which feathering prop?

tomJ

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no doubt a subject that has been discussed before,but I have missed it.Will be replacing my 3 blade with a feathering type,but which one?dozens on the market,including an all-stainless Australian one,and they all tell me they are the best!
The Yacht is a 50 foot S and S, with an 80hp motor and a 32mm shaft.to Plenty of space around the prop,so any would fit
would welcome advice and opinions
many thanks
Tom
 

qsiv

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I cant offer any qualitative comparison - but I have a similar size boat (51 Trintella) with a MaxProp - works well. Only once this season was I aware that it hadnt feathered completely .. a brief burst from ahead to astern before neutral put it right.

I do service it each spring and repack with grease and replace the tiny anode (but with an Ali boat I'm very particular about cathodic protection), and it never lets me down.

My only comment is that with a self pitching prop you dont get huge thrust when the boat is moving slowly - be prepared to be a little more generous with the throttle whenclose quarters manouevering.
 

charles_reed

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I'd recommend the Brunton Autoprop - I've had one for 9 seasons and apart from annual adjustment of the bearings and keeping it polished have had no trouble.

Compared to the Maxprop its probably slightly more expensive and produces slightly more drag under sail, but its performance when motorsailing and the ability to get more thrust amkes it preferable.
It also has the major advantage of having replaceable bearings for when wear does take place, unlike the Maxprop where you need to re-machine.
 

JerryHawkins

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I too have a Brunton Auto-Prop on my Fisher 25. Never known anything different so I can't compare. It is, however, a simple design so not much can go wrong. The bearings are quite easy to replace - I did mine last season. The design also means that if you are unlucky enough to hit something hard with it, the offending blade just rotates and is far less likely to be damaged than other types of prop.

Jerry
 

Chris_Stannard

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I have a Flex-o-Fold on my Najad 373 and it gives the same if not better performance than the fixed prop it replaced. It is the Najad standard.

If you are going to the boat show you will find all the prop suppliers in one place, why not talk to them all and you can then compare prices and perforance.

Chris Stannard
 

gunnarsilins

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I have a Maxprop....

...since last year on my Moody 42 ketch. I have no experience from other makes, but I am most satisfied.

Really big difference in sailing performance, not only in speed, but also in rudder response compared with the fixed 3-blade I had before. This I believe must be in common with all feathering props of course.

I can not imagine any other modification which gives such an improvement in performance on a sailing boat.

Another bonus is even better thrust in reverse compared with the fixed.

The possibility to beeing able to readjust the pitch is also nice, I can now travel at the same cruising speed but with 250 rpm´s less. Obviously the original prop had not the correct pitch.
 

snowleopard

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what can you afford?

i got 2 flex-o-fold for the price of 1 brunton.
word of caution for owners of fast boats: brunton and autoprop can bump-start an engine if left in gear. manufacturers advised me against them for my cat (critical speed ca. 15 knots
 

davidwf

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Re: what can you afford?

Disagree they cannot bump start an engine as they have feathered and are exerting very little turning force on the prop.

In any case a normal prop cannot turn over an engine so why should a brunton.

I think I spot a troll
 
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