial bite going into forward gear is a bit slower than 2 blade fixed (Standard Radice 16x13). More engine revs needed to start acceleration. Back off after reaching steerage speed, probably 2 secs difference.
Logged performance using differential runs upriver and downriver on a very light airs day, no more than 3 knots true.
Using Log speed and SOG on GPS in 2 directions at 2000, 3000, and 3650RPM
At 2000 the 3 blade was 0.6kts slower than fixed
At 3000 the 3 blade was 0.8kts slower than fixed
At 3650 the 3 blade was 0.9kts slower than fixed
Reverse bite is very quick, better than fixed. Much reduced propwalk. Performance in reverse limited to 5.5kts as the wave entered the cockpit through the sugar scoop transom. More available for the brave/foolhardy. This design engages full maximum blade pitch in reverse as there is no blade angle adjustment for reverse.

1st Performance trial, sailing
Very good in light airs tacking, allowing much improved acceleration out of tacks
In 10 knots upwind, performance improved approx 0.25 knots.
Downwind similar performance increase.
No noise, vibration or propshaft rotation observed.

After trial, Vectamarine contacted to discuss performance. We agreed an increase of 1 degree to 23 degrees, and an increase to 16.5” from 16”. Blades were manufactured and despatched at no further cost, in approx 4 days. The data programme possibly did not take into account my hull form and keel arrangement.

Unit was dissembled using small hammer and 5mm punch after drying out on local beach. 3 blades removed and replaced in 90 seconds.
Forgot the protractor, so relied on visual chaeck of blade angles. (Bad idea as it turns out).

2nd Performance trial, motoring
Initial bite going into forward gear is a bit slower than 2 blade fixed (Standard Radice 16x13). More engine revs needed to start acceleration. Back off after reaching steerage speed, probably 2 secs difference. No change from 1st trial
Logged performance using differential runs upriver and downriver on a light airs day, no more than 5 knots true.
Using Log speed and SOG on GPS in 2 directions at 2000, 3000, and 3650RPM
At 2000 the 3 blade was 0.3kts slower than fixed
At 3000 the 3 blade was 0.5kts slower than fixed
At 3650 the 3 blade was 0.5kts slower than fixed
Small vibration observed, probably due to poor alignment of blades post change. No opportunity to correct alignment yet.
Probably performance will equal the fixed blade after correction

2nd Performance trial, sailing
As 1st trial. Impressive.


Observations
No dissimilar metals in shaft/prop assembly. Good for corrosion prevention.
No gearbox or other moving parts to go wrong
Zytel blades are damage/impact resistant but have good elastic qualities.
Simple greasing as maintenance.
Needs clear plastic purpose made protractor to quickly check angles of operation.
Excellent sailing performance
Equivalent motoring performance.
Excellent value for money
Only available up to 55hp engine use
UK concessionaire excellent service
 
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