guydickinson
Well-Known Member
Has anyone fitted one? Are they really that good - for the money? Anyone not like them? etc etc!!
Kiwi prop
- Thread starter guydickinson
- Start date
3reefs
Well-Known Member
See if you can guess what I think of mine:
- Faster under sail
- More MPG when motoring
- Lower revs, less engine noise
- Less vibration
- No anode needed
- Positive prop walk astern
- Substantially cheaper than most other feathering props
- Faster under sail
- More MPG when motoring
- Lower revs, less engine noise
- Less vibration
- No anode needed
- Positive prop walk astern
- Substantially cheaper than most other feathering props
Talbot
Well-Known Member
How about performance against strong wind/waves.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
georgeo
Well-Known Member
very happy with mine. will second all that 3 reefs says. And have used it in seas forecast to be "moderate becoming slight", reality being somewhat different and pretty uncomfortable!
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Buy one now.
Service is second to none.
Ensure you fill it to bursting with grease in the hub body and blades. repeat whenever you can. That way it works in reverse all the time, rather than when the wee barnacles get in.
I had damage to one blade which I just faired out with emery cloth, no issue, and no structural damage from whatever clouted it. I can take a blade off in 20 seconds to replace it if required.
It does everything else brilliantly.
And its a total bargain.
So buy one.
Service is second to none.
Ensure you fill it to bursting with grease in the hub body and blades. repeat whenever you can. That way it works in reverse all the time, rather than when the wee barnacles get in.
I had damage to one blade which I just faired out with emery cloth, no issue, and no structural damage from whatever clouted it. I can take a blade off in 20 seconds to replace it if required.
It does everything else brilliantly.
And its a total bargain.
So buy one.
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
We have the 'smallest' recommended engine for these (Yanmar 2GM20C sail drive) works great, three years old now and still looks great no corrosion etc. Drive great ahead no problem at all. Slightly noisy low range (Compared to Gori 16X11 two blade folder) but silent once out of the low rev range.
The only problem we have is astern. Sometimes will stall the engine - Though some1 may suggest a fix for that??
The only problem we have is astern. Sometimes will stall the engine - Though some1 may suggest a fix for that??
HoratioHB
Well-Known Member
Agree all the above - ours is fitted to the biggest engine - 54hp and I love it to death.
alandee
Well-Known Member
We had one fitted before going through the French canal system two years ago. 251 locks..forward reverse...forward reverse; hit all manor of submerged objects. Just two small nicks out of one blade. Also, more speed and less vibration when sailing. A fantastic bit of kit! Well worth the money considering how much everything else costs these days.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Dear Mr Seadog, you have a hub full of little critters.
I suggest you pump the blue recommended grease into the hub body and the nose. There are two small holes for this. (also good idea to do the 3 blades while you are at it. Make sure you keep pumping until the grease can be seen oozing from all the joint areas. Wipe off excess.
Then work the hub backwards and forwards a few times, and you will feel the reverse spring mech operate.
Should then be OK. Mine usually needs doing mid season, so best done when you scrub off.
I suggest you pump the blue recommended grease into the hub body and the nose. There are two small holes for this. (also good idea to do the 3 blades while you are at it. Make sure you keep pumping until the grease can be seen oozing from all the joint areas. Wipe off excess.
Then work the hub backwards and forwards a few times, and you will feel the reverse spring mech operate.
Should then be OK. Mine usually needs doing mid season, so best done when you scrub off.
anjou
New Member
my kiwi prop fell off after 150hrs use in 20metres,we also found that sailing over 5knts that there is a lot of noise and vibration.so its loss will not be regretted.
anjou
New Member
My Kiwi prop fell off after 150hrs use in 20 metres off Brittany. The Kiwi prop was very nois'y with much vibration when sailing above 5knts,we shall not regret the loss of the Kiwi prop.
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
- Faster under sail
- More MPG when motoring
- Lower revs, less engine noise
- Less vibration
- No anode needed
- Positive prop walk astern
- Substantially cheaper than most other feathering props
[/ QUOTE ]
- Faster under sail - but not as fast as a folding prop.
More MPG when motoring - Rubbish if the original fixed prop was correctly sized by vertue of its shaped blades going forwards it is the most effective.
Lower revs, less engine noise - again Rubbish if the original fixed prop was correctly sized. A correctly sized prop should reach maximum engine revs and going forwards the shaped blades give a faster speed for any revs.
Less vibration - Should make no difference unless fixed prop was out of balance.
