Perhaps this has been discussed before but I may have missed it. Has
anyone installed a Kiwi feathering 3 blade prop on an F30? or F?
whatever? I read good things on the internet as in excellent sailing
performance due to less drag and better reverse control, etc. But I
also hear top speed is sacrificed slightly for maybe better mototring
in a chop. Blah blah blah. This is all compared to a fixed 2 blade.
Any experience out there?
Doug,
if the Kiwi could be mounted on a 76 HP Yanmar, I’d do it in a
heartbeat and never look back. There’s almost 0 chance of corrosion,
you can change a blade in the water, lubricate it in the water, and
the rotational mass is much less than a bronze prop. The limitation as
I see it is really in the max horsepower (around 55 hp if I recall). I
don’t think you’ll find a better deal price-wise either.
I looked at one on a Shoalsailor next to Glory when she was on the
hard, and I was pretty impressed with its simplicity and ruggedness.
This prop gets talked about a lot on Sailing Anarchy with resoundingly
positive feedback.
Perhaps this has been discussed before but I may have missed it. Has
anyone installed a Kiwi feathering 3 blade prop on an F30? or F?
whatever? I read good things on the internet as in excellent sailing
performance due to less drag and better reverse control, etc. But I
also hear top speed is sacrificed slightly for maybe better mototring
in a chop. Blah blah blah. This is all compared to a fixed 2 blade.
Any experience out there?
Posted by Bob (rweeks6508@…>)
DougAfter you are done investigating the feathering props and before you decide, one more option to consider. I have a brand new Flexofold two bladed 15 X 14 1 inch shaft which the prior owner of my F30 bought and never put it on. Let me know since this would be a cheaper option maybe at a little better then half the cost (nice shiny prop!).BobOn Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 8:44 AM, douglas.domurat wrote:Hi, Perhaps this has been discussed before but I may have missed it. Has anyone installed a Kiwi feathering 3 blade prop on an F30? or F? whatever? I read good things on the internet as in excellent sailing performance due to less drag and better reverse control, etc. But I also hear top speed is sacrificed slightly for maybe better mototring in a chop. Blah blah blah. This is all compared to a fixed 2 blade. Any experience out there? Thanks, Doug
Posted by Bob (rweeks6508@…>)
Oh sorry its Kiwi you are looking at…plastic…Fred Molden has one on his F35 Volant and loves it…he should pipe in soon since he retired and his boat is on the hard and has nothing to do!Anyway my offer is still an option.BobOn Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 8:44 AM, douglas.domurat wrote:Hi, Perhaps this has been discussed before but I may have missed it. Has anyone installed a Kiwi feathering 3 blade prop on an F30? or F? whatever? I read good things on the internet as in excellent sailing performance due to less drag and better reverse control, etc. But I also hear top speed is sacrificed slightly for maybe better mototring in a chop. Blah blah blah. This is all compared to a fixed 2 blade. Any experience out there? Thanks, Doug
I installed a Kiwi three blade feathering
prop on my F35 in place of the bronze 2 blade folding prop. I find it
will drive the boat at 5.5kts at 2500 rpm even into heavier wind and seas (such
as one might see on the Chesapeake). At high rpm the top end is the
same and at low rpm the low speed is much faster. Reverse is much better
than the two blade and I will come out of the slip at an idle. It will
also stop the boat within about two boat lengths from 6kts. The only
small issue has been some dings on the leading edge from hitting things but
these were fixed with a little bit of filing and if I wanted I could install a new
single blade for about $100. I use Propspeed as the anti fouling paint
very successfully. The prop vibration has also decreased significantly making
the boat much quieter under power. On a go slow day (most of the time) I
run at 2000 rpm and the engine is barely audible and I can talk with people in
the cabin while I am at the helm, and still make 4.5 - 5 kts. I did the
ICW once and spent a lot of time at 2800-3000 rpm just to make distance, I am
looking to do it again at 2500-2700 rpm and actually make the same or better
time. I haven’t noticed much difference in sailing performance over
the folding prop.
Wow, just as a disclaimer, I do not have
any connection to Kiwi.
Perhaps this has been discussed before but I may have missed it. Has
anyone installed a Kiwi feathering 3 blade prop on an F30? or F?
whatever? I read good things on the internet as in excellent sailing
performance due to less drag and better reverse control, etc. But I
also hear top speed is sacrificed slightly for maybe better mototring
in a chop. Blah blah blah. This is all compared to a fixed 2 blade.
Any experience out there?