I am the owner of a bene 40cc. She is a good sailer in a breeze but a bit of a slug in light air. has anyone out there tried a folding prop on the oceanis 40 hull ? would be interrested to know if light air performance was improved.
folding prop
- Thread starter jmoir
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I have a bavaria 40 Ocean cc with a volvo 120 saildrive. We went from a fixed 3 blade to a 3 blade kiwi prop folding prop a couple years ago and love it. I estimate about .75 to 1 kt increase in speed in light wind. It's a heavy boat and i was amazed at the difference a folder made. The other benefits are excellent reverse purchase and the silence of sailing. Less noise than our fixed blade. The kiwi factory service was extremely helpful in selecting the right size for a saildrive. Good luck - I'm sure there will be as many different recommendations as there are comments.
I won't get into specific manufacturers, since everyone has their own favorite for one reason or another. Most people see significant performance improvement in light to medium air, from 0.5 to 1.0 kts with most brands. Folding and feathering props may also improve pointing.
I read three different scientific studies from respected institutions in the US and Europe and guess what ... none of the studies agreed which prop was "the best". I chose a Gori 3 blade for my B393. But there are other good ones too. With many manufacturers to choose from, you will want to do your own research and choose based upon prop features, reliability, and price. Have fun.
I read three different scientific studies from respected institutions in the US and Europe and guess what ... none of the studies agreed which prop was "the best". I chose a Gori 3 blade for my B393. But there are other good ones too. With many manufacturers to choose from, you will want to do your own research and choose based upon prop features, reliability, and price. Have fun.
I changed to a folding prop after reading Yanmar's recommendation about not locking the drive train in gear simply because I disliked the rotational noise of the prop being left in neutral. The benefits were a speed increase of nearly a knot in lighter air, what seems to be a little bit better bite in reverse, besides the elimination of the rotational noise.
My First 38 has a Kiwi, and I think highly of it, and found the company fantastically helpful when the yard broke the thing. Several advantages it offers besides the lower price is the ability to tune the pitch with a hex wrench and the fact it's pitch is way higher in reverse, giving it really good maneuverability. Not a stockholder, but I'd be tempted!
I agree. Love my kiwi. Iget both better speed under power and better light air sailing. Not a stock holder either, but I would also be tempted.
It is important to know what your engine/transmission manufacturer recommends. Yanmar has a directive to sail with the transmission in neutral. If you do that you won't see much in the way of a speed increase under sail, but as Doug notes you will have to listen to that shaft rotate. A feathering prop like my MaxProp provides substantial reverse thrust, little walk, and excellent light air sailing. A full-batten main helps too.I am the owner of a bene 40cc. She is a good sailer in a breeze but a bit of a slug in light air. has anyone out there tried a folding prop on the oceanis 40 hull ? would be interrested to know if light air performance was improved.
Thanks for all he input. will likely go with a folder of some sort. BTW, I have been sailing a yanmar powered boat since 1986 with the trans in reverse while sailing, no adverse effects .
Not all transmissions mated to a Yanmar require neutral. You have to know the type, and the relevant directive. There are feathering props, and folding props, lots of variants.
I am sure any folding or feathering propeller will improve sailing but what about motoring (and I mean ahead motoring) when comparing with the fixed prop that has replaced?
I think folding props are better for motoring than feathering due to the blades shape but I can be wrong. Anybody with real life results?
I think folding props are better for motoring than feathering due to the blades shape but I can be wrong. Anybody with real life results?
Recently got a Flexofold for my B37. Great upgrade. Look the Yachting Monthly test of several folding and feathering props:
http://www.flexofold.com/upload_dir/docs/Test_YachtingMonthly_low.pdf
http://www.flexofold.com/upload_dir/docs/Test_YachtingMonthly_low.pdf
WR, Yachting Monthly used a B 323 as its test bed for the propeller testing. That article should answer a lot of your questions re pitch, diameter and 2 or 3 blade-its specific to your boat.
I too am going to install a Flexifold before spring on my OC 45. It's price and performance are hard to beat. Beneteau offers it as a option with the Yanmar Saildrives on the new Oceanis series. My slip neighbor had it optioned on his 45. So I'm not too worried about warranty flack from Yanmar should something go wrong.