Volvo Saildrive prop

[johnphilip]

Often mentioned on the Forum is YM's test a few years ago on various propellors.( Downloadable from http://www.flexofold.com/ )

A missing manufacturer from the array on test was Volvo.
I have a Volvo two blade folding prop which I have never had much confidence in as occasionally it apparently starts to cavitate and loses much of its drive when pushing into a strong headwind. Just the conditions you want your engine to develop its best thrust.

Question is are there any comparative reviews testing this beast against the Flex o fold which does so well in the YM article?

Or does anyone here have any good evidence or personal experience to support the idea that it would be worthwhile to change my prop? No, I will not have a fixed prop and 3 blade folders/ featherers seem a lot more than the Flex 0 Fold 2 blade I am considering. The test rates it very close to the same brand 3 blader. It is only push in adverse conditions I am looking to improve.

 

[Quandary]

I have a VP bronze three blade folder on a 33' Finngulf since 2007, engine is 29 hp. slippery, slim hull shape. Engine hours to date are a bit under a thousand. In 2009 I fitted an Ambassador rope cutter behind it. Probably unnecessary up here?
Compared to two blade folders it seems to transmit a lot of power and is also very effective in stopping the boat. Typically I motor at just under 2000 revs when I get 6.3 kts. and burn about 2 litres per hour. If i run at 3k revs in smooth water it can push the boat past its apparent hull speed to just below 8 kts. but burns about 7 litres per hour. To windward in a stiff chop at cruising revs she loses less than half a knot which can be regained by putting revs up to 2200-2300. (Log is calibrated against GPS) No apparent wear yet. I polish the prop. to a high shine every winter but do not coat it.
The significant drawback are the anodes which would struggle to last a full year though changing them is a ten minute job so easy to do against a wall. The folded shape is bulkier than a two blade but the drag seems not to be noticeably different, when we have raced the boat it has been competitive in very light winds.
I have had a number of boats with VP engines and have never liked the company but whoever designed and made this prop. for them is doing a very good job.
Recommended if you do much motoring and can change the anodes every year.

 

[West Coast]

I have a VP bronze three blade folder on a 33' Finngulf since 2007, engine is 29 hp. slippery, slim hull shape. Engine hours to date are a bit under a thousand. In 2009 I fitted an Ambassador rope cutter behind it. Probably unnecessary up here?
Compared to two blade folders it seems to transmit a lot of power and is also very effective in stopping the boat. Typically I motor at just under 2000 revs when I get 6.3 kts. and burn about 2 litres per hour. If i run at 3k revs in smooth water it can push the boat past its apparent hull speed to just below 8 kts. but burns about 7 litres per hour. To windward in a stiff chop at cruising revs she loses less than half a knot which can be regained by putting revs up to 2200-2300. (Log is calibrated against GPS) No apparent wear yet. I polish the prop. to a high shine every winter but do not coat it.
The significant drawback are the anodes which would struggle to last a full year though changing them is a ten minute job so easy to do against a wall. The folded shape is bulkier than a two blade but the drag seems not to be noticeably different, when we have raced the boat it has been competitive in very light winds.
I have had a number of boats with VP engines and have never liked the company but whoever designed and made this prop. for them is doing a very good job.
Recommended if you do much motoring and can change the anodes every year.

+1 I have a VP 2003 Saildrive (on a Starlight 35) with a VP 3 blade bronze folding and find it very effective, including astern. Would agree with all Quandary's comments

 

[Neil_Y]

I had the Volvo folder on a 43hp 40' boat, and changed it to the fixed two blade prop. Much better and no downside as far as a I could tell.

Fixed prop every time unless I'm seriously racing.

 

[Tranona]

Suspect Volvo did not want their prop compared to others. It is not a particularly good bit if kit. Poorly made, gobbles anodes and some who have them complain of poor performance. The FlexoFold you are looking at is far superior, although perhaps not quite as good performance as a 3 blade.

 

[West Coast]

Suspect Volvo did not want their prop compared to others. It is not a particularly good bit if kit. Poorly made, gobbles anodes and some who have them complain of poor performance. The FlexoFold you are looking at is far superior, although perhaps not quite as good performance as a 3 blade.

