I need some help in choosing the best prop for my hunter 340. First let me say we loving sailing and we don't race the boat. There are many areas we travel where sailing is not practical so we motor a lot. Currently we have a two blade prop that only gets us a top speed of about 5 knots. Are there better options that would give us a fast speed and better control in reverse. I am thinking of switching to a three blade and need advice. Thanks in advance for any guidance
Choosing a new prop for my hunter 340
- Thread starter Walter59
- Start date
I'm very happy with the decision of the previous owner of our H340 to replace the OEM two blade fixed with a three blade Maxprop. I have no problem reaching 7.5 kts at full throttle, have great backing control and power, but I have no way to compare sailing performance. I see in the maintenance log he did try a Autoprop, but pulled it off in favor of the Maxprop for reasons unknown. I'm also happy I didn't have to make the $ vs performance tradeoff 
I can tell you that when my 2-blade aluminum prop gets fouling, even a little, or becomes pitted, etc., the boat will not make its best speed under power. I change it every 3 or so years with a new one and immediately notice the change in performance; they cost about $250 ea from Volvo. You can buy a lot of 'em for the cost of a MaxProp, etc. I do have a saildrive w/ aluminum leg, however.
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I've been sailing around with a fixed three blade bucket, I mean prop for 17 years. We have wind here, so sailing is great, but we motor a lot, too, sometimes. I have ever considered a folding prop, thinking it's just one more moving part that needs maintenance and the water's too damned cold for me to bother with that stuff. I've won my share of races, too, over the years. We have a very fair handicapping system for our C34s.
Your boat, your choice.
Good luck.
There are as many opinions on favorite props as there are people on this site. Maybe double that.
Do a search of the archives and you will find that this subject has been discussed extensively (perhaps discussed to death).
What you will see is that everyone has their favorite and they will argue to the end on why their favorite should be your favorite.
What I will say without giving you my favorite is that a feathering prop will give improved performance in reverse, less prop walk, stopping on a dime. When sailing the blades feather and you don't have to listen to the prop whirling or suffer with the drag if you lock it in place. Forward performance is also improved.
Do a search of the archives and you will find that this subject has been discussed extensively (perhaps discussed to death).
What you will see is that everyone has their favorite and they will argue to the end on why their favorite should be your favorite.
What I will say without giving you my favorite is that a feathering prop will give improved performance in reverse, less prop walk, stopping on a dime. When sailing the blades feather and you don't have to listen to the prop whirling or suffer with the drag if you lock it in place. Forward performance is also improved.
I've got a 2000 340 with a 3 blade maxprop. I've had the boat 6 years and have had zero problems with the prop and do 6.5 knots easy at around 2800 RPM. And I use the boat a lot, but we sail way more than we motor. There's a few corrosion pits on it from the PO not keeping up with the anode. I was on a Hunter 320 with a 2 blade fixed, a Hunter 326 with a 3 blade fixed, and a Hunter 36 with a 2 blade fixed with Sailtime for about 5 years before I bought my boat, and all were weak and reversed like crap. I could not believe the difference the maxprop makes, no prop walk, reverses great, instant power. It took all the anxiety away that can be there in some close quarters situations maneuvering under power around docks and other boats. I clean and buff it up every couple years when the boat is hauled for a bottom job and I have a diver check it every 6 months or so and change the anode. After using boats with and without one, It's the first thing I would put on my next boat if it didn't have one.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
I also have a 2000 H340 with the Yanmar 3GM30F engine. Some years ago (2005) I replaced the original factory 2 Blade, 16 X 13 X 1, with a RH Campbell Sailer 15 X 9 X 1 prop. The size was recommended by the folks at CS based on my engine and trans and their experience with my boat. The new prop perfoms great and it got rid of some vibration I was having with the 2 blade. I cruise at about 6.5 - 7 knots at around 2,800 RPM and have plenty of punch in higher winds or when towing my dink. I don't race but the prop does not have as much drag as the larger 3 blades around. I run my engine as close to 3K as often as I can and I never have any smoke or black soot on my transom. This is the second CS prop I have owned, the first was on a 1980 H30 with a Yanmar 2QM15, and I was very please with its performance as well.
Walter,
I have a Kiwi prop on my 340 and for the most part I've been happy with it. It definitely improved my sailing speed but I think I lost a bit of motoring power vs my old fixed two blade. There are several nice things about the Kiwi, one is that the blades are a composite so there is less dissimilar metal on the bottom of the boat vs something like the MaxProp. Another nice thing is it is the most affordable feathering prop (or at least it was when I bought it) and is about a grand less than most other comparable models. There was also significantly less vibration when I went to the Kiwi over my two blade and that made motoring more pleasant. However the loss in motoring speed is annoying and truth be told if I had it to do all over I would have shelled out the extra money for the 3 blade MaxProp.
Take care,
-Levin
I have a Kiwi prop on my 340 and for the most part I've been happy with it. It definitely improved my sailing speed but I think I lost a bit of motoring power vs my old fixed two blade. There are several nice things about the Kiwi, one is that the blades are a composite so there is less dissimilar metal on the bottom of the boat vs something like the MaxProp. Another nice thing is it is the most affordable feathering prop (or at least it was when I bought it) and is about a grand less than most other comparable models. There was also significantly less vibration when I went to the Kiwi over my two blade and that made motoring more pleasant. However the loss in motoring speed is annoying and truth be told if I had it to do all over I would have shelled out the extra money for the 3 blade MaxProp.
Take care,
-Levin
Many boats are rated for a 2 blade prop and a 3 blade prop. The diameter will be the same but the 3 blade prop will have less pitch. This is so you don't put more of a load on the engine then it's rated for. If the 2 blade and 3 blade each have the same shaped blades there should not be much difference in performance or speed under motor power. The 3 blade will get you up to speed quicker but will have more drag under sail. Blades are not all the same though. Some are wider than others, grip the water differently and will perform differently.
Many thanks to everyone for your advice ! After careful consideration and talking it over with the boat yards here I believe I'm going to try the Campbell Sailor. I will repost with the results.
I can get the boat up over 7 knots at max RPM on a good day with a clean bottom. If anything, my prop is probably just a little over pitched and I can't quite get to the 3,600 max RPM as published for my 3GM30F. That said, even at max RPM (probably < 3,400) I don't get any smoke nor do I have any soot on the transom at the end of the season. You should take a look at the thread about the Campbell Sailer props on the Cherubini tab on the Hunter owners web site. Main Sail says he uses and likes them.
That's exactly what I did. Called the dealer who sold us the boat, asked the service manager if he had a recommendation based on what they sold and what the maintenance history was. Then talked to the mechanics at the marina where we keep the boat as they don't generally sell them but they install and service all kinds to get their feedback and then based on that made my choice.
Different than your choice but regardless I am sure you will be pleased with the performance
Any input on weedy waters for any of these "active" props? I have been scared a folding or feathering prop might not work when I need it most.... Dan
Not to hijack the thread but Levin I too have the Kiwi prop, and suffered poor motoring performance for a couple of years. However, it is adjustable, adjusted 1 whole turn coarser at the haulout, problem solved motor at 6.5 no problem. So I think maybe the stock setting from Kiwi is a bit fine. You could adjust it in the water, the second time,
Dear BR,
Please clarify the 15 x 9 x 1 ----is the 1 meaning a 1 Inch shaft?
Also was the CS prop a 2 blade or 3 blade?
Was your gear 1: 2.62?
I have the exact same boat and engine and the info would help me with re-propping.
thanks