Recently purchased a new hunter 356 (2003), interested in 3 blade feathering cruising prop for the 27hp yanmar. Experience moderate vibration at 2800+ rpm and begin to smoke at 3000+, thought a 3 blade might smooth out the rpm range a bit and get more thrust. Do I have too much pitch on the std factory 2 blade 16x13, should I have it balanced first even though it is new? appreciate suggestions. By the way noticed some comments on mast struts, have had no problems my first year, will keep watching. Only safety problem was the sheet metal screws holding the upper fastening plate for engine cover/stairs secured only into the wood interior. A guest fell onto engine while cruising as stairs pulled out of the clutch mechanism. Fortunately no one was hurt and I installed a backing plate to prevent future prob. Thanks
Cruising prop
- Thread starter Tom the builder
- Start date
- Status
Smoke at 3000?
Tom I have a 2003 356 with a fixed 3 blade prop. Very smooth. I would be worried about the smoke at 3000! Doesn't sound right to me. We have had the RPMs up to about 3500 with no problem
Tom I have a 2003 356 with a fixed 3 blade prop. Very smooth. I would be worried about the smoke at 3000! Doesn't sound right to me. We have had the RPMs up to about 3500 with no problem
356 props
ditto for us! we ordered our 356 with the 3 blade and could pull 3500 rpm with almost no vibration-sounds like your engine is out of alignment or something's bent-what kind of speeds are you seeing? the smoke doesn't sound good at all, ours has run smoke free for 2 years now. to answer your other question, we fitted an autoprop and the performance improvement is incredible-better speed under power and sail, and much better control in forward and reverse-highly recommended
ditto for us! we ordered our 356 with the 3 blade and could pull 3500 rpm with almost no vibration-sounds like your engine is out of alignment or something's bent-what kind of speeds are you seeing? the smoke doesn't sound good at all, ours has run smoke free for 2 years now. to answer your other question, we fitted an autoprop and the performance improvement is incredible-better speed under power and sail, and much better control in forward and reverse-highly recommended
Feathering 3 blade
I had a feathering 3 blade put on at commissioning. It is a Martec. I am not sure about the pitch since my prop data is on the boat. It has been fine.
I had a feathering 3 blade put on at commissioning. It is a Martec. I am not sure about the pitch since my prop data is on the boat. It has been fine.
Tom, Chuck beat me to it.
Check your alignment first. Smoke means you're at the limit of load (pitch) for your setup. Those Autoprops sure sound good. I'd be looking at the checkbook.
P.S. You know, the sweet spot for a 3GM30F is about 2800rpm. Going faster is less good.
Check your alignment first. Smoke means you're at the limit of load (pitch) for your setup. Those Autoprops sure sound good. I'd be looking at the checkbook.
P.S. You know, the sweet spot for a 3GM30F is about 2800rpm. Going faster is less good.Fred & Marc
fred & Marc I am new at this website so thanks for the patience. Yes I agree the sweet spot is 2400 to 2800 for the Yanmar. It was suggested that the smoking is from overloading, I agree as it appears that i can achieve about 6 kts at 2800. This is the edge of where the vibration is not a good sign. I had hoped that a 3 blade prop would keep the performance up heading into weather, be more smooth, and feather under sail. I will have align ckd before going in this season and after in water. Otherwise the engine is dream, I finding out the cost for feathering prop! I look fwd to other advice in future thanks friends, Tom
fred & Marc I am new at this website so thanks for the patience. Yes I agree the sweet spot is 2400 to 2800 for the Yanmar. It was suggested that the smoking is from overloading, I agree as it appears that i can achieve about 6 kts at 2800. This is the edge of where the vibration is not a good sign. I had hoped that a 3 blade prop would keep the performance up heading into weather, be more smooth, and feather under sail. I will have align ckd before going in this season and after in water. Otherwise the engine is dream, I finding out the cost for feathering prop! I look fwd to other advice in future thanks friends, Tom
autoprop on the 356 part 2
Tom, FYI we're clocking 6.25 kts at 2300-2400 rpm with the autoprop, and it cost about $2400. Their service has also been superb- I ordered a blade wrench and some tailcone zincs on tues and they arrived thurs!
Tom, FYI we're clocking 6.25 kts at 2300-2400 rpm with the autoprop, and it cost about $2400. Their service has also been superb- I ordered a blade wrench and some tailcone zincs on tues and they arrived thurs!