Bit of a sweeping statement? FWIW, I did not choose the VP prop I have, it was fitted by the previous owner. But I would not rush to describe it "as not particularly good" or "poorly made", and it has worked reliably and well for me for over 11 years since I bought the boat, with better performance than I had expected.

 

[Quandary]

Bit of a sweeping statement? FWIW, I did not choose the VP prop I have, it was fitted by the previous owner. But I would not rush to describe it "as not particularly good" or "poorly made", and it has worked reliably and well for me for over 11 years since I bought the boat, with better performance than I had expected.

But did you not know that VP are are the bete noir of every sailing boat owner, that is why I am still amazed at how good my current VP engine leg and prop really are.

 

[Tranona]

Bit of a sweeping statement? FWIW, I did not choose the VP prop I have, it was fitted by the previous owner. But I would not rush to describe it "as not particularly good" or "poorly made", and it has worked reliably and well for me for over 11 years since I bought the boat, with better performance than I had expected.

Based on some experience of talking to many owners of saildrives who have fitted this prop. In the early days Volvo were replacing them under warranty because of premature corrosion. Although they have changed the material and increased the size of the anodes they are still not as good as the FlexoFold.

 

[Tranona]

But did you not know that VP are are the bete noir of every sailing boat owner, that is why I am still amazed at how good my current VP engine leg and prop really are.

However, neither are actually made by Volvo. Good thing as far as the drive is concerned but not so good for the props.

 

[Quandary]

However, neither are actually made by Volvo. Good thing as far as the drive is concerned but not so good for the props.

As implied in my first post, I know Volvo do not make very much but whoever does casts Volvo's name in to the boss.
How many VP three blade folders have you had and for how long? I am afraid I have just owned and used one, and only for eight years so far, so obviously my personal experience is more limited. I polished mine earlier in the week and it still had managed to avoid displaying any wear or defects, must be a miracle?
However they all look identical so I suspect it is possible that the others might be just as good as mine.

 

[Tranona]

As implied in my first post, I know Volvo do not make very much but whoever does casts Volvo's name in to the boss.
How many VP three blade folders have you had and for how long? I am afraid I have just owned and used one, and only for eight years so far, so obviously my personal experience is more limited. I polished mine earlier in the week and it still had managed to avoid displaying any wear or defects, must be a miracle?
However they all look identical so I suspect it is possible that the others might be just as good as mine.

The OP was asking about a 2 blade prop and my comments were in relation to that. The later 3 blade is better, provided you change the anodes when they wear out, which can very quickly in some owners experience. Neither props in my view are as good as the equivalent FlexoFold, although owners often get no choice with a new boat given the lower cost and bigger discount of the Volvo items.

 

[scottie]

Radiche could be makers of both volvo props and flex stern glands?

 

[richardbrennan]

I have had a Volvo three blade folding prop for the better part of ten years. It is showing no particular signs of wear and gives good thrust in both ahead and astern, and I reckon it gives a good half knot extra boat speed in lighter winds. However, I would endorse the comments about the anodes; I am in Portsmouth Harbour (Haslar Marina) and they need changing at least once mid season. I don't find this a particular problem as I have the boat lifted for a scrub in any case, usually on the Haslar Boat Lift, and, as has been said, it's a very quick and easy job. When I bought it, it was fairly competitively priced, about half the cost of a Brunton Autoprop, the one feature it does not have is the "overdrive" facility when motor sailing.

 

[han34]

I have had a Volvo three blade folding prop for the better part of ten years. It is showing no particular signs of wear and gives good thrust in both ahead and astern, and I reckon it gives a good half knot extra boat speed in lighter winds. However, I would endorse the comments about the anodes; I am in Portsmouth Harbour (Haslar Marina) and they need changing at least once mid season. I don't find this a particular problem as I have the boat lifted for a scrub in any case, usually on the Haslar Boat Lift, and, as has been said, it's a very quick and easy job. When I bought it, it was fairly competitively priced, about half the cost of a Brunton Autoprop, the one feature it does not have is the "overdrive" facility when motor sailing.

