Thanks Tom, Joe, Doug and John. I've posted this elsewhere and despite the
rude reputation of .asa got the best responses right here. My experience,
in reverse,with the folders led me to discount them even though they have
the least drag. The issue of bladeshape is of course what led me to askthe
question in the first place. I thought about lining up the three blades
withone straightup using an index line but that meansgetting
underthecockpitsole each time. Alsothought aboutthe lack of protection as
the rudder isbehind,the skeg is small and the keels are toeither side.
AsThom said Martec enjoys a good reputation along with Luke with the others
closebehind. Hereinliesthe problem. No one has said much negative about
their feathering props. That's six different choices with no real
detractors. Could it be in this particular niche all the manufacturers
havedone a superior job? The Luke says they have abit more dragbut
arebetter when the prop blades deploy. One company is total stainless steel
which does away with electroalysis as the shaft on the boat is stainless
aswell. One company does four blade props, the others two or three. I'm
beginningtothinkany of them will do well it may be a question almost solely
of price. Well it's not time to do it yet. That's next spring so I'll keep
at it. Oh and as for losing the blades that happened to one of my sailing
buds with his Saab variable pitch prop. Hedoesn't evenwantto ask theprice
of a new one. I wonderr if a little loctite would have helped.

Any more info keep it coming . .....and thanks!

Michael





"John Cairns" wrote in message
...
You never said why you dismissed a folder. The most efficient props under
sail are folders, period. If you must have a 3-blade Gori makes a nice 3
blade folder, I have a 2-blade and it is a thing of beauty, just about
zero
prop walk in reverse, in fact it still takes a little getting used to as I
spent the first 3 seasons with this boat learning how to back it out
compensating for the prop walk.
John Cairns



"Michael" wrote in message
...
Won't keep you long from the main thrust of .asa but I'm compelled to
ask
advice on a sailing question? REALLY? Imagine that!

I've done a ton of research and come up with several 'candidate' props
for
the boat. They are all of the self-feathering variety. Max-Prop,
Auto-Prop, J-Prop, Luke and a couple more. Threw out the folding kind
and
the adjustable pitch kind is way to spendy. So .....after having read
all
the literature, advertising, propaganda etc. it gets down to comments by
people who actually have them on their boats, the real prop users.

What I'm looking for is your comments on how well, or how poorly your
particular brand performed and if you like it what size boat etc.
Either
as the owner, the operator or maybe you know someone whose brain you can
pick! I can afford it, but the cost is high enough I don't want to
throw
darts or flip coins. I won't give you any parameters on intended use
sothat
way I get good unbiased data. However my boat is 25' LWL, 31' LOD, 9.5'
beam
and approx. 6 ton plus range. Twin keels naturally of course and a 30HP
Diesel Inboard auxilary. There is room to retrofit a reduction gear on
the
shaft.

Thanks,

Michael

(sotto volce) and now ...... back to asa.duh-litics!