I'm considering getting a folding 3 blade prop for my boat, a Hunter C37 with a 30 hp motor, 1" shaft. I had a 2 blade w/o the geared mating arrangement and it clunked hard into position and vibrated more than I liked. Thoughts? Anyone have a used one?
Folding 3 blade prop
- Thread starter DanMaine
- Start date
I think you’d actually be happier with a feathering prop rather than a folding prop. Folders can sometimes fail to unfold when you need them most. I’ve never experienced the clunking you describe.
Use the search box at the top of the page and you will find numerous threads on the subject.
You will find when it comes to which brand there are as Many opinions as there are brands. Everyone seems to like the brand they have as the best
Use the search box at the top of the page and you will find numerous threads on the subject.
You will find when it comes to which brand there are as Many opinions as there are brands. Everyone seems to like the brand they have as the best
I have a Maxprop, definitely the most popular. Variprop is easier to adjust. Kiwiprop and Slipstream are 2 more contenders.
Mu daughter has a 1984 H 37C with the 30hp engine and a Campbell Sailor fixed three blade. She cruises at 6.5 kts. My son has a H410 with a three blade Campbell sailor prop with the 54 hp engine and he cruises 7.5+. I have a Flexofold on my H466 and love it under power cruising at 7.8-8 and it light air it is a delight when sailing. Read the tests in Yachting Monthly of Sep '09. The Campbell sailor has the lowest drag of any fixed three blade and is much lower priced than a feathering or folding prop. And I think the FOF has the lowest drag folded when compared to Feathering props but it has been a while since I read the article. I have filmed my prop and it will open at less than 1/2 revolution and close when put in neutral. Folders are much less complicated than the feathering versions and necessarily less expensive and less susceptible to snagging lines. I have had my FOF for 10 years and it has never failed to open or close. So Campbell Sailor, Flex o Fold, or Feathering...Ford, Chevy Ram. Now the reason I have the FOF is due to a buddy that owned an H466 identical to mine. He had a Max prop and loved it until he spent $1500 to have it rebuilt due to galvanic corrosion. He researched props and settled on the FOF. I asked him which he preferred more and he said hands down the FOF. He said he did not miss the backing power of the Max prop. I have never had a Max prop but I know people that have them love them. I love my folder and the lower price of it as well. Good hunting.
We have a Flex-o-fold 3 blade on our Beneteau 37 with 30 HP engine and love it for the same reasons Mikem mentioned. It has never failed to unfold, and has no vibration or clunking issues. Unlike feathering props there are no maintenance or service requirements, the up front investment is less, and the sailing drag is very slightly less.
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I had an old, ungeared folding prop on my last boat. Putting into forward would cause only one blade to open and it would be horribly unbalanced. The trick on mine was to give it a bit of reverse at idle to open the blades then slowly slide the shifter into forward without stopping in neutral to keep the blades open. Once I got the hang of it I never had a problem with clunking or imbalance. I have a fixed 2 blade now but like the idea of the flex-o-fold.