Gori vs Radice vs Flex-o-Fold 2 blade folder

[NFCN]

Dear all

I am in the process of re-engining my 1980 Moody 33 Mk II and will take the opportunity to try and gain faster passage speeds under sail by investing in a 2 blade folding prop. I am told by the engine supplier that a folder rather than a featherer will work better for the planned configuration.

The new engine will be a Beta 30 driving a TMC 1.5:1 gearbox, delivering 30hp @ 3600rpm. Initial calculations from the engine supplier suggest a 12x7 RH prop is what I want - there is not room for anything bigger.

I am looking at Gori, Flex-o-Fold and Radice options. I have read a number of the many posts on the subject but I would welcome views from anyone who has practical experience of these particular 2 blade folders, particularly with similar engine configurations. Performance under sail, motoring in reverse and forward in choppy seas are obviously of interest.

Many thanks

Nick

 

[Tranona]

Flexofold on my boat. Saildrive so not quite the same, but performance virtually identical to fixed 2 blade. You have room to fit a 3 blade feathering which would be a better choice for motoring performance, but not sure whether you can gt down to 12". As you know the limitation on your boat is the lack of clearance to swing a larger prop.

Talk to Darglow for both Flexofold and Featherstream.

 

[JimC]

I fitted a Flexofold 2 blader to my boat a couple of years ago to replace a Radice fixed 2 blader which was Hunters' standard fit. The Flexofold is better in every way including crash-stops and reversing, where folders are supposed to struggle. Got it from Darglow, was favourably impressed by them.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Darglow are a lovely company to deal with. We fitted a Flexofold to replace our original Volvo folder three years ago. A great prop.

 

[alahol2]

Of the folders, Flexofold came out well in this test... http://www.flexofold.com/upload_dir/docs/Test_YachtingMonthly_low.pdf.
Haven't had time to fully assess mine (2nd hand) yet.

 

[NFCN]

Of the folders, Flexofold came out well in this test... http://www.flexofold.com/upload_dir/docs/Test_YachtingMonthly_low.pdf.
Haven't had time to fully assess mine (2nd hand) yet.

Thank you all for the advice on Flex-o-Fold. Has anyone had experience of Gori or Radice 2 blade folders in similar configurations?

 

[BAtoo]

Thank you all for the advice on Flex-o-Fold. Has anyone had experience of Gori or Radice 2 blade folders in similar configurations?

Had a Gori folder on my Bene 38s5, got a Radice folder on my Bene 310; neither saildrives, both push the boat forward well and stopped it OK. Both used to push through a decent headwind over tide situation and both coped OK
Radice has a bit more of a clunk when going from forward to reverse.

I think I preferred the Gori but the Radice was ££ cheaper.

 

[Norman_E]

If you are so limited on diameter, why not consider a feathering 3 blade prop like the Darglow Featherstream, instead of a 2 blade. A 3 blade prop will give you more blade area and almost certainly better motoring performance against headwinds or choppy seas, and will be stronger going astern than a two blade folder, for very little difference in sailing performance. I don't know why a folder is considered better than a feathering prop, unless the only consideration is sailing performance, or only 2 blade props are being considered. I'm not sure if Kiwiprops are made as small as 12 inches, but if so will be an economical alternative, and are good when sailing as the blades automatically align with water flow.

 

[Tranona]

Just checked and the Featherstream is available in 12" diameter. Pretty sure this would be a better bet than a 2 blade folder for motoring performance. Better in reverse and you can adjust the pitch both forward and reverse to fine tune.

 

[NFCN]

Big difference in price though - 12" 2 blade Flex-O-Fold @£700; 12" Featherstream @£1125. Both ex VAT...

 

[Tranona]

Big difference in price though - 12" 2 blade Flex-O-Fold @£700; 12" Featherstream @£1125. Both ex VAT...

Yes, but you will appreciate it long after you have forgotten the price! I have experience of both, with a Featherstream on an old heavy wooden boat and the Flexofold on a saildrive. if the Featherstream had been available for saildrives I would have fitted that.

