Maxprop vs Variprop

[john_morris_uk]

At the boat show we looked at the various options for changing our 19" by 11" three bladed great big thing for something a little more 'streamlined'.

I had always been lead to believe that the Maxprop was the dog's doodahs as regards feathering props. However the Variprop looks equally well engineered, you can vary its pitch, and its easier to fit.

Its also hundreds of pounds cheaper. (Maxprop show price about £1900, Variprop about £1300)

Any thoughts other than the obvious one that I think I already know which one we'll be ordering! Have I missed any aspect. I'm pretty sure we'll go with a feathering prop so that we can get a bit more positive drive in astern. I was half tempted by the Brunton, but have some friends who have had problems with theirs.

 

[AlexL]

Can't comment on those two as I looked, but discounted due to the cost - I cannot justify spending that much on a prop. 2 Grand for a max prop buys a raymarine chartplotter, GPS antenna and radome instead!
However I looked at the Kiwi Prop and am problably going to go for that - its a feathering 3 blade with composite blades (i.e glass reinforced plastic - Zytel or something like that) its about 800 quid - but I'm hoping to do a deal.

Kiwi prop home page

 

[Koeketiene]

Hi John

My egineer swears by MaxProp - doesn't sell them, so he's got no financial interest. Also spoke to severral satisfied owners.

Was in two minds at first: do I get a cheap(er) folding/feathering one now, or do I wait till I have enough funds to get a MaxProp later?

Taking into account the old axion (already learned that lesson 3 times): buy cheap - buy twice - I decided on the second option.

William

 

[duke]

Have you considered Autoprop (Bruntons).

I can't comment on the price but they give very good after sales service and advice and stand behind their product long term.

Duke.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Hi Yanita,

I believe that Variprop is German with all that often goes with German engineering. Can't think that £1300 is cheap, but I take your point about buying twice.

 

[Noggin80]

Maxprop invented the feathering propeller so they have been at it the longest, they are Italian (well engineered) and elegant as well. The pitch is adjusted by internal gearing which also allows you to change the hand of the prop. You cannot do this with other types. I found it very useful when I changed from a port berth to a starboard berth. I just swapped the handing and changed the morse cables on my Yanmar gearbox and hey presto the prop-walk went the way I wanted.

My reservations about the varioprop are that it was (allegedly) born out of a firm in Bremen called PROWELL, who were masters at knocking out big fat props famous for vibration and having a crude external screw adjustment for pitch. This pitch adjustment soon lost its setting but they were cheap, very cheap. They were so cheap they went bust.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Forgive me for being a cynic, but I note that 'Stripper' rope cutters were being sold on the same stand as the Maxprop propellor.

Is it too much of a co-incidence that you are also talking up the Maxprop and talking down the Variprop?

 

[Oldhand]

<I just swapped the handing and changed the morse cables on my Yanmar gearbox >

Did your Yanmar gearbox have the same gear ratio forward and astern? I haven't come across one that is the same.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Noggin80]

Hi Oldhand: yes my engine is a 4LHTE with the kanzaki KM5 geabox. It has the same ratio either way and can run either way. I believe some Hurth gearboxes can do the same thing.
Regards: Stripper.

 

[Noggin80]

As an Engineer I admire good design and I make my comments on my own experience. The maxprop came with the boat so there is no reason to change it. If I were starting from scratch I would stick with a fixed prop and make use of the freewheeling prop to drive an alternator.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Forgive me, but it is interesting that your reply is ambiguous regarding your connection with Maxprop. Can you say that you have no connection with Maxprop as an importer, salesman or in any other way except as a user/customer?

I have seen the systems that use a rotating shaft to power an alternator. You will have gathered from my original post that we were interested in reducing drag and sailing faster so I have not considered this option.

 

[Oldhand]

Thanks for the enlightenment! Smaller Yanmars have a lower gear ratio for astern than ahead so your clever solution wouldn't work for them.