Three-bladed prop

[Fred Ficarra]

Perhaps

the underlying motive of the 'fixed prop' crowd is justification for their choice that was predicated by the desire to NOT SPEND MONEY on a folder/featherer prop because their boats don't sail well or they don't know how to get them to move properly or they don't care. (hell of a sentence, huh?) perhaps,,,,,,

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Al, I have no idea how my post was...

construed as condescending. A free wheeling three blade fixed prop has less resistance through the water than if it were locked, thus allowing the boat to speed up slightly, IMHO. The PropShop technician corroborated my opinion, whether he was quoting fact or not, please call them if you have questions or doubt their position. I figure they should know more about the technical performance of the prop than anyone on this site since that is their business, but then again I could have been talking to the receptionist. They, of course like me a humble school bus driver, know nothing. My post was not in response to yours in the first place; it was to Alan's from NY who said, "Just for the record a free wheeling prop has been shown to actually increase drag and therefore make the prop even more drag than if it were locked.", which to my simple school bus driving mind seemed illogical. Whether it does or not to me is mute. I'm not about to spend $3,200 for a feathering prop that might gain me a part of a knot in speed or, for that matter, lock my prop. I'm just happy to be out on the water regardless.Terry

 

[Al - s/v Persephone]

My apologies, Terry

Somehow, I totally mis-read your technician's opinion as saying that fixed 3-blades had less drag (a common opinion), when you were saying that he concurred.I'm terribly sorry, and will try to keep my glasses on when reading postings.(You're still welcome to come for a sail, however, even if it isn't for a drag demonstration. )Alan is, of course, correct for a 2-blade prop - just not for a 3-blade.Fair winds,Al

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Al, no apology necessary,...

but thank you anyway. No plans in the offing to be out your way, though tempting. Terry

 

[Brian M H23]

I agree

Though I only have a little 10 hp saildrive outboard, it actually has an overrunning clutch in it so that if the motor stalls out, the prop can continue freewheeling forward. If i put it in R, I slow down.