I am also in Portsmouth Harbour and have the same setup. Mine has done about two thousand hours, I serviced it again a couple of this weeks ago and still seems fine with no play in the blades or bearings. The anodes still have some life left after every year although I always change them. I get them from Keypart. I have a galvanic Isolater and that may help. I also have an Ambassador Rope Stripper.

 

[johnphilip]

Stil not sure

I think that perhaps the engine as a Volvo 2020D 18 bhp is a little on the small side for the boat and therefore I need to get the best out of the power available that I can, particularly in a headwind and chop as I said in my OP.
I still feel the Volvo loses bite on these occasions. Buying a new prop is an expensive gamble without any evidence to back my feeling. Thanks for the opinions. I do note that the strong Volvo support comes from a set up with 50% more powerful engine on an only marginally bigger boat. So the stalling prop is maybe less likely.
Flex o Fold have recommended :- "With a MD2020-D, 18HP/3600RPM ( gear reduction ratio 1:2,47 ) we would recommend a 2-blade 16x10L propeller."
Their own website does recommend a 3 blade for a head sea performance but the YM test showed the two blader almost as powerful in a static pull or speed comparison. As the three blade is about 50% more expensive I feel better trying to justify the 2 blade prop to herself.
I would attach an exert of the report, but I cannot get the pdf small enough for this forum set up. ( Full Report viewable via Flex o Fold's web site)

 

[Ric]

For the OP, if you are having problems with the prop stalling then a Brunton Autoprop might be the answer - that is the only prop guaranteed not to stall as the blades will pitch to the correct angle for maximum thrust in any sea-state or engine rpm.

I would echo also earlier comments that the Volvo prop is not particularly good. As somebody else stated, Volvo failed to provide a prop for the YM test a few years ago which begs the question why not? But in a test in Segeln magazine, it came out near the bottom of most of the tests. I have a VP two blade folder, and I definitely consider it one of my "regret" purchases - I wish that I had bought a flexofold. When I bought mine (new) there was a 5mm allen bolt that had been screwed into the boss for no apparent reason. When I asked why, the dealer just shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't know. I sent a photo to VP main dealer, but they never bothered replying. So that all confirmed my opinion that VP is a company that does not really care particularly about their customer experience.

 

[johnphilip]

For the OP, if you are having problems with the prop stalling then a Brunton Autoprop might be the answer - that is the only prop guaranteed not to stall as the blades will pitch to the correct angle for maximum thrust in any sea-state or engine rpm.

I would echo also earlier comments that the Volvo prop is not particularly good. As somebody else stated, Volvo failed to provide a prop for the YM test a few years ago which begs the question why not? But in a test in Segeln magazine, it came out near the bottom of most of the tests. I have a VP two blade folder, and I definitely consider it one of my "regret" purchases -

That's the sort of justification I was looking for to change the prop.

 

[johnphilip]

But in a test in Segeln magazine, it came out near the bottom of most of the tests.

I have spent ages trying to get a copy of the test. I found it on the Segeln website, registered and tried to buy the pdf,( a better price at 2 Euro than YM charge,) However when I go to pay I get a page error, Ric have you any more knowledge or advice?

 

[Stork_III]

I have VP 3 blade on my MD2030C currently. I previously had the MD 2020B originally with the VP 2 blade, which lost power in a head sea and was rubbish in reverse.I changed to a VP 3 blade which cured both problems, gave increased speed of 0.5kt for same revs and no noticeable change in sailing speed. For the money well worth it.There may be better but they cost. Don't Brunton's have bearing problems?

 

[Tranona]

I have VP 3 blade on my MD2030C currently. I previously had the MD 2020B originally with the VP 2 blade, which lost power in a head sea and was rubbish in reverse.I changed to a VP 3 blade which cured both problems, gave increased speed of 0.5kt for same revs and no noticeable change in sailing speed. For the money well worth it.There may be better but they cost. Don't Brunton's have bearing problems?

A 3 blade will always be better than a 2 blade, but if you are spending that amount of money there are now better choices than the Volvo prop.