Origin of the Feathering Propeller

[tdw]

One of the really nice things about visiting Lisbon was the Museu de Marinha (Luso Pages - Lisbon (Portugal) Maritime Museum). Your old Wombat was in seventh heaven. Top of my list of reasons to revisit Lisbon......very long list it is too.

Anyway apart from all the other wonders there is the hull of an old lateen rigged schooner which from memory was built in 1890. (I could be wrong there but it's certainly around that time.) Here are a few pics of the actual hull, photos from the exhibition and a model.







Now, have a look at this shot of her propeller. There surely cannot be too many feathering props older than that baby.



Which makes me wonder. Anyone know who invented the feathering prop and when ? Google hasn't been any help thus far.

Naturally enough many of you lot are US centric re yacht design and I admit that I tend to be a bit UK centric but it is bleedin' obvious that the Portaloos were/are right up there. Don't tell Alex I said that.

[SailorBC]

Sir,

Quick hello, and a good question. I think this link will add some insight. I use both the air and marine versions, both were a great accomplishment of design and function. I was taught in grade school that a Canadian was responsible for making the first functional airborne feathering propeller. Not sure if this claim was accurate or not. I intend to follow up on this link as well.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propeller

Kind Regards all... Jay