Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

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.

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

wrote in message
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?

Are you competing at a high level in regattas? If not, then buy a fixed prop
and use the saved money for something else more important.

If you really want to throw money at a fancy prop, get a Brunton Autoprop. A
brilliant piece of kit that permits low drag sailing and efficient
motor-sailing.

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Ric" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
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?

Are you competing at a high level in regattas? If not, then buy a fixed
prop and use the saved money for something else more important.

If you really want to throw money at a fancy prop, get a Brunton Autoprop.
A brilliant piece of kit that permits low drag sailing and efficient
motor-sailing.



I think that really is the key question. My experience has mostly been with
fixed-blade. I'm sure a quick google search will produce the +/- for the
different options. A quick search produced this, which gives some decent
info... http://www.endeavourowners.com/dscsn...ion/props.html


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

Any sailboat will benifit from a folding prop. It's a 1/2 kt gain.
There is no downside. When docking etc. you just plan in advance.
There's a little less power in reverse. You should never approach a
dock harder than yo'ur willing to hit it anyway.

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Ringmaster" wrote in message
oups.com...
Any sailboat will benifit from a folding prop. It's a 1/2 kt gain.
There is no downside. When docking etc. you just plan in advance.
There's a little less power in reverse. You should never approach a
dock harder than yo'ur willing to hit it anyway.

If you get a Brunton, it works equally efficiently in reverse. Same can be
said for Maxprop and other feathering (as opposed tofolding) props. But the
big advantage of the Brunton is that it is self-pitching and adjusts itself
to best pitch no matter what the engine regime or boat speed.

Folding props are not much good on a cruising boat. Terrible reverse
braking, and no significant speed advantage over a feathering prop.

If you google around you will find a very good pdf tabular comparison of all
props done by a German university. Somebody else may have a reference. The
police nicked my old computer eight months ago so I no longer have a
reference to it...

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

wrote in message
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.

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

For what ever,

I choose a Martec folding prop with streamlined tips to get that extra
1/2 knt while sailing.

It proved to be better Prop than my fixed Prop in every way accept for
the prop walk in backing, It became my primary Prop and the Fixed my
spare.

I choose a Martec Folder because of the simplicity.













http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomJazz

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Thom Stewart" wrote

I choose a Martec Folder because of the simplicity.


Yours or the prop's? :-)

Cheers,
Ellen

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

I have a three bladed "flexo-fold" prop. Seems fine and I have had nor
problem with reverse (not down to the prop anyway!).

www.flexofold.com

Regards

--
Derek Lumb
Westerly Typhoon
"Whispered Secret" NWVYC
"Edgar" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
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.

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Derek Lumb" wrote in message
...
I have a three bladed "flexo-fold" prop. Seems fine and I have had nor
problem with reverse (not down to the prop anyway!).

www.flexofold.com

Regards


My prop is a fixed, three-bladed type. It has less drag than any folding
or feathering prop ever made. As a matter of fact, it has no drag at all
when under sail. It never needs to be cleaned of marine growth and it
never needs anti-fouling paint. It costs about a hundred dollars. It
weighs less than a pound. It can be removed and re-installed in about
two minutes. It is clearly superior in every way to any folding or
feathering propeller.

Wilbur Hubbard

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
On Tue, 6 Mar 2007 14:04:58 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:


"Derek Lumb" wrote in message
...
I have a three bladed "flexo-fold" prop. Seems fine and I have had nor
problem with reverse (not down to the prop anyway!).

www.flexofold.com

Regards


My prop is a fixed, three-bladed type. It has less drag than any folding

I've got one very similar to that.

CWM

I do also, but I hardly ever use it.


--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
My prop is a fixed, three-bladed type. It has less drag than any folding

I've got one very similar to that.

CWM

I do also, but I hardly ever use it.

My slip is a half mile up a narrow channel with a lot of traffic. It's
widely frowned upon to sail either in or out. It wouldn't be much fun
anyway.

There are a couple of marinas here that have the same frown factor. A
couple of them outright ban it, of course, in an "emergency" there's
not much they can do.

However, I was referring to the prop on the outboard that hangs on the
transom. g

--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
On 6 Mar 2007 12:36:06 -0800, lid (Jonathan Ganz) wrote:

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
My prop is a fixed, three-bladed type. It has less drag than any folding

I've got one very similar to that.

CWM

I do also, but I hardly ever use it.

My slip is a half mile up a narrow channel with a lot of traffic. It's
widely frowned upon to sail either in or out. It wouldn't be much fun
anyway.

There are a couple of marinas here that have the same frown factor. A
couple of them outright ban it, of course, in an "emergency" there's
not much they can do.

However, I was referring to the prop on the outboard that hangs on the
transom. g

I was as well. Regardless, it's not just a "frown factor" here. The LEO's will
"pull you over" for it.

