3-blade propellor for Jeanneau 40DS

[sailbleu]

Good morning everyone , on my 40DS there is an original 3-blade propeller of which I think one blade is off position .
Last year I had a haulout for AF purposes , as most of us I also took the opportunity to clean the propeller , shaft etc.
After shining up the lot I conducted an experiment where I covered the prop. blades with epoxy resin and added copper powder .
To no avail as the epoxy soon faded away on two of the blades.
On one blade it wasn't touched , I suppose that means that particular blade is obviously not pulling it's weight .
Most likely deformation due to some ' rope-in-propeller-incidents ' in the past .
Knowing that now , I think I would like to replace the propeller, but it seems the info on the prop itself is not really that clear , please see picture .



Could anyone tell what specifics come with this type of propeller ?
Searched the net but couldn't find anything or missed it .

Thanks

Regards

[sitara]

Hi Sailbleu,

Before spending money on a new prop (unless a folding/feathering variety) get you existing propeller checked. The experts can measure pitch and profile at differing positions on each blade and and can then repitch the prop so all blades match. I had this done on an old boat to slightly reduce the overall pitch as the engine was over propped.

Very interesting the way you propeller paint wore out - how long did the epoxy last and was it effective as an antifoul? I think I should try something different each time I pay for having prop speed applied.

Rob

[sailbleu]

Thanks Sitara for the input , unfortunately it's possible to get the prop off without a haul out , so I guess I'll just have go with it until we're on the hard again .
I know they can straighten up propeller blades , but then the cost would be at least half the price of a new prop I guess . The thing I don't seem to be able to find an original replacement.
The winter marina I'm in now doesn't have haul out facilities let for all a workshop to tackle off balance - propellers.

I was hoping some 40DS owner could help me out on the specs of this particular prop as it is standard on this boat & engine .

Regards

[hoppy]

Get yourself a folder....

Contact Flexofold with the engine details and gearbox ratio. Chances are it will be the same prop I had on my SO40.


18x13-3 R bladeset & ISO 30, 3-blade hub

[so40gtb]

Folding or feathering, a new prop of either type will improve your boat. Our SO40 has a MaxProp; our SO34.2 had a Kiwi, both of these feathering props worked well. I'll see if there's a model number on the Max when I'm at the boatyard tomorrow.

--Karl

[sailbleu]

Thanks for the input , further ' investigation ' has led me to a board where a boater described the difficulty of recognizing his type of propeller , it seemed he also had a fixed 3 blade prop. with the same markings as mine but in addition to that he was told to look for more specs on the prop. and he found a nearly faded number ' 11 ' that - so he was told - is the indication of the pitch .
I also emailed Radice to ask them more info but no response so far.
So if I recap all of that , my propeller will probably be a 13" diameter , 11" pitch , clockwise revolutions and 30mm shaft .
I believe most 40DS with VP MD22L 50HP engine & VP gearbox MS2A-E ratio 3:1 are traditionally equipped with these 3blade props. Might help other owners in the future.


Regards

[rene460]

Hi Sailbleu,

Seems strange that Radice have not answered.  I did notice in that YW propellor test report that they quoted the website as www . sillette.com, not something that I would have recognised.  I don’t know if that gives you an alternative contact that may help.  Though it is a 2009 report so not recent either.

rene460

[alex1949]

Hi Sailblue, here is Alex49 from Israel, SO40DS 2005. I have KIWI installed,original prop is ready for replacement and handy on a shelf.
I visit my boat daly.  Please ask exactly what you need to know see, I'll get it same day. 
Cheers

[sailbleu]

Hi Alex , would your original prop. perhaps be a 3 blade type ?
Interested in selling it ?

I'm probably wrong , but I just don't want to make the transition to flexifold , feathering or similar as I see them even more fragile than a fixed 2 or 3 blade one .
I'm not a racer and always have my prop. freewheeling whilst sailing.
Changed the cutlass bearing in 2011 and still no play on the shaft , same goes for the VP-seal .
But then 1/3 of my prop. isn't chipping in , most likely for years now , and it took an epoxy/coppercoat experiment to find out .

