Props

[arabella]

I currently have Max Props on my PDQ. I've been less than impressed with their maintenance requirements and performance to this point. I was wondering what thoughts might be out there regarding any personal experiences with the Max Prop or any other feathering / folding prop. Thanks!

[Idiens]

My three bladed MaxProp is six years old now. It still works fine, drives well and feathers perfectly but I don't like the engineering so much when compared to its price. Anyone know how long MaxProps last?

[sailingfool]

Our MaxProp has served us well over seven years, no evidence of any particular wear to date. We are very happy with it, I don't see what the maintenance issue is, it takes me about 10 minutes a season to grease the unit...there's an MIT study kicking around that said the MaxProp provided 85% the forward drive effeciency of a fixed prop, probably as good as you'll get if you don't want to live with the drag of a fixed. Reverse is better than a fixed of course...

[Fstbttms]

Max Prop makes as good a feathering prop as there is to be had, IMHO. And as sailingfool mentioned, what maintenance issues? The manufacturer recommends lubrication every other year. Beyond that, nothing. Are there other, good feathering or folding props out there? Certainly. But Max Prop has an excellent reputation that is well deserved.

[arabella]

In my application (i.e. in conjunction with Yanmar Sail Drives) the need to remove/disassemble the two bladed prop annually in order to replace zincs is a chore. Also, for some reason the rotating resistivity of the blades changes dramatically over the course of a single season requiring a firm grip with 2 hands just to rotate the blades. All this inspite of annual greasing! What am I missing?

[Idiens]

Hmmm.. I can rotate my 3 blade MaxProp with one finger. But then I am rotating it on the prop-shaft too. If I wanted to hold the blade still and just twist it, it would have to rotate the prop-shaft, which would take two hands. So it depends what you mean.
I feel it needs greasing and the cone anode checking once per year. The Max Prop supplied grease is very thin and escapes quite easily. The cone anode comes off without removing the propeller.

[arabella]

Regarding the anode this issue relates more to protecting the saildrive.

Is there any way to post pictures to this board. I'd like to post a picture of my setup to facilitate understanding

[christyleigh]

I put an AutoProp on my c320 and had 4 good years with it at trade in. The NC I traded it for also has an AutoProp installed at least 4 years before I bought it so it has 6 good years on it. Greasing every year or two is needed and the nylon screws that hold on the cone/tail zinc can be a problem. The only big issue with the AutoProp which in my biased opinion is the perfect Motorsailing prop is the BiG Price

[haffiman37]

Choosing prop is all a question of compromises.
Speed by engine.
Speed sailing.
Purchase cost.
Maintanance cost.
Maneuvering.
Gearbox trail or lock?
+
+
List it in order of priority and You might end up with a answer like this:
Price on top, sailing speed at the bottom = Fixed wing prop.
Sailing speed at top, price at bottom = Fethering/Folding prop
Then comes the question of 2 versus 3 blades
Folding versus fethering
Which brand?


Good luck!

[Giulietta]

Gori prop.