Feathering Props

[Laker14]

I've just got the boat in the water for the season and I'm already looking to build the wish list for next season.

I've got a Campbell Sailor 3 blade fixed propeller on my boat currently and it's performance in reverse is less than ideal. The low drag, smaller profile of the prop is very weak in reverse. So I'm looking at going with a feathering prop. I've been checking out the forums and various websites it's hard to find any direct comparisons between products.

The two I'm interested in that are rep'd in my area are the J-Prop and the VariProfile. Another one I've seen discussed in the forums is the Autostream unit from Martec.

One thing I've noticed is that the J-Prop is markedly lower in price than the VariProfile or Autostream.

Any comments or suggestions on these or other units would be appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[wufibugs]

I am very close to ordering a Flexofold for just under $1k. What price were you quoted for the J-prop?

 

[Laker14]

I've seen price lists quoting $1,500 to $1,800 CAN for the J-Prop. This is in contast to $2,900 for the VariProfile and $3,200 for the AutoStream.

I'm most interested in the difference in quality and durability.

 

[Steve Dion]

Kiwi Prop

 

[Nodak7]

Gori

How about the Gori. Is that not in your research? I was looking at them but my wish list was bigger than my finances and I had to drop it. What I did find out I thought was very positive. Kind of pricey though.

 

[Laker14]

I was looking at feathering props versus folding for the reversing capabillities. I've had some experience with handling a Hunter 33 with a VariProp and was really impressed with the responsiveness and control in reverse. I've heard that most folding propellers are exceptional under sail, but lack the responsiveness in reverse.

 

[windward54]

I sprung for an Autostream. It was a little more expensive, but I really like it. There is a split second of prop walk when the blades are rotating. But it dissappears so quickly that most of the time I hardly notice it. Best part was I picked up over a knot when sailing. You will really notice the difference in light and moderate winds.

I live in Long Beach, close to the Martec location. I went over and talked it over with Gary there, who was great in going over the differences between a feathering and folding prop. They manufacture a folder and distribute the Autostream. His basic advice was to go with a folder if you race a lot, but go with a feathering prop if you cruise areound. This is especially true if you hand over the wheel to a lesser experienced person occassionally.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I went with the AutoStream. The deciding factors for me was that it had external pitch adjustment (at the time MaxProp did not), it was all stainless steel so that there was no dissimilar metal issue with the shaft, It can be greased in the water (I was not hauling every year at the time), and since it was a feathering prop rather than a folder the reverse performance would be excellent.

Remember when a feathering prop goes into reverse, the leading edge of the prop is still the leading edge in reverse. The stopping power is impressive. The first time I entered a slip i shifted to reverse at the normal stopping distance. I ended up stopping only half-way into the slip and had to go into forward again.

The only downside of the AutoStream (other than price) is that the custom zinc is about $40- very expensive IMHO. However, I solved that issue by machining an adapter that allows me to attach a standard shaft zinc that cost me only $7. See the pix of the original zinc and my el-cheapo solution.

BTW, at the time I bought the AutoStream in 2000, it was $1000 less than the MaxProp.

 

[Laker14]

Thanks for the comements guys, does the Autostream have independant pitch adjustments for forward and reverse? The claim from VariProp is their independant adjustments allows for specific tuning for the reverse gear.

Still looking to see if anyone has any experience with the J-Prop product?

 

[Rich Stidger]

Yes, AutoStream has both forward and reverse external pitch adjustment.