How much does a feathering prop cost?
- Thread starter Kelpie
- Start date
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the replies.
Seems like my price guess was a bit low! Aren't Kiwi Props a bit cheaper? They used to advertise a price in the back of the mags but seem to have stopped doing that now. I don't actually know what size prop I need yet, hence my reluctance to go asking for quotes.
I have a two blade folder (Varifold) on my current boat and it seems very good- no anodes, no maintenance required. But the boat I have my eye on won't have space for a folder, so feathering is my only choice.
Seems like my price guess was a bit low! Aren't Kiwi Props a bit cheaper? They used to advertise a price in the back of the mags but seem to have stopped doing that now. I don't actually know what size prop I need yet, hence my reluctance to go asking for quotes.
I have a two blade folder (Varifold) on my current boat and it seems very good- no anodes, no maintenance required. But the boat I have my eye on won't have space for a folder, so feathering is my only choice.
DJE
Well-Known Member
At the time I bought mine I got quotes from many different manufacturers. Cheapest was Kiwi Prop at £1,070 dearest was Autostream at £2,830.
Pavalijo
Well-Known Member
We have ordered a Featherstream 17” 3 blade. With adaptation for the Ambassador rope cutter (about £80 or £90) it is £1,981.
This is to replace the very good condition but underpitched 17x12 LH Volvo folder. I can confirm that the anodes will not last a full season on the Volvo prop. For the first few years we lifted out after 7 to 10 months. At 7 months the anodes were fine but the one time we left the boat in the water for 10 months one had dropped off and the other two were well degraded.
The Volvo folder will be for sale if anyone is interested - but wouldn’t recommend for those who stay in the water for more than maybe 8 months a year.
Met someone with a Kiwiprop in the boat yard this year - old salty sailor who had owned a few boats (ie much more experience than me) and he was very happy with his prop. I think when researching I saw that the right size for us would have been around £1300 ish, but I did not get a quote from Kiwi prop.
We went for Featherstream as we wanted to be able to change the pitch if it was not set optimally. Darglow said that based only on the boat specs they would have specified 13”, but have recommended that we try 14” of pitch, deliberately overpropping because we are heavy with cruising gear and struggle to get more that 3.5 kts with any degree of chop or headwind. However if we have to change that to 13” the part we need to swap will be supplied FOC.
Maxprop (nearer £3,000) used to enable you to change pitch in the water, but their new model would not allow us to do that.
This is to replace the very good condition but underpitched 17x12 LH Volvo folder. I can confirm that the anodes will not last a full season on the Volvo prop. For the first few years we lifted out after 7 to 10 months. At 7 months the anodes were fine but the one time we left the boat in the water for 10 months one had dropped off and the other two were well degraded.
The Volvo folder will be for sale if anyone is interested - but wouldn’t recommend for those who stay in the water for more than maybe 8 months a year.
Met someone with a Kiwiprop in the boat yard this year - old salty sailor who had owned a few boats (ie much more experience than me) and he was very happy with his prop. I think when researching I saw that the right size for us would have been around £1300 ish, but I did not get a quote from Kiwi prop.
We went for Featherstream as we wanted to be able to change the pitch if it was not set optimally. Darglow said that based only on the boat specs they would have specified 13”, but have recommended that we try 14” of pitch, deliberately overpropping because we are heavy with cruising gear and struggle to get more that 3.5 kts with any degree of chop or headwind. However if we have to change that to 13” the part we need to swap will be supplied FOC.
Maxprop (nearer £3,000) used to enable you to change pitch in the water, but their new model would not allow us to do that.
chubby
Well-Known Member
second that, good service from Darglow and does improve sailing performance
Lightwave395
Well-Known Member
I'm shopping too, just now received this from Flexofold:
Thank you very much for your inquiry.
With a Yanmar 3YM30 ( max. rated 29 hp / 3600 rpm, gear reduction ratio 1:2,62 ) we would recommend a 2-blade 16x13R or a 3-blade 16x12-3R propeller for your Oyster.
The price for a complete 2-blade 16x13R Flexofold with hub for ISO / SAE standard shaft is EUR 1.038,-
http://flexofold.com/folding-propellers/5-shaft-propellers/16-2-blade-shaft-folding-propeller/
The price for a complete 3-blade 16x12-3R Flexofold with hub for ISO / SAE standard shaft is EUR 1.859,-
http://flexofold.com/folding-propellers/5-shaft-propellers/17-3-blade-shaft-folding-propeller/
Price is incl. VAT and shipping costs with a door-to-door service by UPS from Flexofold in Denmark to the address in the UK.
Prices are valid 4 weeks.
Thank you very much for your inquiry.
With a Yanmar 3YM30 ( max. rated 29 hp / 3600 rpm, gear reduction ratio 1:2,62 ) we would recommend a 2-blade 16x13R or a 3-blade 16x12-3R propeller for your Oyster.