-No anode needed
- Positive prop walk astern
- Substantially cheaper than most other feathering props
The last 3 I agree with. Everything with boats is a compromise. I think a feathering prop is a good compromise (I have the dearer Variprop). A feathering prop has flat blades that while less efficient going forwards are more efficient than shaped blades when going astern.
As an owner of a charter boat I therefore think they are great as deliver the most power of any prop astern (although the lastest folding props are a lot better now) great for getting off the putty or slowing quickly if you misjudge a berthing.
I just get fed up with idiots who make a sensible choice but fail to admit/recognise the real advantages and the real disadvantages.
The Kiwi prop is a very cheap feathering prop but investigate fully a number of people that have reservations about them due to the fixed astern pitch. Most other makes of feathering prop has the pitch (both forwards and astern) adjusted by grub screws on the outside. Only the maxiprop (darglow) has to have the pitch adjusted during assembly of the hub (a distinct disadvantage in my opinion).
From other previous threads I believe Kiwi distributor offers good service.
- Faster under sail
- More MPG when motoring
- Lower revs, less engine noise
- Less vibration
- No anode needed
- Positive prop walk astern
- Substantially cheaper than most other feathering props
[/ QUOTE ]
- Faster under sail - but not as fast as a folding prop.
More MPG when motoring - Rubbish if the original fixed prop was correctly sized by vertue of its shaped blades going forwards it is the most effective.
Lower revs, less engine noise - again Rubbish if the original fixed prop was correctly sized. A correctly sized prop should reach maximum engine revs and going forwards the shaped blades give a faster speed for any revs.
Less vibration - Should make no difference unless fixed prop was out of balance.
-No anode needed
- Positive prop walk astern
- Substantially cheaper than most other feathering props
The last 3 I agree with. Everything with boats is a compromise. I think a feathering prop is a good compromise (I have the dearer Variprop). A feathering prop has flat blades that while less efficient going forwards are more efficient than shaped blades when going astern.
As an owner of a charter boat I therefore think they are great as deliver the most power of any prop astern (although the lastest folding props are a lot better now) great for getting off the putty or slowing quickly if you misjudge a berthing.
I just get fed up with idiots who make a sensible choice but fail to admit/recognise the real advantages and the real disadvantages.
The Kiwi prop is a very cheap feathering prop but investigate fully a number of people that have reservations about them due to the fixed astern pitch. Most other makes of feathering prop has the pitch (both forwards and astern) adjusted by grub screws on the outside. Only the maxiprop (darglow) has to have the pitch adjusted during assembly of the hub (a distinct disadvantage in my opinion).
From other previous threads I believe Kiwi distributor offers good service.
guydickinson
Well-Known Member
That's a pity! I've now bought one!!!
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
Mine was fine until the end of season and found it difficult to stop in reverse. Lifted the boat no fault found. Now serviced and greased I hope the problem will go away.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Mine was fine until the end of season and found it difficult to stop in reverse. Lifted the boat no fault found. Now serviced and greased I hope the problem will go away.
[/ QUOTE ]
It will go away. Make sure the hub is kept bursting with grease.
Mine was fine until the end of season and found it difficult to stop in reverse. Lifted the boat no fault found. Now serviced and greased I hope the problem will go away.
[/ QUOTE ]
It will go away. Make sure the hub is kept bursting with grease.
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
I can't my engines are too small.
I wish I could and I am very jealous. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
I wish I could and I am very jealous. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
anjou
New Member
Well I hope you have more luck with your prop.
We fitted ours to the Sun Odyssey 35,I noted that the prop that is fitted to our boat has the lock nut,locked to the to the prop shaft,but the kiwi prop is locked to the prop by two small grub screws which have to be checked to ensure they are still tight!!
We checked our locking screws a few weeks before the prop fell of.
We fitted ours to the Sun Odyssey 35,I noted that the prop that is fitted to our boat has the lock nut,locked to the to the prop shaft,but the kiwi prop is locked to the prop by two small grub screws which have to be checked to ensure they are still tight!!
We checked our locking screws a few weeks before the prop fell of.
A
Alcyone
Guest
You had a Kiwi Prop on your boat that was making a lot of noise. He fell off and you are complaining?
Most hotels that will take in rugby players would be more than happy to see the back of Kiwi props. They are known for making a noise.
Most hotels that will take in rugby players would be more than happy to see the back of Kiwi props. They are known for making a noise.
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
If a Kiwi prop is making an noise when sailing then either the blades have not feathered and the shaft is rotating or something else rather drastic has happened. Was it mechanical or water noise?
