Bristol 32 prop

[Dcneuro]

Bristol 32 owners, tell me about your prop. Mine is a two blade and small as a Pee-wee Herman bow tie. Can't reverse worth a damn. I was wondering if this is a factory prop or if the previous owner used it for racing.

Thanks.

[Ogrenaut]

I have a 13 inch, 6 pitch, RH 2 blade prop. It's easier to push our boat out of our slip than trying to use reverse. In reverse, I get a lot of prop walk to port before the boat starts moving. I've learned to use the prop walk to my advantage when I need to push the stern to port quickly. My prop is connected to a rebuilt Atomic 4 engine and pushes our boat at 5.5 knots before prop cavitation sets in.

[seabreeze_97]

Just a rough measurement shows my 2-blade to be 15 inches. That's on a Bristol 32 with a 20hp Bukh diesel. Sounds like your "pee wee" was either for racing or the guy just needed one and had that laying around. I'm thinking the pitch is 17. It's hard to see exactly what the number is.

[kenstuber]

I installed a Campbell Sailor prop on my Yanmar 2QM20 and have been very happy with the results. It is a specially designed "skinny" blade prop that reduces drag under sail, yet works as good as a fat "power" boat type prop. Campbell will spec their right prop for your situation.

[Dcneuro]

Ogrenaut, that sounds pretty much like my arrangement. Do you know if that prop is factory from Bristol?

[Ogrenaut]

Dcneuro, it's hard to say if it is an original prop from Bristol. I haven't come across any paperwork from the PO's indicating the prop was ever replaced. The prop is in good condition, but it's basic shape and poor performance would lead me to believe it is the original factory prop.