Which folding/feathering prop? ...

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Elemental

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At the risk of this being like the infamous anchor threads (everyonbe always rates their own equipmemt as best :) ) I'm considering a new prop for Seaspray - my Ben. Oceanis 351.
Engine is a 28hp VP 2003...

I have two areas of interest

1. Reduction of drag - there seems, for me, to be very little to choose between the contenders. Folders and featherers are both going to reduce drag impressively
2. Prop walk in reverse. My current prop has a shocking startboard kick. Very, very pronounced and I'd like to tame it.

I'm leaning toward the flexofold three blade prop (based on the YBW article of a few years back) but thought I'd canvas for opinion
 
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Don't assume a feathering prop will cure your prop walk. Pat Manley (I presume the technical writer rather than someone with the same name) wrote a testimonial for the autoprop which Bruntons published saying that the autoprop eliminated prop walk on his Oceanlord (long fin with shaft). That may be true of the variable pitch autoprop but it certainly isn't the case with the (feathering) Maxprop I have on my Oceanlord. It's certainly effective at reducing drag when sailing, but I still have loads of prop walk.
 
My UFO 31 used tò have a vicious prop walk with the old fixed three blade. After a very embarassing episode in a lock I changed to a Darglow Featherstream which cured it almost completely. A bonus is a much cleaner wake and reduced vibration through the tiller.
A downside is the additional maintenance (about 1/2 hour per year), and extra cost of special anodes.
I wouldn't go back to a fixed prop although I do carry the old one as a spare.
 
I've got a Brunton Autoprop on a MD2030 and Saildrive set up. It gives me perhaps half a knot extra when sailing but is much better than the original two bladed prop when motoring. I get 6 knots at 1800 rpm: with the two bladed prop it needs the best part of 2500 rpm for the same speed. It doesn't eliminate prop walk but it is much reduced. An added bonus is that it grips the water better so you can bring the boat to a stop much faster, useful in a marina.
Downside is cost to buy and ongoing costs like anodes, which are an annual requirement at £35 a pop.
 
We have a Brunton three blade folder. We seem to have loads of prop walk in reverse but since the previous owner fitted the prop not me I dont have anything to compare it with. The one feature we seem to have made lots of use of with the folder is the abilty to run over lobster pots with no damage. The pots just slide right past....that doesnt work with a feathering prop
 
laika said:
Don't assume a feathering prop will cure your prop walk. Pat Manley (I presume the technical writer rather than someone with the same name) wrote a testimonial for the autoprop which Bruntons published saying that the autoprop eliminated prop walk on his Oceanlord (long fin with shaft). That may be true of the variable pitch autoprop but it certainly isn't the case with the (feathering) Maxprop I have on my Oceanlord. It's certainly effective at reducing drag when sailing, but I still have loads of prop walk.
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Our Kiwiprop feathering prop reduced drag appreciably while sailing, to the tune of 3/4Kt in most circumstances. (mostly why I wanted one) .Maybe a tad faster while motoring. Prop walk is still there, much as it was. I choose to moor port side to when I have the choice as a burst of reverse coming in tucks the stern in nicely and stops the boat in the right place. Reversing out needs more thought & effort, so I often get moving and steer astern as needed, minimising actual powered astern work.
Variable pitch would be nice.....
 
The Featherstream will certainly give you the reduction in drag and will probably reduce the prop kick. It also has the feature of being able to both adjust the pitch and have different pitches forward and reverse. Think your boat originally had a 3 blade fixed so makes sense to keep 3 blades.
 
My experience with a Kiwi prop is similar to pagoda's. I had one on my Moody 425 and had horrendous prop walk making reversing very difficult until some speed was achieved to enable steering thus reversing out of a marina berth was quite difficult.
 
Just to add to the experience already quoted. We fitted a Bruntons Autoprop to replace a three blade fixed prop (1970's fin keel sloop - 38ft).
1) Impressive reduction in drag,
2) good for motorsailing, as claimed by Bruntons
3) No change in propwalk in reverse. The boat kicked to starboard with the old prop, and does so just as much with the new one.
 
dovekie said:
Just to add to the experience already quoted. We fitted a Bruntons Autoprop to replace a three blade fixed prop (1970's fin keel sloop - 38ft).
1) Impressive reduction in drag,
2) good for motorsailing, as claimed by Bruntons
3) No change in propwalk in reverse. The boat kicked to starboard with the old prop, and does so just as much with the new one.
Click to expand...
Precisely my experience with my Autoprop, with one caveat. In benign conditions I can work astern AGAINST my prop kick...
 
wully1 said:
I looked through all the options and choose a Kiwi prop. Very happy with the prop and delighted by the support from them.
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Your 2003 probably has a VP gearbox and the reverse ratio will be higher (i.e. a bigger reduction) than forward in which case a Kiwi Prop should work fine. I had one on a late MD2020D with a VP badged ZF gearbox where the reverse ratio is lower than the forward and that was a big problem. It's an uncommon situation and Kiwi admitted it was difficult. Check before buying.
I now have a 2 blade FlexoFold which is pretty good, much less effective astern than forward but acceptable.
I were buying with free choice I'd be very tempted by Featherstream.
 
My 361 had a 2 blade fixed and I quite liked the astern walk to port which I used to my advantage when parking.

My 41 has a sail drive (which I don't particularly like) and came with 3 blade fixed. The manual says that you can't lock the prop in reverse when sailing. It made a completely unacceptable noise so I changed to a 3 blade flexofold. It's a very well engineered piece of kit and performs well in forward and astern. Nice piece of kit but be prepared for a sharp intake of breath when you're told the price!
 
Tranona said:
The Featherstream will certainly give you the reduction in drag and will probably reduce the prop kick. It also has the feature of being able to both adjust the pitch and have different pitches forward and reverse. Think your boat originally had a 3 blade fixed so makes sense to keep 3 blades.
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+1

Ours certainly reduced prop kick, very happy with it.
 
I changed to a three bladed flexofold on my bav 39. The prop walk in astern was massively reduced to the point that it actually made slow speed manouvering somewhat more difficult.
 
Plevier said:
Your 2003 probably has a VP gearbox and the reverse ratio will be higher (i.e. a bigger reduction) than forward in which case a Kiwi Prop should work fine. I had one on a late MD2020D with a VP badged ZF gearbox where the reverse ratio is lower than the forward and that was a big problem. It's an uncommon situation and Kiwi admitted it was difficult. Check before buying.
I now have a 2 blade FlexoFold which is pretty good, much less effective astern than forward but acceptable.
I were buying with free choice I'd be very tempted by Featherstream.
Click to expand...

I fitted a Beta 30 with new gearbox and shaft as the old VP was getting long in the tooth...Kiwi prop were all over the specs as they has supplied plenty props to this arrangement.
The reduction in noise and fuel is marked, the grunt in astern impressive and sailing feels smoother. ( well, I think it does although I'm surely imagining this) Not sure how much I've gained in performance as the engine, prop and sails were all changed together. I do know exactly how much impact it had on the wallet.
 
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