KIWI prop - which antifoul ?

[wizard]

Having fittted my nice shiny new Kiwi prop I am left with the usual problem -which antifoul do existing Kiwi owners find the best?

 

[thalassa]

Well, I don't honestly know what is the best , but I've put Plastimo 1.4 with 7% PTFE ("Teflon") "for propellers and outboards" on after degreasing the blades and the hub. Six months later, not a trace of the stuff to be found on the hub (SS and Aramide), but the coating was completely intact on the Zytel blades.
On the plus side, no barnacles in sight ...
BTW, it is not advisable to put a thick layer on the hub, as this will prevent the blades from turning freely.

 

[billmacfarlane]

I use the same antifoul as I use on the saildrive - Trilux, and I leave the hub alone.

 

[TiggerToo]

Same here: trilux on blades, nothing on hubs. Came out clean and shiny this winter.

 

[Birdseye]

any of you guys got comment on how well the kiwi prop works? is it as good as (say) a gori prop or a bruntons? It doesnt look very streamlined from the pics.

 

[Paulka]

Have a look here no experience of any other props, except fixed ones.
As of the antifouling, I used the same as for the hull, just the harder form of it (Jotun).

 

[wizard]

I would be grateful to know how youo prepare the Zytel blades for the Trilux.

 

[mauricewoodhouse]

Kiwi prop works well. Terrific in reverse, immediate bite giving directional control. Slightly slower directional response going ahead, and with slight loss of overall speed, compared with previous Volvo fixed two blade. Next year, might try adjusting the blade pitch screw to increase pitch at lower revs (cruising revs around 2400, but factory default is pitched for much higher).

Sails appreciably faster and quieter, adding up to 3/4kn.

Primed with Primocon (liquid)
Antifouled with Trilux, blades and hub, avoiding arc of blade root. No fouling so far this year.

 

[DaveS]

That's interesting. As delivered mine was also a bit finer than the Volvo fixed 2 blade, but I've been setting it a bit finer still each of the past two winters. My aim is to allow the engine to just reach design speed at max throttle, so that full power is available if required. I also greatly appreciate the reduced speed at tick over, which makes manoevering much easier. The down side is of course slower speed at "normal" cruising revs, but it saves fuel and IMHO it is no bad thing for a saily boat to normally go faster under sail than power...