Feathering Prop & barnacles

[Ken13559]

Those who uses feathering prop e.g. Kiwi Prop, could you advice me if barnacle growing around the prop hub would prevent the blade from feathering/setting to correct direction?

 

[Rich Stidger]

I have an AutoStream 3-blade feathering and I have never experienced that issue.

 

[seadaddler]

Dive

I dive under my H-36 about once a month here in Florida and do clean my Flex O Fold but I remember my very first year here in Florida I left to go up north for about 3 months and when I went to go sailing on my return that the boat would hardly back out of my slip and so when I did dive to check the prop was so loaded with barnacles it was not opening,after giving it a good scrape and cleaning it it was OK.
I think you should clean it as often as needed for good motoring and performance.
Nick

 

[Ken13559]

Rich, Nick,
I see. I suppose barnacle affect the feathering & folding more than fixed blades. Ok so monthly maintenance cleaning has to be done. Thanks for the heads up.

KenY

 

[Alan]

Monthly cleaning of the prop is something that needs to be done regardless of the type of prop. Barnacles will grow and need to be cleaned if you expect the prop to be effective (the barnacles are none discriminating). The only difference is the fixed blade prop doesn't have to 'open' to work but the barnacles will sure make the prop highly inefficient.