What folding prop is best!

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therobesons's picture
therobesons
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Joined: 6/7/09
Posts: 114
What folding prop is best!

I just bought a 1985 c-36 with the stock m25 21hp engine and would like to install a 2 blade folding prop and the least drag possible.

What size and make, and what do I get one?

Thanks

Bob

Bob, LaRainne and McKenzie Robeson

1985 Std Rig C-36, Hull #374

San Pedro, Cal

Sailing the So Cal Islands and coastal ports from San Pedro south to San Diego.

Allan R's picture
Allan R
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Joined: 6/26/07
Posts: 177

Recommendations will be all over the board on this one (Ford vs. Chevy). Same thing with folding vs. feathering. I use a 3 blade VariProp that I am happy with, others will use a variety (Flex-O-Fold, J Prop, Kiwi, Martc, Gori, PYI Max-Prop, etc.).

Good luck in your hunt.

Allan Rex
# 2216

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Steve Frost
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Posts: 788

You will find many posts on our old site regarding props. It still amazes me the activity gernerated by posts on props. It truely is a blond or brunete issue.

If you review earlier posts you will note I have a Kiwi prop and love it.
They have a very informative web site if you take the time to review it.
The Prop is dirt simple, no complex moving parts and the composit blades will never have corosion or electolosis issues and by disign the blade will feather to the position of least resistance under sail.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

therobesons's picture
therobesons
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Posts: 114

I am not looking for the differance in folding feather etc, as I already know I want the folding.

Just who's has the least drag of the 2 blade folding props out there.

Where would I go to get one?

Bob

Bob, LaRainne and McKenzie Robeson

1985 Std Rig C-36, Hull #374

San Pedro, Cal

Sailing the So Cal Islands and coastal ports from San Pedro south to San Diego.

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alex.lynch
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Joined: 2/15/07
Posts: 12

Yachting Monthly compared 13 folding and feathering props and published the results in their May 2009 issue. You can purchase it online from [url]www.zinio.com[/url].

In the article, they measure prop walk, maximum speed, forward pull strength, reverse pull strength and stopping time. The results are quite interesting.

Based on the article (and price), I bought a 2-blade Flexofold prop this year. As a C36IA member, you get a 10% discount. I haven't used it enough to offer an opinion yet.

Regards,
Alex.

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therobesons
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Posts: 114

To get the discount, who did you get the prop from?

Thanks

Bob

Bob, LaRainne and McKenzie Robeson

1985 Std Rig C-36, Hull #374

San Pedro, Cal

Sailing the So Cal Islands and coastal ports from San Pedro south to San Diego.

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TomSoko
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Posts: 978

Bob,
As a member of C36IA, you would have access to the Members Only section of the Ship's Store on this website. In that section you would find the methods of obtaining the discounts described. They differ for each vendor. Joining is easy, just click on the Join/Renew link on the home page!

Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT

therobesons's picture
therobesons
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Posts: 114

Hey Alex

What year boat and engine do you have?

What size prop did you get.

Do you know what size I would want for a stock 1985 c-36 with the stock m25 21 hp engine?

TIA

Bob

Bob, LaRainne and McKenzie Robeson

1985 Std Rig C-36, Hull #374

San Pedro, Cal

Sailing the So Cal Islands and coastal ports from San Pedro south to San Diego.

therobesons's picture
therobesons
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Posts: 114

Where can I see these old posts on the old site?

Bob

[QUOTE=Steve Frost;1499]You will find many posts on our old site regarding props. It still amazes me the activity gernerated by posts on props. It truely is a blond or brunete issue.

If you review earlier posts you will note I have a Kiwi prop and love it.
They have a very informative web site if you take the time to review it.
The Prop is dirt simple, no complex moving parts and the composit blades will never have corosion or electolosis issues and by disign the blade will feather to the position of least resistance under sail.[/QUOTE]

Bob, LaRainne and McKenzie Robeson

1985 Std Rig C-36, Hull #374

San Pedro, Cal

Sailing the So Cal Islands and coastal ports from San Pedro south to San Diego.

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ahfdoc
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Posts: 11

I know this is an old post but I thought I would put my recent experience. I had a Kiwi Prop. It made a big difference sailing (about 1/2 - 1 knot faster under sail).  I sailed with it for over 4 years. Last year under rough conditions I sailed for several hours and then getting ready to pull down the channel I went offshore, dropped my sails and started my engine. I was distressed when I had no thrust. Into the bilge and confirmed shaft turning but no thrust. Long story short but the set screws must have loosened. When I pulled the boat the prop was completely gone. I should have inspected it to ensure they were tight. Lesson learned.

I put my 3 blade fixed prop back on. With this I noticed: 1/2 knot slower under sail, 1/2 knot faster under power.

This spring I put on a new Flexofold 2-blade 15x10R (my boat is a 1984 Mk1 with M25 engine.  I have been very pleased with this change. The boat under sail is again nice, faster, just feels better (what I got used to with the Kiwi prop).  I was pleased to find however that motoring my speed is as good - or surprisingly maybe a bit better than my 3 blade fixed (which surprised me).  I debated a lot on 2 blade vs 3 blade but now after having sailed a few months and motor-sailed on one 250 mile trip I could not be more pleased with the 2 blade Flexofold. 

Mike and Sarah Dickinson
Mes Trois Filles
Holland, MI
C36 / 1984 / Hull 0219

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Siler Starum
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Joined: 4/20/18
Posts: 113

We have replaced the fixed 3-blade prop last winter for the Bruntons - AutoProp.
It is amazing how this works and we are happy with it.
Under sail there is much better performance and when motoring amazing to see which SOG you gain already at lower revs - thus less engine noise and less fuel consumption. With 1400-1600-rpm we have already  a decent 5kn SOG and before reaching the max. revs you have already around 7.2kn SOG, which is more or less the max. hull speed.
You have to get used to it a little bit when manouevring as the prop-walk is significant less.
 

Durk Nijdam
S/V "SILER"
Catalina 36MKII - 2001 / hullnr. 2013
Stavoren - Holland

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