Kiwiprop and rope cutters

[samwise]

We are considering fitting a three blade, feathering Kiwiprop to our Westerly Storm, chiefly because we are going into the Med next year and suspect that the standard two blader on our 18hp Volvo 2002 may make progress a bit hard going. Most advice I have read says that Med cruising includes a lot of motor time. First, has anyone had experience of the Kiwiprop and secondly has anyone installed the Kiwiprop with a rope cutter. Currently we have a Hayles unit fitted. Have also looked at Bruntons, but they are a lot of money and a bit complex for me.

 

[thalassa]

Generally quite pleased with the prop. Installed it in April, and did some 800 nm with it this year (Belgium to Devon and back). For: makes harbour manoevres a doddle, gentle forward, awesome stopping power. Low vibration; slightly better than average fuel consumption. Against: little. Propwalk, but others experience none, so, it's down to the setup. Mine was one of a number of a new series with a SS innner bearing, which in August locked up the reversing mechanism. This has been promptly modified FOC by the dealer.
As to rope cutters: I fitted the simple disc type, seemed to work for me :
photo April:

Photo September:

 

[FullCircle]

Pics below of my installation earlier this year on Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35. Has performed very well, but a bit of messing with my blade angles ,as my boat engine/hull arrangement does not conform to the nomogram for the pitch etc.
I had to buy a 15mm spacer for the gearbox to shaft joint to push the shaft back enough to get the ambassador stripper on with the length taken up by the nylon spring housing shown. I inspected the stripper yesterday, as we came out of the water last week, and all is well, with no increase in the gap from rotating blade to fixed knife.
We have also done between 800-900 miles this year.
How nice it is not to have any galvanic worries on the prop! My 2 zincsmart 1 inch shaft anodes have also done the year and are ready to be lobbed in the shitcan now.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Cant comment on the Kiwi prop but very happy with the Ambassador Stripper Cutter. Best around and really does teh job. Not cheap but works. The cheapo disc ones will not offer you the protection of a proper cutter. Nothing to do with teh company,just a very satisfied customer.

 

[DaveS]

I fitted a Kiwi last winter and saw it for the first time since then on Friday. After 1700nm it looks and feels fine and it's free of fouling. I would agree with others re performance. I'm going to slightly reduce the pitch to increase maximum engine revs (currently 2500; VP2002) and reduce minimum forward speed, but being able to "fine tune" is one of the Kiwi's advantages!

I have a 3 blade ropecutter which I believe from its appearance to be a Spurs, although it has no name and Spurs do not offer a saildrive version! (I haven't got to the bottom of this little mystery.) It works well, however, and has a particular fondness for neatly snipping up nice new ropes carelessly allowed too close to it...

 

[samwise]

Many thanks guys, the pictures are superb, just what I needed to see. Let you know how I get on

 

[robind]

All rope cutters are better than nothing? untill you need em! I have broken the saw type but never the disc, not yet anyway. All rope cutters fail if the problem is large enough or not rope! you don`t get value for money with cutters pro rata just because you pay more it doesnt mean that its better! Yes there is a nice demo with a neat pice of string at the boat shows but thats not real life (or a tug rope, or an anorac or a plastic bag etc etc!) a diver with a knife is a much better alternative. and prevents the "OH! I have rope cutters, so I`ll give it a bit of welly and cut through it " syndrome and the damage that causes, particulary with twin engines and bent "P"brackets , complete waste of money only gives you a false sense of security!whilst lining the manufacturers poskets, Who are they kidding! IMHO of course.