Last time I sailed into a marina that forbids it, we had no choice. I
called ahead so they wouldn't have a freak out.
--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Charlie Morgan" wrote in message
...

Just to make sure you understand what I'm saying: This is a long
narrow twisty
river with a lot of marinas. The local law enforcement considers going
up or
down the river under sail in a keelboat to be unsafe operation.
Ticket!

CWM

Is there anybody around there with a pair? I'd be out there under sail
every day until I got ticketed. Then I take it to court and kick their
asses. You cannot legally say sailing in an unsafe operation. Let alone
make such stupidity stick.

Wilbur Hubbard

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 6 Mar 2007 19:34:36 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
said:

You cannot legally say sailing in an unsafe operation.

What is the basis of this conclusion?




The basis is faulty law that was written to further an agenda in the
hope it would not be challenged. The longer it stands unchallenged the
more chance it has of being used as precedence in even more
unconstitutional laws. If you're really a lawyer then you know law is
written all the time knowing it won't stand up to the first challenge.
It gives the writer a chance to fine tune it later on and in the
meanwhile liberals get they way.

Wilbur Hubbard

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
I was as well. Regardless, it's not just a "frown factor" here. The LEO's will
"pull you over" for it.

Last time I sailed into a marina that forbids it, we had no choice. I
called ahead so they wouldn't have a freak out.

Just to make sure you understand what I'm saying: This is a long narrow twisty
river with a lot of marinas. The local law enforcement considers going up or
down the river under sail in a keelboat to be unsafe operation. Ticket!

CWM

What happens if the engine dies and you have to sail? Do they ticket
and call SEATow?



--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 6 Mar 2007 20:40:14 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
said:

You cannot legally say sailing in an unsafe operation.

What is the basis of this conclusion?




The basis is faulty law that was written to further an agenda in the
hope it would not be challenged. The longer it stands unchallenged the
more chance it has of being used as precedence in even more
unconstitutional laws. If you're really a lawyer then you know law is
written all the time knowing it won't stand up to the first challenge.
It gives the writer a chance to fine tune it later on and in the
meanwhile liberals get they way.

In other words, you have no basis whatever for that claim. You expect
that
if you sling enough bull**** around someone might think you know what
you're
talking about.

Sorry, but that's the method lawyers use. Sling bull**** until something
sticks. Here in Florida the governor signed into law a new anchoring law
that prohibits municipalities from regulating anchoring anywhere in
state waters other than mooring fields. Yet, municipalities are ignoring
the new law because they say until it is challenged it court and upheld
it has no real legal standing. Exactly what I'm saying above. If you're
a lawyer you would know how this works.

Wilbur Hubbard

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Charlie Morgan" wrote in message

I have no idea what would happen in a hypothetical situation.

I believe this, unable as you are to think beyond your next trip to the
crapper.

I do
know that the local police have wide discretion in what to allow or
not allow. For that matter, sailing in this particular channel would
probably make you quite a few enemies.

No more than you make here.

Max

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
On 6 Mar 2007 21:44:59 -0800, lid (Jonathan Ganz)
wrote:

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
I was as well. Regardless, it's not just a "frown factor" here. The LEO's will
"pull you over" for it.

Last time I sailed into a marina that forbids it, we had no choice. I
called ahead so they wouldn't have a freak out.

Just to make sure you understand what I'm saying: This is a long narrow twisty
river with a lot of marinas. The local law enforcement considers going up or
down the river under sail in a keelboat to be unsafe operation. Ticket!

CWM

What happens if the engine dies and you have to sail? Do they ticket
and call SEATow?

I have no idea what would happen in a hypothetical situation. I do
know that the local police have wide discretion in what to allow or
not allow. For that matter, sailing in this particular channel would
probably make you quite a few enemies. You'd be very much in the way
of other craft trying to use the channel.

That's typically the case... wide discretion... sometimes
good/sometimes bad. Kinda like the "bad cop" discussion in
rec.boats.cruising.
--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Charlie Morgan" wrote in message
...
On 6 Mar 2007 21:44:59 -0800, lid (Jonathan Ganz)
wrote:

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
I was as well. Regardless, it's not just a "frown factor" here. The
LEO's will
"pull you over" for it.

Last time I sailed into a marina that forbids it, we had no choice.
I
called ahead so they wouldn't have a freak out.

Just to make sure you understand what I'm saying: This is a long
narrow twisty
river with a lot of marinas. The local law enforcement considers
going up or
down the river under sail in a keelboat to be unsafe operation.
Ticket!

CWM

What happens if the engine dies and you have to sail? Do they ticket
and call SEATow?

I have no idea what would happen in a hypothetical situation. I do
know that the local police have wide discretion in what to allow or
not allow. For that matter, sailing in this particular channel would
probably make you quite a few enemies. You'd be very much in the way
of other craft trying to use the channel.

