Gori propeller

[NYSail]

So at the Newport boat show……

Stopped by Gori and was very impressed and am thinking of buying. They have changed the folding design from the clam shell to
more traditional feathering. Any first hand experience with these…… seems like a very simple design and very well made and great performance. Love the over-drive…..

thanks!
Greg

 

[smokey73]

@NYSail Do you have a link to the "new design" Gori?

Thanks

 

[dlochner]

I can't speak specially to the new Gore prop, however I can make a few comments about a feathering prop. I have a 3 blade feathering Max Prop, my last boat had a 2 blade folding prop.

In order to make feathering props work in both forward and reverse, the blades have to be straighter, if they are curved as the old Gori props were, then there will be too much drag in the feathered position. The net result is more power in forward and more power in reverse and less drag when feathered. Mostly this is good.

The one downside (?) is considerable prop walk in reverse. Some people find this distressing, others find this a feature. Personally, once I learned to manage it, I like the prop walk as it is helpful when maneuvering in tight spaces.

It might be wise to compare the new Gore to Max Prop. Based on a quick look at the Gori website, the prop looks a little more complicated than the Max Prop. Not at all sure about the price comparison.

 

[NYSail]

@NYSail Do you have a link to the "new design" Gori?

Thanks

at-their website…… just closes different.the rest of the function of the prop remains the same.

 

[CarlN]

I have one year old Gori 3 blades and had them on a previous boat 15 years ago - they seem the same to me. A few years ago they did start offering a version without "overdrive" but I don't believe the overdrive has changed and I'm not quite sure why someone would not want the option of Overdrive.

When using overdrive the extra pitch can overload your engine. Don't try to run at high RPM's in overdrive. It's also not clear to me that overdrive saves significant fuel - you are at a lower RPM but the engine is under more load.

I like my Gori's a lot. Very smooth and fast. They also don't snag lobster pots if you pop into neutral to fold them as you go over a pot. The reverse is much stronger than the Flexofolds I had on my previous boat.

I've never owned a max prop but I do believe that it's flat blades make the propeller less efficient. Both the Gori and Flexofold provide forward speeds better than most three blade fixed props. The Max-prop also requires more maintenance.

With any of these props picking the right pitch is as much art as science. Since the Beneteau 423 is a popular boat they have likely done several and discovered the right diameter and pitch.

 

[DRhoads]

I have one on my 420 and had one on my 386. I think they are great. Extra boat speed when sailing. (> .5kt not uncommon) Overdrive is great, saves fuel when motoring longer distances + extra speed at less RPM. 6.5 @ 2300 normal 8.0 @ 2300 in overdrive. Load not an issue that I can see (I'm not an engineer) but..... don't diesel's love a load?

 

[CarlN]

..... don't diesel's love a load?

Using overdrive at 2300 is no problem as long as you aren't getting black smoke from overloading (which you shouldn't). But fuel use depends on HP to push the load not just RPM. You are using more fuel at 2300 in overdrive than at 2300 in normal. You still probably save a little fuel per mile in overdrive but not as much as it would seem.