Folding/Feathering Propellers

newuser · #1 01-22-2001

To anyone out there who has "practical experience" using folding or feathering propellers:
I am looking for any information re. folding/feathering propellers on a 26 foot sailboat using a Yanmar 20 hp inboard diesel.
Are they practical, effective for the cost? Where I sail, there is a lot of floating kelp and other debris that always seem to get wraped around my fixed bladed prop. The prop I now use is a fixed 13" x 12", factory installed. Will a folding or feathering prop improve the boats intermediate speeds?

motmorland · #2 01-23-2001

we just bought a chrysler 22 on a trailor, I had planned to store it in a local harbor, that just fell through... I am wondering it is harder on the boat to be trailored back and forth from the water? I do know about the inconvience of setting up the boat, but is trailoring harder on the boat.

motmorland · #3 01-23-2001

Sorry wrong Place

windago · #4 01-23-2001

Yes, I have a C270 with a 3-blade max prop. I love it and it does work extremely well. However for you I would recommend the 2-blade version that folds behind itself allowing for objects to pass over it without being caught up.

hamiam · #5 01-23-2001

I have a 2 bladed folding prop on my Fast (Nicholson) 345. I love it. I guess it takes a little work to match the correct prop with your engine hp and reduction ratio, but the prop manufacturer/boat yard can help with that. I find the performance under power to be very good in forward and reverse. Obviously, it offers very little resistance under sail and will not snag on things like lobster pots. Unless you have a very heavy boat for 26'', I think a 2 bladed folding prop will do the trick. Check out Pracital Sailor or Crusing World for reviews of props.

hamiam · #6 01-25-2001

There is a great article on props in this month''s issue of Sail that you might want to check out.

AUDRASEA · #7 01-26-2001

I''M A MORGAN 462 AND I HAVE A TERRIBLE CASE OF THE PROP WALKS AND MY OWNER IS AT HIS WITS END ABOUT TRYING TO GET ME TO WALK A LITTLE BETTER TO PORT WHICH I DON''T LIKE TO DO AT ALL. HE HAS BEEN BURNING THE INTERNET AND THE TELEPHONE UP TRYING TO GET OPINIONS FROM OTHER BOAT OWNERS AND MANUFACTURING PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT FEATHERING PROP FOR MY BAD HABIT IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH ANY OF THESE PROPS PLEASE SEND HIM A EMAIL

RichH · #8 01-26-2001

My experience is that a Martec epicyclic shaped folding prop will have significantly less prop-walk than a fixed ''flat-ended'' prop. Ditto on the MaxProp when in an aperture (and I would like *more* prop-walk !). Both props (at equal dia. and pitch vs. the fixed blade) also are seemingly more efficient, so that you could also consider to reduce the diameter (and alter pitch) to lessen prop walk and still have an efficient set-up.
I found that the folks at Martec and (PYI) MaxProp are pretty correct in their predictions of performance characteristics, etc. on their props. ,,, but you have to discuss with them "exactly" what you want in performance.
:-)

gwilli · #9 02-01-2001

I have a Gori 2 blade folding prop on my Mirage 29 and it gives a genuine 1/2 knot performance upgrade over the original 2 blade fixed. Reverse is surprisingly good and there is little prop walk. I think a lot of prop walk has to do with the aft lower design of your hull as well as prop.

JimSeemann · #10 02-06-2001

Is anyone aware of long term reliability problems with the MaxProp, Martec,
or any of the other feathering propellers??

I own a Catalina 380 which was delivered with a 18" AutoProp. The AutoProp worked very well going forward, but caused a good deal of prop-walk in reverse.

The biggest problem though was excessive propeller shaft vibration which caused my stuffing box seal to wear out in less than 6 months. I switched back to a 3-blade fixed pitch propeller and the stuffing box is no longer a problem.