Folding prop won't work, need feathering

[sailorxyz]

Kiwi Props are great, I've had them on two different boats. A three blade on my previous boat, LC and a four blade on my current boat. Neither give/gave trouble and both worked as advertised. I've never lost or broken a blade.

[ejjawhite]

Originally Posted by slug

You have too much shaft between strut and prop

Same thing happened to me and I took a loss reselling the flex of old. I don’t have the same type of boat, but the feathering AutoProp worked out perfectly and with all the benefits they described. I bought it used and did what amounted to an easy rebuild for a total of $1000. Look for a used one on-line.

[Jweyndling]

I have used Vari profile props very successfully. A diver can take them off and on and you can adjust the pitch to the optimum for your boat/engine.

[alamoana]

All great ideas. With a cruising cat, I could not justify spending $5,000 to get an extra 1/2 knot sailing and maybe a reduced 1/2 knot motoring. Good luck

[realem]

Just check when I got the Kiwi and it has been over 10 years. I had no problem putting prop-speed on the blades and it held up better than the bottom paint on the boat.. I do cheat a bit if I haul the boat I just swap out the blades and then paint the unintalled blades at my leisure

[Davo1404]

Originally Posted by geoleo

I had KIWIS that jammed- They took them back and refunded.--frankly they are not very strong. Also have plastic blades. Best IMHO is MAXPROP>

"frankly they are not very strong. Also have plastic blades".
Wrong on both statements!!

[Velella99]

Originally Posted by alamoana

All great ideas. With a cruising cat, I could not justify spending $5,000 to get an extra 1/2 knot sailing and maybe a reduced 1/2 knot motoring. Good luck

Looking at about A$10,000 (USD6800) for a single folding prop in Australia made for my stoopid strange taper. Sticking with my 4 blade bronze monster that has already saved my butt chomping through coral when my seamanship was found wanting.

[lateral]

Another happy Kiwiprop user. (5yrs)
Infinitely better in reverse, maybe 0.5knt slower forward.
I wanted a FOF too but had the same clash. Fortunately they advised me prepurchase.
Kiwi went straight on.

[djdeakyne]

I have less than a 1/2 inch clearance between my Flexofolds and the cutlless bearings and they work fine. I am pretty close to 1/4 inch from the tips to the rudder. No problem there either. As soon as they start to spin, that distance increases fast.


Also, no need to worry about the hub to strut clearance for a puller.


Flexofolds don't use a jaw type puller. You pull it from the rear. Below is a pic of the puller.


You could also reduce your diameter by an inch and up the pitch a little. FOF would know the calculation.


Cheers, Dave
Sailing Vessel Tortuguita

[djdeakyne]

Here's our installation:

[KimEltherington]

Jerry, i had a folding propeller on my 30’ tri maran , going against wind or tide it would not pull a hat off my head. I bought a Australian made feathering prop from Hydralign in Sydney. Have not looked back, more boatspeed, excellent reverse thrust and no drag. The props i know are dearer but well worth the expense. Thanks Kim