The price for a complete 2-blade 16x13R Flexofold with hub for ISO / SAE standard shaft is EUR 1.038,-
http://flexofold.com/folding-propellers/5-shaft-propellers/16-2-blade-shaft-folding-propeller/
The price for a complete 3-blade 16x12-3R Flexofold with hub for ISO / SAE standard shaft is EUR 1.859,-
http://flexofold.com/folding-propellers/5-shaft-propellers/17-3-blade-shaft-folding-propeller/
Price is incl. VAT and shipping costs with a door-to-door service by UPS from Flexofold in Denmark to the address in the UK.
Prices are valid 4 weeks.
ashtead
Well-Known Member
In case of interest you might also look at a J Prop - distributor based in the Hamble . We have one for 3 years and very impressed.
Previously on prior boat had a Volvo version on a Bavaria though and worked fine but regular anode replacement seemed required as others have said. I suspect Volvo versions somewhat cheaper based on my recollections ?
Previously on prior boat had a Volvo version on a Bavaria though and worked fine but regular anode replacement seemed required as others have said. I suspect Volvo versions somewhat cheaper based on my recollections ?
Quandary
Well-Known Member
Those Flexofolds are folding props and the OP says he does not have room for one. Darglow would try to match the Denmark direct prices, you would have the advantage of their advice, expertise and spares availability and they actually make a feathering prop. which is what the OP is looking for. They are very good at sizing for particular boats and engines.
My only issue with Darglow is their determination not to use Royal Mail, I ordered two al. anodes on the same day last week, the Solent anodes one is here, mailing cost £2.95, a lighter one from Darglow is on its way by carrier, lots of texts but still in transit, shipping £12 which is costly for something weighing less than 200grms.
My only issue with Darglow is their determination not to use Royal Mail, I ordered two al. anodes on the same day last week, the Solent anodes one is here, mailing cost £2.95, a lighter one from Darglow is on its way by carrier, lots of texts but still in transit, shipping £12 which is costly for something weighing less than 200grms.
Last edited:
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
I see these prices for the Ambassador rope stripper. I made mine for myself. It cost me £ 70-00 which included the material, a milling cutter (reusable) & an allowance for some wear on my grinding discs.
It took me 2.5/3.0 days to make but that is because I was not sure what I was doing. Now that I know that I could use a friend's Bridgeport mill & rotary table, rather than use my home chinese one, plus I would be more confident, I could make one in 1.25 days
I imagine the manufacturers knock them out in far less time.
About 8 years ago they told me that my old one was too worn to replace the bushes & had to be scrapped. I sourced the material & made my own for a cost of £ 25-00.
It took me 2.5/3.0 days to make but that is because I was not sure what I was doing. Now that I know that I could use a friend's Bridgeport mill & rotary table, rather than use my home chinese one, plus I would be more confident, I could make one in 1.25 days
I imagine the manufacturers knock them out in far less time.
About 8 years ago they told me that my old one was too worn to replace the bushes & had to be scrapped. I sourced the material & made my own for a cost of £ 25-00.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Is the propeller manufacturer ripping you off?
As far as i am aware the stripper has 3 studs that engage in the back of the prop so just needs 3 holes about 9mm diameter drilled in the back to accommodate it. The anode does push the prop forward a bit but that should be allowed for in the retaining nuts.
What other alterations are needed?
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
If you have a typical saildrive anode like the Volvo one then you can buy it much cheaper.
You buy the standard anode- you can get these online - The RYA advertise a cheap supplier I think. cost about £ 24-00
then you get a hacksaw & just mark out roughly where the stripper blade comes. You cut a series of slots 3mm apart ( forms a sort of comb) & knock the "teeth" out which forms the sinking for the blade. then drill the hole for the stud
The fit does not have to be very accurate because after a month the anode wears anyway and any fit no longer becomes a fit but is just slack. Hence, you are no better off buying the expensive one.
I have been doing it for years & owners are really being ripped off for this simple alteration in the anode which could be cast in at manufacture.
Pavalijo
Well-Known Member
Yes I was surprised, but I think they use a different part rather than drilling a standard hub - or something like that! Darglow seem very decent people and I would doubt this is a rip off.
Pavalijo
Well-Known Member
I would caution against modifying saildrive anodes for the Ambassador. I was talking about doing the same with my engineer (who doesn’t sell Ambassador anodes). He told me that a client’s boat would not rev properly after launch - the client had done just this and it turned out that the Ambassador stripper modification for saildrive is more than just a slot and a hole! I can’t remember exactly what the other modification was, possibly thickness of the outer ring thingy!
However I sourced non-Ambassador anodes for my 120SD saildrive from yachtboatparts.com who have them made to the same dimensions as Ambassador. I have fitted 2 so far and have had no problem with them. Current price £30.50. If you visit the site don’t search for them under “anodes”, you have to go in this way:
Engine Room Equipment and propulsion > Propulsion systems > Rope Cutters > Rope Cutters for Saildrives
Or just follow this link:
https://www.yachtboatparts.com/anodes-for-saildrives-with-ambassador-rope-cutters-3584-p.asp