Kiwi Feathering Prop

[naiad33]

Looking for any experiene with the Kiwi 3 blade feathering prop...

motoring (e.g. vibration, "weed rejection", etc...)
reverse performance...
maintainance...
reliability...
company support...
etc..

I figure for $1300 I can get as much sailing performance as a new sail at 2x$$ and significantly better motoring performance than the "stock" michigan wheel 2 blade, and maybe even be able to reverse out of my slip without panic/fear/loathing...!

Thanks,
Don
78 Pearson 10m "Naiad"

[gtod25]

The Cruising Sailor’s Drivetrain

You can buy it online here

Practical Sailor - February 2007

Andy O'Grady loves his. Unfortunately for me its limited to 50HP.

Regards

[andy_smith]

I changed over to a Kiwiprop early this year from a 3 blade Volvo folding prop. Forward thrust and speed was marginally better (the Volvo prop was a good design), but significantly better in reverse. There seems to be a surprisingly large pitch on the props - mine is 20 pitch on 17 " prop. I spoke to about 6 other people in our marina who fitted the Kiwiprop, and the concensus is - very good value for money, and works as well as other feathering props at higher cost. One minor issue was one boat owner didn't grease ALL the grease points when pulled out for annual maintenance, and one blade became 'sticky' and compromised the boat's manoeverability in reverse, which indicates the maintenance schedule is important. I also noticed the Kiwiprop is considerably lighter as the blades are a nylon / plastic composite (very strong) type material, and the boss is quite compact.

Andy Smith
Skye Water - S2 11.0A
New Zealand

[Shortman]

Pearson 34 w/Yanmar 3GMF. Installed prop Spring 07. Way better reverse. Less walk. Replaced a two blade, so better forward. Less drag sailing although pretty hard to guage.
Larger pitch compensates for different blade design.
Greased per instructions this spring

[amirault]

Don:

Installed Kiwi on a Catalina 320 spring '08. Selected this prop as it appeared it would be a better performer than the original fixed three blade model while being both less expensive and less complicated than some of the competition.

Powers ahead as well as the original. Reverse appears a tad more powerful but for me the bonus is the reduced (not eliminated) walk to port in reverse. Under sail she should be faster but I have no way to be certain. I do JAM club race and I and the crew are all convinced that the boat points a bit better and is much faster recovering speed from a tack than with the fixed blade prop.

No regrets.

Brian

[GBurton]

Take a look at the advertisement on the left. Max-prop - list for $20600 get it for $20610 on sailnet! What are these people on?

Do any of you kiwi prop users notice an increase in vibration since going to the kiwi prop?

[SimonV]

I have a Kiwi Prop and have had no real problems as yet.....other than I have not pulled the boat so I have not re-greased it, and when going from forward to reverse sometimes it will get out of shape as each blade is independent and you lose reverse completely. To fix go back into forward give it some revs and select reverse with revs above idle. until I do pull the boat I now use forward and reverse a few times while at the dock or before coming in, this seems to fix the problem for now. the only down side of this prop if you would call it that is that pitch is fully adjustable with the use of an Allen key for forward,but there is no adjustment for reverse and reverse is severe with a lot of prop walk to port. I can when stationary idle in revers and my boat will peiroet to port all day. Being a composite blade it can be anti-fouled.

[Rockter]

Are they worth the trouble?
On a long keel, use a twin blade fixed prop and turn the prop so that it is in line with the keel.
I guess, if your prop is exposed and there is no keel in front of it, you could save some drag in light to medium airs.

[tilpot]

If you happen to be in the UK, Kiwiprops have a stand at the Southampton Boat Show (11th-20th September). They will be inside the Ocean Hall, at stand G10