Either will be better than the normal skinny little 2 blade usually fitted to your boat but the featherer will give better motoring performance in adverse conditions.

 

[billmacfarlane]

Another vote for Darglow. Talk to them and you'll get good advice. I swapped my existing Kiwi for a Flexofold 2 years ago. I have a 3 bladed one, but Darglow said that in flat water a 2 bladed one could reach the same speed as a 3 bladed one but I would notice a difference motoring into a chop. If it's possible in your boat I'd go for a 3 bladed one.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

My boat has a Radice. It works OK but its an old design and I wont replace it with another when the time comes. Bit basic

 

[bogman]

My boat has a Radice. It works OK but its an old design and I wont replace it with another when the time comes. Bit basic

I have a Racide fitted to a sillette saildrive. The hub of the Radice corrodeds like hell and I am loosing a bit every time I remove the prop. I remove it every two years and fully grease it before refitting but each time it gets worse....wont be fitting another one but performance wise it;s ok

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I have a Racide fitted to a sillette saildrive. The hub of the Radice corrodeds like hell and I am loosing a bit every time I remove the prop. I remove it every two years and fully grease it before refitting but each time it gets worse....wont be fitting another one but performance wise it;s ok

I certainly dont have that problem on a shaft so I would suspect you have some galvanic corrosion with the leg and that will repeat whatever bronze prop you buy. I just think its an old heavy basic design - sure it works but I would go for something more recent if changing.

 

[NFCN]

I certainly dont have that problem on a shaft so I would suspect you have some galvanic corrosion with the leg and that will repeat whatever bronze prop you buy. I just think its an old heavy basic design - sure it works but I would go for something more recent if changing.

Thanks for the advice on Darglow and the Flex-o-Fold / Featherstream and on the Radice.

Has anyone got more experience on the Gori 2 blade folder, or other folders such as the Brunton?

 

[Tranona]

The Brunton is a different animal. It is self pitching so adjusts the pitch according to the load and speed. Reported good for motorsailing running at lower revs as it still puts load on the engine. More expensive than the others you are looking at but worth considering if your planned cruising includes a lot of motorsailing in light winds. You will need to check if they do them in your size.

 

[charles_reed]

Thanks for the advice on Darglow and the Flex-o-Fold / Featherstream and on the Radice.

Has anyone got more experience on the Gori 2 blade folder, or other folders such as the Brunton?

I've had an early Autoprop for 21 years. Definitely more drag under sail than a 2-blade (or even 3-blade) folder, but in an entirely different league for motoring, especially motor-sailing or beating into a chop.
The price, however, is in a different league to the others you've mentioned. It is, as Tranona remarks, unique in being the only self-pitching prop being made.
I certainly consider the price difference well worthwhile @ x8 a comparable fixed prop.

 

[aluijten]

Thanks for the advice on Darglow and the Flex-o-Fold / Featherstream and on the Radice.

Has anyone got more experience on the Gori 2 blade folder, or other folders such as the Brunton?

I've had a Gori 2 blade folder for a while. I would prefer it to the Radice one (same as the old Volvo Penta 2 blade) for it's propulsion characteristics, both forward and in reverse. However I don't like the securing mechanism for the pins that hinge the blades. It is very difficult to see if it set correctly. Basically its two tiny screws in a deep hole. The two screws are behind each other, the second preventing the first to come out.
The problem is that it's hard to see if you have screwed in the fist one deep enough to really catch the folding pin. This is especially true after a few years because of the build-up of loctite in the windings of the screw(hole).
The locking screws are tiny and have a hex-key hole for driving them. I was too cautious to destroy the hex-hole and therefore did not insert the screw deep enough. As a result I lost a blade.

Being frustrated because of this I bought a 3 blade Volvo Penta. This was just a little more expensive at the time. The performance was vastly superior though. All in all I would not recommend the Gori 2 blader. I have no opinion about their 3-blader gadget other then it's quite expensive.

Cheers,

Arno

 

[Halo]

Could not speak more highly of Darglow and Flex o fold 3 blader - mine is great in all the circumstances you mentioned