I don't know what a VP/CP prop is.

Variable pitch/controlable pitch.
I use the terms interchangeably, but as you'll see, others use them slightly
differently.


When our engine is running the shaft is spinning because we have a
Borg-Warner transmission. Our shaft spins whenever the engine is on
regardless whether it is neutral or not. The prop feathers when the
engine is turned off and the shaft stops spinning. The stopping of
the shaft spinning feathers the prop if I understand it correctly.
You really wouldn't want the prop feathered if the engine was on - if
it feathered when you went through neutral when docking or something
it would be very awkward.

Interesting, thanks for the info.
I would wonder if once you were underway and using your prop, even going from
ahead to astern (unless you had a shaft brake) that the shaft would generally
continue to rotate on it's own, keeping the prop "unfeathered", though I can
see where the manufacturer might want to guarantee it would stay that way (just
clarifying in my own mind G).

Shen

In article ,
(MLapla4120) wrote:

I'm going to re-power soon and am also going to get new shaft and prop.
It seems that in my boat class (Westsail 32), some people are going
to folding props to help speed under sail.
I'm for increased speed, but also want reliability. My current bronze
propeller is pitted and old. Every time I turn around and look at it, it
is full of sea growth. That makes me think I'm getting poor performance.
So, I'm for an improvement, but I am unsure of what kind.
Any opinions from boaters that have encountered this situation would be
appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark , "Belle" Westsail 32

ANY modern prop will improve your performance under power, forward and
reverse. Technology has improved in 30 years.

A feathering prop can drastically improve sailing enjoyment if you don't
bother to park your prop behind the keel. Your Westsail may not get the
improvements we get as we're lighter and cleaner, but we pick up .5 to
..8 knots when I remember to stop the prop, which has us sailing more
than we used to.

Windward performance improved, allowing us to get a bit closer to the
wind.

We also get more comfortable sailing past hull speed, but the "wetsnail"
doesn't have a hullform that allows much of that.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Jere Lull wrote:

In article ,
(MLapla4120) wrote:

I'm going to re-power soon and am also going to get new shaft and prop.
It seems that in my boat class (Westsail 32), some people are going
to folding props to help speed under sail.
I'm for increased speed, but also want reliability. My current bronze
propeller is pitted and old. Every time I turn around and look at it, it
is full of sea growth. That makes me think I'm getting poor performance.
So, I'm for an improvement, but I am unsure of what kind.
Any opinions from boaters that have encountered this situation would be
appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark , "Belle" Westsail 32

ANY modern prop will improve your performance under power, forward and
reverse. Technology has improved in 30 years.

A feathering prop can drastically improve sailing enjoyment if you don't
bother to park your prop behind the keel. Your Westsail may not get the
improvements we get as we're lighter and cleaner, but we pick up .5 to
.8 knots when I remember to stop the prop, which has us sailing more
than we used to.

Windward performance improved, allowing us to get a bit closer to the
wind.

We also get more comfortable sailing past hull speed, but the "wetsnail"
doesn't have a hullform that allows much of that.

We don't have a Westsail of course, but with enough wind, we've gone
faster than hull speed a couple of times. What do you mean by getting
more comfortable?

grandma Rosalie

On 28 Aug 2004 00:50:46 GMT, in message

(MLapla4120) wrote:

I'm going to re-power soon and am also going to get new shaft and prop.
It seems that in my boat class (Westsail 32), some people are going
to folding props to help speed under sail.
I'm for increased speed, but also want reliability. My current bronze
propeller is pitted and old. Every time I turn around and look at it, it
is full of sea growth. That makes me think I'm getting poor performance.
So, I'm for an improvement, but I am unsure of what kind.
Any opinions from boaters that have encountered this situation would be
appreciated.

I switched props on my Hughes 35 this summer, from a fairly broad
bladed 15x10 two blade fixed to a 15x10 two blade folding Gori (the
old one with the squarish blades). I managed to work a trade along
with a little cash, so it was a cheap upgrade.

On the plus side the boat is noticeably faster.

On the minus side, the narrower blades have less bite and I have lost
some top speed under power. The engine has plenty of power, enough to
spin the prop past the stall point.

I'm happy, but might consider another change for some increased
thrust.

If you know about other Westsail 32s who have switched, then you could
probably benefit from the details of their experiences to make sure
you get one of the right props.

Ryk