PS:
Btw ( off topic ) the emergency rudder/outboard mount & necessary accessories are bagged and tagged ready to accompany us in 2 weeks time .
Will pick up the old topic ( as promised) and fill it with pics & comments when both trials ( rudder-outboard) are done.

Regards

[rene460]

Hi Sailbleu,

I don’t think you are wrong to stay with a fixed propellor.  I am sure there is less to go wrong with them.  I always test my feathering propellor in forward and reverse before dropping the ropes to make sure the blades are swivelling properly.  The original fixed propellor always worked well.  As mostly a day sailor on lakes, I just liked the reduced drag so extra speed when sailing.  But in reality it would rarely be an important difference for cruising.  Racing is different, winning by a foot or two is all that is required.  For extensive cruising I can understand that the reliability of the fixed propellor would be very attractive, and perhaps more important.

That blade which retained the coating is strange though.  It is hard to believe one could be doing so little work that it would show that difference.  I am wondering if there was something about the preparation for the application.  I assume there is no really obvious damage or difference in blade pitch.  Very puzzling.

Rene460

[hoppy]

As I wrote in the Flexofold thread

Apr 8, 2019 11:14:01 GMT hoppy said:

If you get an average gain of an extra 0.5 knot speed from a folding/feathering prop, that's an extra 12 nm per day. On a daylight passage, that's a 1 hour earlier arrival and on an Atlantic crossing of 20 days, that puts you 240 nm ahead or a 1.5 day faster crossing.

Unless you are just doing short day trips, I think a folder is worthwhile.

[sailbleu]

Hello Rene ,

last time I checked the propeller was near the Balearic's last year in August , after diving I always finish my scubatank and run a check on hull , rudder ,bow thruster , prop. and so on . One blade was completely untouched where as the others were shiny metal .
My freewheeling is partially responsible for the paint/epoxy wearing off that fast .
I'm sure the lining of the shaft is more than ok as the still pristine cutlass bearing can vouch for that .
So it has to be the blade itself. Strangely enough I don't feel a distinct or outspoken vibration , be it that in forward mode on stationary revs. there is a shaking of the rudder that disappears when speeding up . That has been there from the start .

I wish I could show you a picture but as to this date I have no go-pro underwater camera.
You know diving has been THE passion of my life , started at the age of 20 , which is now ( from last month) 45 years ago , I'v done a lot of underwater photography including public presentations ,and still have all the gear , but all were slides , digital underwater photography is where I was left behind .

Anyway , back on topic , being retired for years now and in the winter not on the boat , gives me plenty of time to do some research on all the things that are of interest . Yesterday I made some progress on this topic , when someone gave the weblink to ' Silette ' , UK marine propulsion systems .
Filled in the enquiry form and a few hours later they gave me their professional advise .
It was very surprising to read that they proposed an Eliche Radice E13 3blade 22" x 18" . And to say I thought the number 13 on my propeller stands for diameter or pitch.
Not the case .
As my initial picture shows , the markings on my propeller are ' OTE 13R ' , could the E13 be related to the type of propeller and might have nothing to do with diameter or pitch ? I like to think so . No idea what the ' OT ' could mean though ;
Eliche Radice refuses to answer my email , I was told a standard procedure ;

I definitely need to physically measure the diameter of my present prop. to be sure. Problem is I wont be on the boat until the end of the month and even then , the marina water is not that inviting to make you jump in . I haven't even installed and tested my new bow thruster concept (2 little props. inline remember ?) out of fear of picking up a disease or drop something to never find it back.We leave for Gibraltar at the end of next month ( from there to the Canaries) , what I need is clear water and a shallow anchorage to get some things done below the waterline .

It would be of some help when other 40 DS owner(s) know the diameter of their 3blade prop. and could share this info.
I could then contact the Gibraltar boat chandlery and inquire for propeller-repair and thus escape from the 1000£ for a new propulsion .
Possibly without a haul-out as my multitool ( hint & tips) is on board to get the propeller off .

@ Hoppy please don't think I'm insensitive for good advise , on the contrary , but the fairly delicate mechanics in folding and feathering props. just scare me off.

That's it for now .

Regards