Wow Kiwi Prop *pop

[Jim Seamans]

Just about passed out a few minutes ago! I ordered the Kiwi Prop for Java on Monday 12/17 and it arrived today 12/19. Now THAT IS QUICK...*yks All the way from New Zealand in two days. Thank You Kiwi Prop and Jamie. I might have to splash the boat next week and go for a ride. Guess I'll be pacing around until spring...JimS/V Java

 

[Rich Stidger]

Every sailboat deserves a nice holiday present!

Looks nice, Jim. Is is a feather or a folder?

 

[NautiDuck]

And a hat too!

Sweet.

 

[Seadaddler]

GO For It

Hey Jim I am in Ft Myers airport waiting for my flight home for Xmasbut coming back to Port Charlotte for the rest of the winter.I will be going back to NY in april for one more year up north before sailing to Port Charlotte,FL next fall and I want to put either the KIWI or Flex o Fold before splash in the spring so go for a sail withJAVA so you can tell us what you think about it.Nick

 

[Jim Seamans]

Its a feather prop

Will advise as soon as I can get back into the water, which should be April 1Merry Christmas everyone.JimS/V Java

 

[Patrick Lombard]

Love Mind

Installed one two seasons ago, Love It...Love It...Love It.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Hey Pat - question

What paint did you use on the prop - same bottom paint?Did your prop come as fast as mine? I was expecting to take a week or more, glad I was home to sign for it.JimS/V Java

 

[Patrick Lombard]

Jim

Took about 5 days for me. Yes, same bottom paint, 2 coats, 2 colors. After the 1st season the 1/2" square drive nut filled with marine crap so I filled it with silicon at 2nd season launch, that did the trick. Was not happy with pitch on the prop the 1st year, could only get 2600 rpms any higher than that I got black smoke out of the engine. Plus I could not reach hull speed. Normally got 3600 rpms with a little smoke. 2nd year I backed off all 3 pitch adjuster by 1/4 turn. That got be back to around 3500 rpms with no smoke and my hull speed. Backing up you don't need much throttle, moves pretty fast, no prop walk. If I increase the throttle above 1800 rpms it starts to smokes. Other than that great prop for the price. Picked up some speed when sailing and works very well if you have to motor sail to get in fast.

 

[John]

foldding vs. feathering

What are the relative advantages/disadvantages of a folding vs. a feathering prop?

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Quick and simple answer;

Folding blades stream in the water while under sail. They have the least drag but aren't famous for their back down ability. Feathering blades go with the flow of water but remain at their full circumference. Good drag properties and excellent backing but prone to snagging stuff like seaweed. Was that quick enough?

 

[Jim Seamans]

What's seaweed, we got mud - that samething???

nm

 

[Les Blackwell]

I can't agree with Fred

Fred, you say that "They have the least drag but aren't famous for their back down ability". I have a 3 blade Max prop that folds on my H380 and I have the same power in reverse as I have in forward. While the folding prop does have little drag it also allows me to have three blades which helps push the boat in chop. But I do have excellent reverse--so much so that two other local skippers that have tried my boat now have Max props for their boats.

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

Whoops!

That last post, should proof read these like my reports, reads like a 'Max' will help get you out of a danger bearing with the extra one-fourth-knot; maybe...but I meant it may choose that time to fail, and a tried & true two or three blade is ultimately more secure, and they give better bite under power.I have an outboard on my little Freedom, but the "YACHT" is light and sails well very well.Had a bronze three-blade R.H. on my steel schooner and got more bang per buck + very reliable for the 'braking' part Fred is talking about.BTW Spinnaker came from a first racing design (think it was America's Cup) the "Sphinx's" ACRE of sail was poo-pooed by all racing community...till she of course set records on all racing courses.Then all boats started using "Sphinx's Acres" later basterized down to the mod spinnaker.More racing accidents are caused by spinakkers than any other sail, a good friend was killed racing in front of Aquatic Park San Francisco when a guy wrapped his foot and he went overboard.Geroge Fernstermacher, highly experienced and sailed all over the world.

 

[larry w]

All props, except a fixed three-blade...

are a compromise between effiency and reduced drag. I have a Max-Prop on my Bene and I love it. (Les in Bellingham, a Max is a feathering prop, not a folding)I love the Max, although, if I were to do it again, I think I'd go with a fixed two-blade that could be lined up behind the keel to reduce drag and wouldn't have any moving parts underwater. The Max must be serviced at every haul-out, but the newer ones can be greased in-the-water. The boat backs like it was on rails, and when those blades reverse, they bite like a big dog. I come into my slip fairly hot to keep control (my slip has a cross wind) and I can stop the boat on a dime with a moderate shot of reverse. Getting out of the slip is not problem either- a good shot of reverse to get it moving and out we go.