No they do not have wide discretion. Anything they do to make it stick
has to be based on law and not on their opinion. You cannot enforce
opinions. You cannot enforce restrictions on sailing one type of craft
(keelboats) and not another type of craft (non-keelboats). You either
ban sailing outright or you allow sailing outright. Somebody needs to
challenge that bogus law. It will NOT stand up in a court of law. Where
is this happening. I'd like to get Boat US on it to begin with.

Wilbur Hubbard

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Charlie Morgan" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 7 Mar 2007 14:18:40 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:


"Charlie Morgan" wrote in message
. ..
On 6 Mar 2007 21:44:59 -0800, lid (Jonathan Ganz)
wrote:

In article ,
Charlie Morgan wrote:
I was as well. Regardless, it's not just a "frown factor" here.
The
LEO's will
"pull you over" for it.

Last time I sailed into a marina that forbids it, we had no
choice.
I
called ahead so they wouldn't have a freak out.

Just to make sure you understand what I'm saying: This is a long
narrow twisty
river with a lot of marinas. The local law enforcement considers
going up or
down the river under sail in a keelboat to be unsafe operation.
Ticket!

CWM

What happens if the engine dies and you have to sail? Do they ticket
and call SEATow?

I have no idea what would happen in a hypothetical situation. I do
know that the local police have wide discretion in what to allow or
not allow. For that matter, sailing in this particular channel would
probably make you quite a few enemies. You'd be very much in the way
of other craft trying to use the channel.

No they do not have wide discretion. Anything they do to make it stick
has to be based on law and not on their opinion.

Ever hear of someone getting a traffic ticket for "Traveling too fast
for conditions"? "Operating in an unsafe manner"?

Yes, but it can't be made to stick unless it resulted in some sort of
other infraction such as an injury to person or property such as in a
collision. It is never a stand-alone citation and, if it is, it is
easily beaten. Traveling too fast for conditions is conditional on it's
resulting in an accident or something. If no accident or incidental
infraction occurs then it cannot be proven in court one was traveling
too fast for conditions. You just cannot be guilty of hearsay. The only
way it can be said one was traveling too fast for conditions is if it
caused something else to happen. It's like the song about reckless
discharge of a firearm and the dude says "Reckless, Hell! I hit just
where I was aiming."


How about being arrested for displaying "intent" to do something?

You can be arrested for anything. But, the charge has to be proven. If
the charge is intent then you have to prove intent - a very difficult
thing to do.

I hope this helps.

Wilbur Hubbard

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:56:12 -0500, Charlie Morgan
said:

When is visiting day at the rehab center, Neal?

Careful, Charlie. Neal's gonna sue you, acting as his own lawyer.
Didn't you
see him explaining how easy it is?

I'd like to be in court as the defendant while you were working for the
prosecution. I'd kick your wimpy, pea-brained butt all over the
courthouse. I'd do it with indisputable written statutes and statutory
definitions. The only way to lose a case like that is to have a crooked
or ignorant judge. Not that the system's not rife with those.

Wilbur Hubbard

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:56:12 -0500, Charlie Morgan
said:

When is visiting day at the rehab center, Neal?

Careful, Charlie. Neal's gonna sue you, acting as his own lawyer.
Didn't you
see him explaining how easy it is?

I don't believe in suing people. I extract satisfaction in more manly
ways. It is generally wimps and pussies who hire lawyers and sue. The
one gravitates towards the other. Misery loves company. Birds of a
feather. Lowlife scum! Your peers!

Wilbur Hubbard

Folding or feathering propleller, practical experience?
 

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:04:58 -0500, Wilbur Hubbard wrote:

"Derek Lumb" wrote in message
...
I have a three bladed "flexo-fold" prop. Seems fine and I have had nor
problem with reverse (not down to the prop anyway!).

www.flexofold.com

Regards


My prop is a fixed, three-bladed type. It has less drag than any folding
or feathering prop ever made. As a matter of fact, it has no drag at all
when under sail. It never needs to be cleaned of marine growth and it
never needs anti-fouling paint. It costs about a hundred dollars. It
weighs less than a pound. It can be removed and re-installed in about
two minutes. It is clearly superior in every way to any folding or
feathering propeller.

Wilbur Hubbard

Wilbur! I have the latest five blade model of this. It has anti snare
too, a must for sailing right through those pesky drift nets and pots
they insist on dumping around here. I'm told that the manufacturers are
looking at developing the vortex-plus for the next design. This actually
acts as a multiplier and gives roughly half a knot extra speed under sail!
Crossing the Irish Sea as I often do, this will probably cut about 45
minutes of the crossing time leaving me to enjoy a pleasant wait for the
tidal gate to let me in to harbor with the joy of pitching and rolling at
anchor as those lovely Seacats zoom their way in before me. Oh the joy of
speed!
Regards