I was looking into a Flexofold prop for my boat since it will be out for bottom paint this month. They are running a boat show special for $985 and wondered if folks thought this type of prop provided a sufficiently substantial improvement in performance for the money.
Flex Fold Prop
- Thread starter wufibugs
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Buy it. That is a great price. I have had one on my last 2 boats and I won a lot more races after I installed it. It will also power your boat better in forward and reverse.
Their US distributor, Chuck, is a great guy and will tell you everything you need to know to reprop your boat.
Their US distributor, Chuck, is a great guy and will tell you everything you need to know to reprop your boat.
Thanks, Tim. There is a lot of hype out there about different kinds of props, feathering, folding, flex. Three blade feathering sounded good, but they are phenomenally expensive. This seemed much closer to a good dollar-to-performance ratio.
Buy IT
That is a fantastic price.
I have had it on my 07 H-36 for three seasons and love,I have been in Florida for the last two seasons in Florida so here in Florida it just needs to be clean a little more than when up north but any folding tpe of prop needs to be kept clean for top performance.
Nick
That is a fantastic price.
I have had it on my 07 H-36 for three seasons and love,I have been in Florida for the last two seasons in Florida so here in Florida it just needs to be clean a little more than when up north but any folding tpe of prop needs to be kept clean for top performance.
Nick
Not only do you sail better but you also end the whole "free wheel or in gear" issue. There is one thing, if it is spinning when you start sailing the centrifugal force will hold it open and it will spin forever unless you take action to stop it.
It is much heavier than a fixed blade so I would check the cutless bearing. Also I take care to get the engine revs down before shifting and don't reverse the drive rapidly. Props have been lost due to shearing of the key, I replaced mine with a stainless one.
I also ordered up a stash of zincs which come with screws if you get them from Flex-O-Fold. The screws have underwater loctite pre applied.
It is much heavier than a fixed blade so I would check the cutless bearing. Also I take care to get the engine revs down before shifting and don't reverse the drive rapidly. Props have been lost due to shearing of the key, I replaced mine with a stainless one.
I also ordered up a stash of zincs which come with screws if you get them from Flex-O-Fold. The screws have underwater loctite pre applied.
Thing of beauty it is. But don't forget to put the tranny in gear. On the long sail from Marathon to Venice my crewmate came on deck about 0300 wondering about the noise next to his head in the q-berth. With the tranny in neutral the prop didn't fold and he was hearing the tranny and shaft whine. This is my second one, had the two-blade on the old 2QM20 and this three-blade on the new 3YM30. Sweet!
John, I am having trouble remembering how that cone-shaped zinc attaches to the end of the prop. I think a machine bolt in the center. But into what?
John, I am having trouble remembering how that cone-shaped zinc attaches to the end of the prop. I think a machine bolt in the center. But into what?
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Have you checked out the Kiwi prop?
$1300 for a 3 blade feathering prop. Replaceable Zytel blades, lighter than metal, less mass on the shaft and strut. Every one who has one seems to like 'em. Do a search on Sailing Anarchy.
$1300 for a 3 blade feathering prop. Replaceable Zytel blades, lighter than metal, less mass on the shaft and strut. Every one who has one seems to like 'em. Do a search on Sailing Anarchy.
I have the OEM one from my B323, and it screws onto the shaft, plus there is a (1/4 28? #10?) Allen-head bolt on the end. However, I had to delete it when I put on the folding prop and use a shaft zinc instead.
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Yes, although you have to make sure you have clearance between the open prop and the hull and also between the closed prop and whatever may be behind it(rudder?)
They have hubs to fit almost any shaft. Mine is a 1" tapered.
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