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oups.com...
Dear all

We are changing our propeller to our 32 ft sailing boat and wondering
weather to choose folding or feathering propeller? What kind of
practical experience do you have from these feathering ones and what
are the benefits and disbenefits comparing to folding ones?

For us folding propellers are more familiar, but after seeking
information from web, we decide to check this feathering option too.

Do you have also some "good recommendations" for appropriate propeller
(now we have thought Volvo, Gori or Kiwiprop).

Thank you in advance.

Regards,

- Sailor from Scandinavia.

I have a 38' yacht with a Maxprop 2-blade feathering propeller which offers
negligible resistance when feathered. I think it is better than a folding
propeller because it is highly efficient in reverse and you can dock in a
civilised manner under full control with the engine just above idling and do
not have to rev up the engine in reverse to get decent braking as you do
with a folding prop.
Some will say that the relatively flat blades of a Maxprop are less
efficient than the more conventionally shaped blades of a folding propeller
but as mine is a sailing yacht, not a power boat, and I can get up to over 7
knots under power at 2/3 throttle why should this concern me?
The only downside I can speak of is that here in Norway I am finding it very
hard to find supplies of the very thin grease you need to lubricate it. It
needs Esso Cazar K6 or equivalent. I found some last year but now none of
the Esso agents seem to stock it and the Lubriplate equivalent they
recommend in USA is unheard of here. I am working on this problem as we
speak.