I am in need of Folding Prop feedback. I will soon be hauling for paint and shaft bearing replacement. I currently have the OEM fixed 3 blade prop which performs well when required but certainly costs me boat speed. I would appreciate some real life feedback from folding prop owners, especially concerning using in reverse! Tight situations and windy conditions demand good engine/prop responce and at these prices I won't be "just trying them out to see which is better for me".
Folding Prop Choices
- Thread starter rickruff
- Start date
- Status
rick...IMO the key to any reverse maneuver is to get some way on. You cannot expect a boat to go backwards as well as it goes forward, but it will track straight & even steer if you get some flow over the rudder (& keel). Get the revs up, get it going, then back off the revs a little or coast so the rudder will work.
That being said, any prop will eventually get you there forward or backward. The specifics on the prop you get will depend on the engine you have. Since your profiles says Mark III, you likely have one of the bigger diesels. I think the later 30's have longer prop shafts to get a little bigger prop on the engine. It seems to me that the more thrust a folder/feathering prop claims to have in reverse the more it costs.
I cruised (& raced) on a Tartan 3000 with the little 5411 engine for years with a Martec folding prop. Only once could I not get the boat where I wanted in reverse against a side wind. We did manage to lay up on one of the pilings and pulled the boat in and did not damage any others.
- In hindsight, this was an error on my part..I came at it from the wrong direction & could not swing the bow up into the wind.
My current boat has an Atomic 4 with the 3-blade Indigo on a 46 1/2" shaft. I like it for powering but, yes, dragging 3 blades around hurts sailing performance..If I did a prop purchase again, I'd probably skip the Indigo and go with a Martec folder...it's a sailboat after all, and the more I can sail, the happier I am.
Practicing in open water when you are not in an emergency or tight situation really helps to know what your boat can and can't do. There's nothing wrong with backing up at 2 or 3 knots, as long as you don't let go of the rudder!
That being said, any prop will eventually get you there forward or backward. The specifics on the prop you get will depend on the engine you have. Since your profiles says Mark III, you likely have one of the bigger diesels. I think the later 30's have longer prop shafts to get a little bigger prop on the engine. It seems to me that the more thrust a folder/feathering prop claims to have in reverse the more it costs.
I cruised (& raced) on a Tartan 3000 with the little 5411 engine for years with a Martec folding prop. Only once could I not get the boat where I wanted in reverse against a side wind. We did manage to lay up on one of the pilings and pulled the boat in and did not damage any others.
- In hindsight, this was an error on my part..I came at it from the wrong direction & could not swing the bow up into the wind.My current boat has an Atomic 4 with the 3-blade Indigo on a 46 1/2" shaft. I like it for powering but, yes, dragging 3 blades around hurts sailing performance..If I did a prop purchase again, I'd probably skip the Indigo and go with a Martec folder...it's a sailboat after all, and the more I can sail, the happier I am.
Practicing in open water when you are not in an emergency or tight situation really helps to know what your boat can and can't do. There's nothing wrong with backing up at 2 or 3 knots, as long as you don't let go of the rudder!
The two folders I see with the best reputation are the Varifold and Flex-O-fold. Owned a Martec, no comment..
Martec Folding Prop
I have a Martec Eliptec RH14Dx10P folding which I used on my Yanmar 3 cyl. Worked great. If this will fit your needs, just let me know.
Attachments
I have, over the years, used fixed, feathering, and folding props on my C30. All were two bladed. There is a very nice improvement in speed with feathering and folding props. Since you sound as if you have decided upon a folder, l will tell you about my near complete satisfaction with the Flexofold I installed a couple of years ago. It provides plenty of power both in forward and reverse. The boat can be crash-stopped pretty quickly in reverse.
I'm pretty sure the feathering prop was even a bit stronger in reverse, but there is actually less prop walk with my folder. If you get a folder, strongly consider a geared model like the Flexofold (Martec has them too).
I'm pretty sure the feathering prop was even a bit stronger in reverse, but there is actually less prop walk with my folder. If you get a folder, strongly consider a geared model like the Flexofold (Martec has them too).
- Status