Help choosing between Kiwi and Featherstream props

maej

maej

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I need a new prop (currently a worn out 2 blade fixed) for my Bukh DV20 powered Sadler 34. I’ve spent months researching and prioritising and saving etc and have narrowed down my shortlist to just 2 propellers, but they seem so close in pros and cons I can’t choose between them :confused:

Has anyone got any experience of both? Or does anyone know of any particular advantage of one over the other?

What (I think) I know already is this…
  • Kiwi is £300 cheaper.
  • Kiwi’s blades individually feather potentially making even less drag when sailing than the Featherstream’s where the pitch of all blades are linked and higher friction could prevent them fully feathering.
  • Kiwi’s ahead pitch can be easily changed with accessible grub screws, but reverse is fixed.
  • Featherstream’s pitch can be changed in both ahead and reverse, though it requires a new pitch stop be machined to make the change.
  • Kiwi’s lighter blades means slightly less likelihood of imbalance induced vibration.
  • I’ve heard rumours that cruise speed is reduced using a Kiwi prop, is this true? Also backed up by the YM article.
  • In the much referenced French Voilles article the Kiwi prop’s 0-6 knots time was several seconds longer than all the others on test (23 seconds opposed to around 16 seconds for the others. Any practical experience of this?
  • In the often criticised YM propeller article the Featherstream was middle of the road for most tests and did great at reverse pull and stopping time.
  • Both Darglow and Vecta Marine have been very helpful in answering questions and giving advice.
  • Some reviews I’ve heard disagree with the results of the Kiwi prop tests in the YM article implying it is better.

Any help choosing gratefully received. I’ve ruled out the others for various reasons, mostly price, sailing drag or stopping ability.

Thanks
 
I can not give before and after as our kiwi was fitted from new but would say that it it appears to have done what it's meant to do for 7 years
Anual grease and anti foul essential
We have had weed round it a couple of times but combination of rope cutter and sharp reverse cleared it
Stopping is excellent
40hp yanmar sail drive Hanse 37
 
It depends where you are based,, but haveing a Kiwi prop in Chichester is a desaster. The Chichester Coral (really a worm) stops the blades rotating, less problems on my floding prop.

There is a reason it is £300 cheaper., go folding
 
I have a Kiwiprop and in general it's pretty good.
I've had a particular problem because of my engine/gearbox combination (VP MD2020D with MS10L gearbox). In forward gear the reduction is 2.35:1, astern only 2.26:1. Astern it simply can't cope with the preset high pitch and won't deliver any power. I've had to put stops on the blades to reduce the reverse pitch but it still has to be a bit higher than the forward pitch. I can get 3400rpm forward but only about 2400rpm astern. It's certainly acceptable though now.
Check your ratios and make sure you don't have this problem. If your reverse is significantly higher reduction than forward - much more common - you should be OK. If you do happen to have the same problem, save yourself hassle and go for Featherstream on which reverse pitch can be lower than forward.
I suspect the Kiwi is a bit less efficient at cruise than my former 2 blade fixed Radice.
It's very smooth and quiet and doesn't sing, unlike my fixed one.
It does need cleaning and greasing regularly.
It doesn't need an anode.
Quite a difficult choice!
I've no experience of a Featherstream but looked at one, it's a lovely job.
 
There can only be a few who have experience of both?

I bought a Featherstream a few years ago when we re-engined. It has been great, does what it says on the tin. It is no better than any other propellor for getting foul and I have not discovered any magic potion to prevent that.

We definitely seem a bit quicker under sail - provided I remember to put the engine into gear after stopping the engine. Moderate fouling does not appear to have any effect on the feathering action.

Much better braking power when going astern to slow down, prop walk no difference. The anode needs replacing each year, so there is a running cost not found with the Kiwi.
 
Your engine is at the lower limit of the Kiwi and as Troubador has found, the fixed reverse pitch can be very aggressive on small HP engines. Fouling preventing the free turning of the blades can also be a problem. I have the predecessor to the Featherstream (without the stainless blades) and it performs very well.
 
I've switched from a Kiwi prop to another Darglow one, the Flexifold 3 blade folding prop so maybe I can help with some of the aspects of your question. Did the Kiwi have less forward thrust than my Flexifold? In my experience, without a doubt. Some people rave about the reverse thrust of the Kiwi. I really didn't like it. It was too much and difficult to control the speed. As others have commented you'll have to do regular maintenance on either of the props. From my experience with the Kiwi, it's a doddle but, the nozzle on the grease gun broke one year, the day before I was due to go back in and I had to postpone it until I sourced another one as the boatyard didn't have one the same size. I haven't really noticed any difference in speed switching from a feathering to a folding. Regarding Clive's comments regarding the Chi worm,(hi Clive, sorry I'm not racing at CYC against you), my experience is exactly the opposite. In the 6 years I was in Chi with the Kiwi, I only ever had one badly(very) fouled prop due to the worm. The other years I was worm free.Both companies, Vecta and Darglow were a pleasure to deal with. Finally regarding the YM test, I used that article to help me in my choice, and the comments about both the Kiwi and the Flexofold tie in with my experience of both.
 
