Prop advice

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harstonwood

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Hi
Looking for prop advice. Thinking about getting hold of a fixed three blade prop to use on our boat. Not got on very well with the folding prop to be honest and would like to get better astern response etc.

Speed is not the criteria, we are cruising after all....may be put the folder back on next year.

Good to have a spare anyway

Boat is Dufour 405. Engine D2-55 saildrive 130s

I think i need a 17x15. Volvo part number. 8167753418

But not sure.

Anyone with a similar engine/saildrive/boat length have a recommendation for the correct size?

Thanks
 
The only snag I found with a fixed prop is that it loves to rotate and produces a background noise while sailing. Some gearboxes don't like that either. I went the other way and replaced the fixed prop I had with a feathering prop. (Maxprop) It gives equal drive in forward and reverse with no delay.
 
Yep, My D2- 55 had a 17 inch diameter, 15 inch pitch prop. The drag was horrid when sailing and I went to a Brunton Autoprop which is wonderful both ahead and astern.

Jetstream said:
Hi
Looking for prop advice. Thinking about getting hold of a fixed three blade prop to use on our boat. Not got on very well with the folding prop to be honest and would like to get better astern response etc.

Speed is not the criteria, we are cruising after all....may be put the folder back on next year.

Good to have a spare anyway

Boat is Dufour 405. Engine D2-55 saildrive 130s

I think i need a 17x15. Volvo part number. 8167753418

But not sure.

Anyone with a similar engine/saildrive/boat length have a recommendation for the correct size?

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
You can put your boat details into the Propcalc programme on www.castlemarine.co.uk. However your best bet is to check with Dufour or Volvo, either of which will know what was fitted as standard. BTW 17*15 sounds about right.
 
RAI said:
The only snag I found with a fixed prop is that it loves to rotate and produces a background noise while sailing. Some gearboxes don't like that either. I went the other way and replaced the fixed prop I had with a feathering prop. (Maxprop) It gives equal drive in forward and reverse with no delay.
Click to expand...
I agree: a Bruntons or feathering prop like a Max Prop would be a better solution, albeit a rather more expensive one!
 
Think you may be making a mistake , even my volvo 3 blade folding prop on 120s sail drive d2 -55 on a similar sized boat provides excellent power transfer ahead and astern , in fact most impressive , coupled with low drag and noise , praps theres a fault or miss match with your current folder .

Ive seen volvo folders on sale for circa £500 . Though i would pay more for a feathering prop , like max prop , if you can find one .
Or kiwi .

Sailing with a fixed prop is like sailing with a bucket out the back !!!


If you must fit a fixed prop , why not ask volvo , after all they made your engine and saildrive , plus your boat in standard spec new would prob have come with a volvo specced fixed prop which would have matched iby design ..
 
Last edited:
vic008 said:
'vicprop' ask for "molded hull depth" measurement. What do I measure to find that? Thanks
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If the boat is out of the water, measure water line to keel bottom and take away keel bottom to bottom of hull. The remainder is the molded hull depth. A long keeler will have a much greater moulded hull depth than a modern racer/cruiser.
If the boat is in the water, try scaling the answer from a drawing of your boat, or a photgraph of it when it was out of the water.
 
Jetstream said:
Yeah i think the drive needs to be locked to stop the rotation

I appreciate I am adding drag, but am only fitting the fixed prop as a temporary measure.

What I need though is some guidance on size...
Click to expand...

Check with the manual - Many modern gearboxes "lock up" completely in astern selected while sailing and manual advises that DAMAGE TO GEARBOX WILL RESULT. Thats why I use a feathering prop as you can then lock it astern, blades change to minimise water resistance and no damage to gearbox.
 
Sailfree said:
Check with the manual - Many modern gearboxes "lock up" completely in astern selected while sailing and manual advises that DAMAGE TO GEARBOX WILL RESULT. Thats why I use a feathering prop as you can then lock it astern, blades change to minimise water resistance and no damage to gearbox.
Click to expand...

Thanks
Volvo manual has plenty of advice about drive locking etc.

In the end I put on a fixed pitch volvo prop, which works well, and will fit a kiwi prop, later this year if the sailing performance is badly affected

The volvo folder was inconsistent ...........It didn't always open when needed! not great with a boat which holds its way, particularly down stream and wind!
 
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