Radice / Flexofold props ?

[alexg]

I have a 3-bladed fixed prop on my Beneteau Oceanis 281.

I want to switch to a 2-bladed folding prop to gain some more light-airs performance.

My choices at the moment are a Radice or a Flexofold in LH 14x11 guise.

The Flexfold is about 45% more expensive to buy... is it really 45% better?

Anyone with experience with either or better still, both props?

cheers

 

[alexg]

thread update... just scored a great deal on a Bruton Varifold, so that's me sorted!

 

[Tranona]

The Radice is the bottom of the range. Flexofold is top. Superior material and better blade shape.

 

[savageseadog]

I was going to say that the Flex o Fold is a very high quality product. The Radice sail drive propellers are known to unbond. In general the Flex o Fold blades have a better shape, the gearing between the blades is better quality, the alloy is better, the whole thing is better designed and made in my opinion.

 

[Houleaux]

I was going to say that the Flex o Fold is a very high quality product. The Radice sail drive propellers are known to unbond. In general the Flex o Fold blades have a better shape, the gearing between the blades is better quality, the alloy is better, the whole thing is better designed and made in my opinion.

For me, it was between the flexofold and the varifold. Both did very well in the YM test of folders / feathering props.

I went for the varifold on the basis of price. I'm now in my second season with it and am very pleased; both with its motoring performance (it replaced a fixed 2 blade in my case) and, more to the point, the markedly improved sailing performance of my boat. It seems well made and I've no reason to think that it won't last a long time.

BTW, don't be alarmed when you first put the boat into forward gear. The prop will give a fairly hefty clonk as the blades fly open. I was all for lifting the boat to see what I'd done wrong until I was reassured by the good counsel of forum members! They all do that....

 

[GeorgeLlewellin]

I have a 3-bladed fixed prop on my Beneteau Oceanis 281.
I want to switch to a 2-bladed folding prop to gain some more light-airs performance.
My choices at the moment are a Radice or a Flexofold in LH 14x11 guise.
The Flexfold is about 45% more expensive to buy... is it really 45% better?
Anyone with experience with either or better still, both props?
cheers

I fitted a 3 blade “Flex O Fold” to my Oceanis 323 about 5 years ago, it has been great, and added about 0.5 knot. Also if you put the gear lever in astern after stopping the engine then the prop folds, giving you the added pleasure of peace and quite.

 

[kacecar]

My choices at the moment are a Radice or a Flexofold in LH 14x11 guise. The Flexfold is about 45% more expensive to buy... is it really 45% better?

I recently went through a similar exercise to replace a damaged 2-blade folder. Having read all the tests and lots of articles / info on-line I found myself asking a similar question so I went and looked at a Radice and a couple of others, "in the flesh" so to speak, before making my decision. The Radice was not as well detailed or finished as the others but was of a simpler design. In fact, the gears and blade shape were similar to those on the prop I was replacing so, as that original had been on the boat for over 25 years, I felt safe in going for the Radice. Of course, I was also glad to save the money.

Fitting was straightforward and performance has been adequate, subjectively almost the same as with the original prop. I've put the few small differences I've noticed down to the fact that the Radice, like all the other props I was offered as "the right one for your boat", being a different combination of pitch and diameter to the original.

 

[Halo]

I fitted a 3 blade “Flex O Fold” to my Oceanis 323 about 5 years ago, it has been great, and added about 0.5 knot. Also if you put the gear lever in astern after stopping the engine then the prop folds, giving you the added pleasure of peace and quite.

+1 Flex o fold did exactly the same for me - best sailing item I bought since my first Decca Navigator and top quality item