I have a 1979Hunter 30,I have a 2 Blade prop like to increase my pushing power,where can I get a 3 blade prop? I have my boat in Atlantic City NJ.
- Status
New props and why you need one
Consider the following, if your boat will acheve hull speed in calm conditions with your present prop and you can always raise your sails to give added driving power when the wind and waves pipe up, why would you need a different prop? I found this out by accident with my underpowered Catalina 30, with only 11 HP she would do hull speed fine in calm conditions. Once the wind piped up to anything over about 10 kts she would slow to about 2-3 kts. But then I could rase the sails and get back to hull speed. In most cases we could shut down the engine and just use the sails. The only case where this did not work was in a narrow chanel going directly into the wind which I have only ran into once in 5 years. AND it made me a better sailor to boot!! If your boat can make hull speed in calm conditions under power alone, save your money for other things, you don't need a new prop.
Consider the following, if your boat will acheve hull speed in calm conditions with your present prop and you can always raise your sails to give added driving power when the wind and waves pipe up, why would you need a different prop? I found this out by accident with my underpowered Catalina 30, with only 11 HP she would do hull speed fine in calm conditions. Once the wind piped up to anything over about 10 kts she would slow to about 2-3 kts. But then I could rase the sails and get back to hull speed. In most cases we could shut down the engine and just use the sails. The only case where this did not work was in a narrow chanel going directly into the wind which I have only ran into once in 5 years. AND it made me a better sailor to boot!! If your boat can make hull speed in calm conditions under power alone, save your money for other things, you don't need a new prop.
Well,... this should be interesting.
This topic has usually precipitated a flurry of heated and emotional opinions. So, stand by... Personally, I think that saying that you could sail, or motorsail, with a 2-bladed prop instead of getting a 3-bladed prop is a bit disingenuous. Let's face it: if you could sail, you would sail, right? But,when the wind is in your face, and you're motoring through the chop to get wherever you want to go, sailing there is probably NOT an option if you want to get there within the next week or so. I went to a 3-bladed prop a few years ago on my H-31. I'm COMPLETELY happy with it. The operation of the engine and drive train is remarkably smoother, and when I have to motor against the wind and chop and tide I have a lot more thrust. Drag: That's the problem. In San Francisco, there is a LOT of wind, especially in the summer. Here, reefing skills are indispensable, and the drag of the prop is negligible insofar as I can generally achieve hull speed with a minimum of sail area. I don't know the conditions in Atlantic City, but if you spend a lot of time in light winds, or if you race, this would be a significant issue. If you have the bucks, you can assuage your guilt vis a vis the 'drag' issue with a folding (or feathering) prop. Alternatively, there are some newer designs for fixed 3-bladed props that claim to have markedly improved drag profiles. Anyway, this might prove to be a lively discussion. Good luck - Rick
This topic has usually precipitated a flurry of heated and emotional opinions. So, stand by... Personally, I think that saying that you could sail, or motorsail, with a 2-bladed prop instead of getting a 3-bladed prop is a bit disingenuous. Let's face it: if you could sail, you would sail, right? But,when the wind is in your face, and you're motoring through the chop to get wherever you want to go, sailing there is probably NOT an option if you want to get there within the next week or so. I went to a 3-bladed prop a few years ago on my H-31. I'm COMPLETELY happy with it. The operation of the engine and drive train is remarkably smoother, and when I have to motor against the wind and chop and tide I have a lot more thrust. Drag: That's the problem. In San Francisco, there is a LOT of wind, especially in the summer. Here, reefing skills are indispensable, and the drag of the prop is negligible insofar as I can generally achieve hull speed with a minimum of sail area. I don't know the conditions in Atlantic City, but if you spend a lot of time in light winds, or if you race, this would be a significant issue. If you have the bucks, you can assuage your guilt vis a vis the 'drag' issue with a folding (or feathering) prop. Alternatively, there are some newer designs for fixed 3-bladed props that claim to have markedly improved drag profiles. Anyway, this might prove to be a lively discussion. Good luck - Rick
Please give the man some slack! I grew up in NJ and the key words here are "Atlantic City" The good sailing is in the ocean. The ocean is separated from the bay by an inlet. The prevailing wind is westerly. On a rising tide and/or easterly wind, the surf builds up and breaks across the bar in the inlet, a rather narrow place marked by jetties of huge granite boulders. A boat out of control in the inlet will broach and may be unfortunate enough to also break up on the jetty. As a teen ager, I remember seeing a 55' Chris-Craft Constellation mounted in a royal fashion upon the top of the jetty. Enough power will allow one to transit between waves without either broaching or being smashed upon the jetty. I believe here is where seamanship and commonsense say "If you can power/sail through by all means do it: if you lack the experience and confidence, no one will think the less of you if you wait 3 or 4 hours offshore and sail in on the slack tide.
Please check your previous questions
JOND If you check your previous question "Outboard" you will find a post with the picture and price of a Cambell Sailor I just placed on my 1979 Hunter 30 with YSM 12. I will post my findings next week.
JOND If you check your previous question "Outboard" you will find a post with the picture and price of a Cambell Sailor I just placed on my 1979 Hunter 30 with YSM 12. I will post my findings next week.
A couple of links
When I switched out my prop, I called Hunter for the original prop specs and then they put me in touch with General Propeller, who recommended a pitch and diameter for a fixed 3-bladed prop, which has worked out fairly well. The have a website (http://gpcprop.com) but I found it easier just to call them on the phone. I have heard that the 'Campbell Sailer' is an efficient design for a fixed 3-blade sailboat propeller, and not too expensive. They also have more high-tech (and more expensive) products. The following link is to their website. I'm sure there are lots of other manufacturers and suppliers out there. These are just two possibilities that popped into my head. Good luck - Rick
When I switched out my prop, I called Hunter for the original prop specs and then they put me in touch with General Propeller, who recommended a pitch and diameter for a fixed 3-bladed prop, which has worked out fairly well. The have a website (http://gpcprop.com) but I found it easier just to call them on the phone. I have heard that the 'Campbell Sailer' is an efficient design for a fixed 3-blade sailboat propeller, and not too expensive. They also have more high-tech (and more expensive) products. The following link is to their website. I'm sure there are lots of other manufacturers and suppliers out there. These are just two possibilities that popped into my head. Good luck - Rick
- Status