Chuck, have you punched it? What is your
maximum RPM at full throttle? You know, full combat power RPM? I hear those things will auto adjust to met out max RPM too.
maximum RPM at full throttle? You know, full combat power RPM? I hear those things will auto adjust to met out max RPM too.
pedal to the metal!
bad question to ask a former racer, Fred! flat out we turned 3600 rpm at 7.8 kts but were starting to bury the stern-if I had more movable ballast on board we might have held the bow down better..... YOu've hit a key plus for the autoprop-it repitches automatically to match the conditions-giving better control in haeavy seas, for example. Very noticeable when leaving the dock-great control even a very low speeds. we're really happy with it!
bad question to ask a former racer, Fred! flat out we turned 3600 rpm at 7.8 kts but were starting to bury the stern-if I had more movable ballast on board we might have held the bow down better..... YOu've hit a key plus for the autoprop-it repitches automatically to match the conditions-giving better control in haeavy seas, for example. Very noticeable when leaving the dock-great control even a very low speeds. we're really happy with it!
Try this first.
Tom: Try this before you purchase a new prop. Lots of good reports and you will not loose and sailing speed. http://www.bay-ship.com/bayprp_nonsliptip.html
Tom: Try this before you purchase a new prop. Lots of good reports and you will not loose and sailing speed. http://www.bay-ship.com/bayprp_nonsliptip.html
Thanks Chuck, that did it! As soon as I've got
some cash, (next year, mortgage you know) my Maxprop will be history.
some cash, (next year, mortgage you know) my Maxprop will be history.
Nahhhh!!!
A big fixed 3 blade prop is a huge drag no matter what you do with it. Your just dragging a bucket around ALL the time. A feathering prop, sure; a folding prop, sure; but fixed 3, forget it!! If you want to motor, buy a trawler, if you want a sailboat, don't even think about a fixed 3.
A big fixed 3 blade prop is a huge drag no matter what you do with it. Your just dragging a bucket around ALL the time. A feathering prop, sure; a folding prop, sure; but fixed 3, forget it!! If you want to motor, buy a trawler, if you want a sailboat, don't even think about a fixed 3.
Alan, your post doesn't say who you're talking too
Chuck and I were talking about Autoprops. Not sure you were talking about them. They feather.
Chuck and I were talking about Autoprops. Not sure you were talking about them. They feather.
Regarding the engine cover
We also had trouble with the engine cover closure, but we had it fixed under warrenty, and it works great now. I would make sure your dealer knows it was a problem. And if anything isn't working the way it should, stay on your dealer. Our experience is that Hunter wants their boats to work.
We also had trouble with the engine cover closure, but we had it fixed under warrenty, and it works great now. I would make sure your dealer knows it was a problem. And if anything isn't working the way it should, stay on your dealer. Our experience is that Hunter wants their boats to work.
Autoprop
Wanted to get in here with a question or two. In reading about the Autoprop there is some discussion out there regarding the weight and if that weight accelerates failure of the cutlass bearing. I'm curious what the experience is from those who have had one on the boat for awhile. Also, I found reference on a Catalina site that installation required extending the shaft or cutting out a piece of the strut. Apparently both solutions have been used. I curious if the Hunter 356 allows a direct installation. Thanks to any who reply. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Wanted to get in here with a question or two. In reading about the Autoprop there is some discussion out there regarding the weight and if that weight accelerates failure of the cutlass bearing. I'm curious what the experience is from those who have had one on the boat for awhile. Also, I found reference on a Catalina site that installation required extending the shaft or cutting out a piece of the strut. Apparently both solutions have been used. I curious if the Hunter 356 allows a direct installation. Thanks to any who reply. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
autoprop part 3
Dan, the autoprop went on perfectly on our 356-we have a line cutter aft of the strut and with the prop on there's plenty of room for a std prop puller to fit. the prop swings with good clearance to the hull, too. As to the weight, it seemed very close to the hunter 3 blade i replaced-and much less than a max prop- i can't believe it would affect the cutless
Dan, the autoprop went on perfectly on our 356-we have a line cutter aft of the strut and with the prop on there's plenty of room for a std prop puller to fit. the prop swings with good clearance to the hull, too. As to the weight, it seemed very close to the hunter 3 blade i replaced-and much less than a max prop- i can't believe it would affect the cutless
autoprop weight
Dan, I've had an Autoprop on my 410 going on my 5th season. No problems so far with cutlass bearing or anything related. Chuck comments about the prop are right on. I think its probably all around prop out there. Like Chuck it bolted right on my 410, although there are other contributers here that have had fit problems, the 410 included. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
Dan, I've had an Autoprop on my 410 going on my 5th season. No problems so far with cutlass bearing or anything related. Chuck comments about the prop are right on. I think its probably all around prop out there. Like Chuck it bolted right on my 410, although there are other contributers here that have had fit problems, the 410 included. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
- Status