I need some advice from other 81' 37 Cutter skippers. I have looked in the archives and I am still a bit confused. I have a Yanmar 30. Is my prop supposed to be a 16 x 14 RH? Is that size both for a 2 and 3 bladed fixed prop? I have a two bladed prop on a 1" shaft. That much I do know. But I didn't measure the prop when I had it out of the water for the hurricane repair work for Katrina. Next. Someone out there who has both a 2 bladed folding and a 3 bladed folding prop I hope will answer my question. Did a folding prop improve the speed of you boat and was the $$$ spent worth the extra speed. Is the folding prop the same size then......16 x 14 RH? Is it then necessary still to have the transmission in reverse if you have a folding prop? I mean does the prop shaft turn at all when it is folded? If someone has had both a two and three bladed folding prop...their feedback would most likely clarify which I would try to talk my wife into.......err First Mate into. Barring a folding prop......what advantge is there for a three over a two bladed....or is there? I am anxiously awaiting. Fair Winds Frank S/V Blue Shark
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3 blade fethering prop
I have a legend 37 with 3 blade fethering prop. LOTS of power for getting off sandbars and such. I understand that a 2 blade has less power but not necessarily less speed. There is just so much power you can use once you get up to hull speed. The extra power can come in handy in a blow to offset the extra wind resistance but in a blow you could be using the sails so that doesn't happen much for me.
I have a legend 37 with 3 blade fethering prop. LOTS of power for getting off sandbars and such. I understand that a 2 blade has less power but not necessarily less speed. There is just so much power you can use once you get up to hull speed. The extra power can come in handy in a blow to offset the extra wind resistance but in a blow you could be using the sails so that doesn't happen much for me.
I've had both
2 bladed fixed, and three bladed folding. As Bill says, more power with three blades, same speed. Good for pushing through the current. The disadvantage of three blades is drag if it's a non-folding blade, oh, and price. My two bits is go with a three bladed folding, or stay with a 2 bladed fixed. As for size, check with the company that makes the blade. Tell them what you have for boat, motor, transmission and current blade. They'll recommend the correct three blade for you. I've stumbled across some blade caluclators on the net, but talking to a live human will give you more information. Check out the various models currently available. I have an original Max-Prop, good blade, can be set for left or right rotation, pitch is adjustable, but only if you haul the boat and disassemble the blade into many small parts. (Their blades for larger shafts can be adjusted without dissassembly). A friend of mine recently installed a three blade (don't remember the brand) which has to be ordered as left or right hand, they pre-set the pitch. Once on however, jumping overboard with an allen wrench lets you tweak the pitch to your hearts content, oh and unlike mine the forward and reverse pitches are independently adjustable. As for where to leave the transmission. On Max-props, once you hoist sails just leave the tranny in forward and shut down the motor. The blades instantly feather and then you can, but don't have to, put the tranny in neutral. I always leave mine in gear so I can just power up and go in a pinch.
2 bladed fixed, and three bladed folding. As Bill says, more power with three blades, same speed. Good for pushing through the current. The disadvantage of three blades is drag if it's a non-folding blade, oh, and price. My two bits is go with a three bladed folding, or stay with a 2 bladed fixed. As for size, check with the company that makes the blade. Tell them what you have for boat, motor, transmission and current blade. They'll recommend the correct three blade for you. I've stumbled across some blade caluclators on the net, but talking to a live human will give you more information. Check out the various models currently available. I have an original Max-Prop, good blade, can be set for left or right rotation, pitch is adjustable, but only if you haul the boat and disassemble the blade into many small parts. (Their blades for larger shafts can be adjusted without dissassembly). A friend of mine recently installed a three blade (don't remember the brand) which has to be ordered as left or right hand, they pre-set the pitch. Once on however, jumping overboard with an allen wrench lets you tweak the pitch to your hearts content, oh and unlike mine the forward and reverse pitches are independently adjustable. As for where to leave the transmission. On Max-props, once you hoist sails just leave the tranny in forward and shut down the motor. The blades instantly feather and then you can, but don't have to, put the tranny in neutral. I always leave mine in gear so I can just power up and go in a pinch.
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