GEORGE,
A KIWIPROP JUST CAME UP ON TRADEME ONLINE AUCTION. ITS AT THE OTHER END OF THE COUNTRY FROM ME SO I CAN’T INSPECT FOR YOU. LINK IS http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Boats-marine/Parts-accessories/Propellers/auction-275620306.htm
YOU CAN EMAIL ME ON ptpc@clear.net.nz IF I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE. (OUR HOME COMPUTER IS AWAY BEING FIXED)
BEST REGARDS,
Mike that’s awesome and we want that prop. Unfortunately I’m not able to register to the auction site because I don’t have a kiwi phone number? I’ve also emailed this to you. Any suggestions?
Thanks so much for thinking of us.
George
I can’t believe I let that get away. I don’t know what I was thinking but I originally thought I had until tomorrow. I went to sign up on the auction site just now and saw that I missed out. Arrrrgh!
George
Hey George,
I am also thinking of getting a Kiwiprop for my F-40 CK. Do you know if there is sufficione clearance for the prop in the hull-rudder opening? Kiwi’s site mentions from 16.5 to 18.5" diameter depending on transmission.
I meant to dive and measure it last week-end, but the water is still a little chilly (even in Georgia).
Any ideas in sizing? (perkins 4-108 and Hurt/ZF 12M tranny, about 2:1 A and 2:7 B) Std F-40, I suppose).
Cheers,
Alex
Hey Alex,
The answer is: I don’t know. I’ve been told that they do fit. We will haul out later this spring and I’ll know then but right now the water temp is still 50 here! 
What propeller are you using now if I might ask?
George
Hi,
The boat has the fixed two blade prop that came with it. I am not sure of diameter or pitch. It feels a bit underpropped. I get about 5 - 5.5 kts @ 2800 rmp. After that the engine will rev up to 3800 or more (and aboput 7 kts) but feels underloaded.
I mostly want the folder for performance sailing though.
I may try to check it out this week-end.
Cheers,
Alex
Ok! I’m still not sure the kiwiprop will fit on the F-40 CK. I took the plunge yesterday. Not sure if it was great idea that water was COOLD! So I only had time to make some very gross measurements with my wife’s sewing measuring tape.
The opening from top to bottom is about 26" so no problem there. From the cutlass bearing, along the shaft, about 10.5" to the leading edge of the rudder (take with a grain of salt, these are really gross measurements. I had a windsurfing wet suit trying to float me back up and it was freezing cold).
Kiwiprop calls for 8.25" clearance:
http://www.kiwiprop.us/space-requirement.htm
I am concerned that since the rudder and shaft are not at 90 deg angle the lower blade may be too close when feathered.
I guess some more measuring is in order.
Does anybody know of an F-40 with a feathering or folding prop?
Cheers,
alex
Alex,
By nature of the force of gravity, with a three bladed feathering prop, one blade will stick up and two blades will hang down to port and starboard. If the blades can pass the rudder in the feathered position, there’s not much to worry about. If the prop is working, the distance to the rudder is much more critical.
Hmmm! Looking at the picture above, I am not sure there is enough room for a puller for the prop and just barely enough for the prop itself to come out.
Does anybody know if the rudder needs to come off to replace props?
(I know it should be obvious, but all my other boats had fin keels and spade rudders 
)
Cheers,
alex
I’ve had our prop off and shaft out without removing the rudder.
George
Wow, that is good news.
I know the zinc at the end comes out, but were you able to fit a puller given the small clearance? In the picture looks very tight.
My original plan was to swap the props in what the local yard calls a “short haul out”, up to 1/2 hr on the sling. If more time is required it gets a lot more expensive since I would have to pay for 2 trips of the travel lift.
cheers,
alex
Alex
Try asking the yard if they will haul you at the end of the day and leave the boat in the slings overnight. Surveyors regularly do this to allow the boat to dry somewhat before taking moisture readings on the underbody before the yard gets started in the morning. If the yard can launch you first thing in the morning they often will not charge any more.
My local yard uses a hydraulic trailer to haul boats and for the past couple of years they have hauled me last thing in the day on Friday. This way I get two full days to work on the boat for the price of a short haul.
Alex,
I made a side reach prop puller for the task but for the life of me I can’t find it. I think it might have gone to the scrap yard when I was pruning the back yard… I only made that because my “normal” puller was seized up. I had a friend in the machine shop straighten out that problem for me. I think that it will work with the rudder hard over one way or the other. We won’t haul now until June.
George
OK, I hauled the boat last week-end for unrelated maintenace and took advantage to measure the prop operture. The prop in my boat is a 2 blade 19x15 RH “Sailor” model, and it feels underpropped (engine can over-rev)
Unfortunately the Kiwiprop will NOT fit the F-40 (requires 8.5" clearance at the tips). The only feathering prop that will fit is the “aperture” model by Hydraling and maybe the smallest VariProp model.
Does anybody know anything about the hydraling props?
Cheers,
Alex
I put a variprop on my F-33. There is very limited room in the aperture both height and distance to the rudder. That was one of the factors in choosing the variprop. They said they normally do (at least at the time) custom sizes as needed so I think my diameter was not a standard size but was no extra charge. They can also do 4 bladed which is more expensive but helps if there is limited space in an aperture. I’ve had mine for about 6 years and had no problems. Also you can set the reverse pitch differently then forward pitch and adjust it (as I have done several times to determine my preferences).