Feathering propellers

upsidedown · #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006

Hello All
I have recently purchased a 45' sailboat that is under proped. The boat currrently has a two blade fixed prop and I want to replace the it with a
feathering prop. I would like to hear from people who have used one, what brand they think is best and why.
Thanks
David

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006

It would help if you said what the current prop diameter and pitch is, as well as what your boat's displacement is, and the horsepower of the engine. Without that information, and just the length, there isn't much advice we can give you.

Also, is the prop through an aperture in the rudder/keel or not? If it is, what diameter is the aperture.

TejasSailer · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006

We're have a MaxProp. We specifed it from the start because as beginners with powered monohulls we had more concern motoring than sailing, especially in reverse, so we have no comparative opinion with our particular boat. Anyway, we're pleased and would pay the price again. While not a consideration, MaxProp is almost a work of art. It reminded me of Alpha Romero engine block heads 10-20 years ago.

upsidedown · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

It would help if you said what the current prop diameter and pitch is, as well as what your boat's displacement is, and the horsepower of the engine. Without that information, and just the length, there isn't much advice we can give you.

Also, is the prop through an aperture in the rudder/keel or not? If it is, what diameter is the aperture.

Thanks for your reply. I was not looking so much for sizing as I was for users experence with the various brands of propellers. If it helps the boat is a Radford 450 in steel, displacement 38,000 lbs, Yanmar 72 hp, the current prop is a Michigan 20 X 12 and is not in and aperture.
Thanks again
David

upsidedown · #5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by TejasSailer

We're have a MaxProp. We specifed it from the start because as beginners with powered monohulls we had more concern motoring than sailing, especially in reverse, so we have no comparative opinion with our particular boat. Anyway, we're pleased and would pay the price again. While not a consideration, MaxProp is almost a work of art. It reminded me of Alpha Romero engine block heads 10-20 years ago.

TejasSailer
Thanks for your reply. I have only had good reports on the MaxProp and am leaning in that direction. Autoprop also looks good but is more expensive and I don't think there is much difference between them for the extra money.
A friend has and Alpha in my garage restoring it along side my Mini Cooper which is raced with the SCCA.
Thanks again
David

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006

If it is a three-blade prop, and you want to go to a two-blade prop, the size and pitch will change slightly IIRC. Were you interested in feathering props only, or would you also consider folding props as well.

RichardElliott · #7 (**permalink**) 07-14-2006

Don't consider folding props unless you are an avid racer. A three blade Max prop is the way to go. You will be dazzled by the reversing power and much less prop walk than a two blade.

Hawkeye25 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-15-2006

A few years ago I got a call to a waterfront 'mansion' in Naples to repair or replace the Mercedes diesel in the owners 56' sloop at the dock out back. Seems it could not rev past 1000 RPM and he'd just escaped having his boat on the rocks while attempting to get out of Gordon Pass. Sure enough, the engine couldn't push the prop above 1000 RPM, but it ran so sweetly at idle I couldn't believe it had somehow died while sitting at the dock.

I called back to the shop for a diver and had him check the prop. Sure enough, it was a feathering prop that had been left almost perfectly feathered, quite by accident, during the last docking, and had accumulated enough growth to lock it like that. A quick cleaning and explaination to the owner straightened out all problems.

Except one. In my opinion, for the convienience of being able to say, "I have one." the man's boat is equipped with a minor accessory that could cost him the boat.

My boat is 22,000 lbs and I have a 52 HP diesel and an 18 x 13 three blade conventional prop. It goes and stops just fine. I accept the very minor drag added by the locked prop while under sail and will not bandy words with naysayers concerning ridiculous drag figures and the greyhound-like speeds of boats with feathering props.

Like anyone else, I love the engineering and beautifully machined parts of some of the worlds best feathering and reversing props, and someday may placed a polished model on my desk, but I will never trust my boat to one.

RichardElliott · #9 (**permalink**) 07-15-2006

I fail to understand why anyone would shut down an engine at the dock IN GEAR! causing the prop to feather.

Hawkeye25 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-15-2006

You're kidding, right? Are you brand new to boating? I have been in yacht service for 25 years and have had the pleasure to meet thousands of boat owners. For some inexplicable reason, many of them drink. Are you suggesting no boat owner ever makes a mistake? Or perhaps, you live in a world where no one has money and just 'buys' a boat and leaves the dock, confident that he'll figure it out on the way. Is it possible you've never heard of someone ordering the installation of a new radar and then not knowing how to use it?

Besides, man, all it takes to leave a feathering prop in the middle is popping it through neutral to forward by mistake, or vice-versa, while taking it out of gear after docking, and with the engine still running, then quickly bringing it back to neutral prior to shutting down. THAT is how you leave it stuck halfway. Shutting off the engine in gear is guaranteed to have the prop hard against the stops one way or the other.