Tranona said:
Your engine is at the lower limit of the Kiwi and as Troubador has found, the fixed reverse pitch can be very aggressive on small HP engines.
Click to expand...

Just found the torque curve of the Bukh. I suspect it will cope better than the Volvo.
I'd still be wary if reverse gear is higher than forward though. According to the manual I found, if you have the original ZF gearbox, it could be either higher or lower as there are two versions!!

On the fouling question by the way, my experience (at Shoreham, mix of river and sea water) has been good, just a few barnacles. Kiwi encourage you to a/f the blades but it wears off quickly.
 
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Do a Google search... a few pages of my experiences and comments since April 2006.


kiwiprop full circle site:ybw.com
 
FullCircle said:
Do a Google search... a few pages of my experiences and comments since April 2006.


kiwiprop full circle site:ybw.com
Click to expand...

Wow there are a lot of kiwiprop supporters out there! and few strong dislikers too, thanks FullCircle for that. I tried googling the same way for featherstream and no where near as many or as passionate hits.

I'm still no closer to making a choice, but I am at least more educated about both the options, thanks everyone for that. I'm perhaps leaning back to the middle again after this. maybe it's time to flip a coin.

I wish the kiwiprop had been at the boat show so I could have seen it for real like I did the featherstream.
I'm still concerend the motoring speed ahead may be reduced with the kiwiprop compared to the 2 blade fixed, there are references both ways, and there is still the £300 more the featherstream costs. decisions decisions :confused:
 
I fitted a Darglow Featherstream a few years ago. Heavy displacement, long keel classic, 28 hp Beta, prop in cut-out in rudder. The advice and attention prior to purchase were outstanding. The prop has transformed sailing, especially in light airs, and the reverse performance is a major improvement. With a fixed three blade prop, engaging reverse just added sideways motion with little reduction in speed ahead. Now, it is like pulling the handbrake on a car! Ahead, there was no discernible loss in power compared to a fixed blade prop. The prop is very well made from top-grade stainless steel and bronze and with a little polish, it looks like new each season. I really cannot fault this product and the company is excellent to deal with.
 
I have had both on two different yachts. Kiwi is a great idea that works well, but in reverse on a volvo 2030 saildrive it was very easy to get the engine to smoke and not pull more than 1800 rpm until the boat had started to move backwards. I have the Featherstream on a Volvo d2-75 - just looking at the way it is engineered it makes the Kiwi look a bit mickey mouse. I have been very impressed with the Featherstream in every aspect and would always choose one over a Kiwi.
 
On a First38, Perk 4108 used Kiwi for two seasons. In reverse I could only reach 1200 rpm. I was able to stop right away but felt very uneasy not beeing able to reach higher rpms should any dire sircumstances arise. Perhaps I should have buy smaller blades but then again I would have higher rpms at cruising.
 
Changed from 2 blade fixed to 3 blade Featherstream 3 years ago, very happy with it. Big difference in bite when into wind and chop, gained best part of a knot sailing at low speed and most of the prop kick in astern has gone. Can't compare with Kiwi as I've no experience with them.
 
One of the reasons I chose the Kiwi is that it is self feathering i.e. you do not have to lock the gearbox.On my particular Volvo it is recommended not to lock the gearbox.This may not apply to you.
I am really pleased with mine.I have not noticed any difference in forward speed whilst motoring but the stopping power is superb.I recon a good half a knot or more whilst sailing.
 
billmacfarlane said:
I've switched from a Kiwi prop to another Darglow one, the Flexifold 3 blade folding prop so maybe I can help with some of the aspects of your question. Did the Kiwi have less forward thrust than my Flexifold? In my experience, without a doubt. Some people rave about the reverse thrust of the Kiwi. I really didn't like it. It was too much and difficult to control the speed. As others have commented you'll have to do regular maintenance on either of the props. From my experience with the Kiwi, it's a doddle but, the nozzle on the grease gun broke one year, the day before I was due to go back in and I had to postpone it until I sourced another one as the boatyard didn't have one the same size. I haven't really noticed any difference in speed switching from a feathering to a folding. Regarding Clive's comments regarding the Chi worm,(hi Clive, sorry I'm not racing at CYC against you), my experience is exactly the opposite. In the 6 years I was in Chi with the Kiwi, I only ever had one badly(very) fouled prop due to the worm. The other years I was worm free.Both companies, Vecta and Darglow were a pleasure to deal with. Finally regarding the YM test, I used that article to help me in my choice, and the comments about both the Kiwi and the Flexofold tie in with my experience of both.
Click to expand...

I also have had experience but switched the other way. For 8 years I had a 3 bladed flexofold, then I found the boss had worn where the blades pivoted and the repair estimate was eye watering. It made no sense to repair as the cost was only slightly less than a new prop.
I bought a 3 bladed kiwi prop three years ago and for various reasons it didn't get any maintenance for two seasons but still worked perfectly.
I have nothing but praise for the Kiwi Prop, it does what it should and does it very well. I don't notice any difference in performance motoring ahead, in reverse the flexofold is much better and I find this a great help in berthing.
My only comment is that when starting off the flexofold is noisy, this seems to be because the blade tips are closer to the hull, once the boat is moving it quietens down.
 
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