Kiwi prop?

[ianj99]

I'm carrying a spare blade. I think that's the way to guarantee you won't need it!
I also find despite the handbooks advice to leave gearbox in neutral, I have to engage gear when sailing to prevent prop spin,
altho the blades are trailing correctly and you'd think impart no rotational force?! IIRC I think I use reverse to stop rotation when sailing,
but then can find that I'm unable to shift lever into neutral without starting engine, so some pressure on gearbox cogs.

Still very pleased with performance and price!

I have a hydraulic box (an excellent PRM150) so no way to lock the shaft without fitting a brake.

But, Kiwi have now modified the edge of the blades to make them stop freewheeling. Checkout their website for more info.

 

[alant]

I'm carrying a spare blade. I think that's the way to guarantee you won't need it!
I also find despite the handbooks advice to leave gearbox in neutral, I have to engage gear when sailing to prevent prop spin,
altho the blades are trailing correctly and you'd think impart no rotational force?! IIRC I think I use reverse to stop rotation when sailing,
but then can find that I'm unable to shift lever into neutral without starting engine, so some pressure on gearbox cogs.

Still very pleased with performance and price!

Good info on here http://www.kiwiprops.co.nz/cms/index.php/resources-general/auto-rotation

 

[BelleSerene]

I sometimes think that the low price works against them - some owners are too snooty to spend so little and on something with plastic blades!

I wasn't - I did!

 

[tri39]

Good info on here http://www.kiwiprops.co.nz/cms/index.php/resources-general/auto-rotation

It is complex isn't it!! I remember now I have started using fwds to lock the shaft. Saves using the gear lever when starting or stopping engine!! If you back up after anchoring (I don't usually), then I suspect a quick burst in fwds b4 stopping engine a good idea, especially if the hub has not been greased for some time. It took me some time to find the hub grease points!!

 

[Colvic Watson]

Is http://www.vectamarine.com/ still the only distributor in the UK? It's just that their web site is still wishing people a Happy Christmas which doesn't inspire confidence!

 

[FullCircle]

Is http://www.vectamarine.com/ still the only distributor in the UK? It's just that their web site is still wishing people a Happy Christmas which doesn't inspire confidence!

Early for next Christmas!

They also manufacture dairy farm machinery, which is one of the reasons I like Alan Pollard - he is an Engineer.

 

[ianj99]

Early for next Christmas!

They also manufacture dairy farm machinery, which is one of the reasons I like Alan Pollard - he is an Engineer.

+1. Alan was very helpful when i was deciding whether to purchase one. It would be ridiculous to dismiss them because of a well meaning oversight by the person ressponsible for their website.

 

[CPD]

I badly dinked my Kiwi on a rock in Falmouth. Pin out, blade on, pin in - and all do-able in the water. Now try doing that with a Bruntons ...... A great bit of kit and I echo sentiments re Alan Pollard - an interesting and lovely chap. Interesting points re snootiness, and I believe they may be true. Silly really !.

 

[Tomahawk]

Mine autorotate....

Even though the blades are nice and floppy the dam things still goes round and round. Anything above 8 kts it is spinning and costing us speed.

Also the full pitch in reverse means you can't get full power in reverse,,, which I need a lot. Cat one ahead one in reverse to spin it in tight space...

We will probably swap them for folding ones ..a