KIWIPROPS

[timturner]

When Anne and I bought our 36i, we thought we would be happy with the standard boat. However, I am finding that I am becoming more and more competitive in our Club races and even on Club Rallies, I do not want to be last in to harbour! Having attended to sail trim and rigging, now I am considering fitting a Kiwiprop. It has a very attractive price and seems like a very well thought-out piece of kit. Has anyone had any experience with them?

[MartyB]

I do not have a kiwi, but do have a max prop. The general rule if you will, is most boats seem to gain .5-1knot in speed with a folding/feathering prop when under sail. So while you will lose in PHRF 6 sec time, you're net gain will be more than that! The previous owner of my 30' Arcadia said he got over .5 knots going with the feathering Max Prop vs the fixed prop sailing, along with upwards of a knot motoring. Not an uncommon comment from folks!

Now is a Kiwi the best folding/feathering prop? not sure. A fellow north of me with the same boat as I, I recall has a kiwi after using a couple of other props, including the max prop, and did notice some sailing gain, along with a bit more motoring vs max prop.

You would probably get more speed gain from kiwi vs a bigger genoa or a carbon vs dac sails.

marty

[MalcolmP]

Tim

I agree with Marty, folding/feathering are well worth the investment over fixed

We have had an Autoprop on our last 2 boats and are extremely pleased with results, both from a sailing and motoring perspective

Regarding the Kiwi specifically if you log in and do a search on Kiwi on all threads on this forum for the last 200 or so days, you will see several positive items of feedback

Malcolm

[Trevor]

Hi Tim,

We have an Austral Slipstream propeller (http://www.australpropeller.com.au/sailboat.htm) on our SO36i. It works very well under motor in forward and reverse and seems to fold easily under sail.

I have no comparison to judge by but I think this is a very good prop and prior to it being fitted I was impressed by the construction. All 316 stainless and beautifully engineered.


Happy sailing,

Trevor

[Don Reaves]

Tim,

I replaced the fixed prop on my SO35 last spring with a Kiwi Prop. I really like it. It's light, simple, easy to install, and inexpensive. Power in reverse is incredible. As for sailing faster and pointing higher, it certainly helps. I haven't raced against someone who has an identical boat with a fixed propeller, so I can't say just how much faster. But my impression after sailing with the Kiwi Prop for one season is that the boat definitely points higher.

My only regret is that I've had to learn how to come into dock all over again. Since the feathering prop doesn't have any appreciable prop walk, I can't use that technique to bring the stern over. Not a bad compromise, really.

Don

[unolar]

Hi Tim!
I have used a Kiwiprop one season at our 39i Performance. I was not happy with the foldingprop from Flexofold and bought a Kiwiprop last winter. It was a dramatical change. Now I am able to stop the boat and to gain speed at reverse. I am very satisfied with the Kiwi.
You have to be ware of the lubrication. Once a year you have to lubricate the prop and when doing so it is a chance to push some small o-rings out of the prop. If so the prop will not feather correctly and the prop will spin when sailing. How ever it is an easy fix. You simply have to push the o-rings back with a small screwdriver or something.

I know there have been an issue if Yanmar except that kind of props. I therefor asked Yanmar in Norway of this matter and got the answer I was hoping for. There is no problem concerning warranty when using a Kiwiprop, and as Don R. pointed out,- its inexpensive compared to other feathering props.

Happy sailing from
Uno B. Larsen in InSunO

[corksailor]

I have just fitted a KIWI on an So 35.Cant wait untill late March April to test the difference. At the end of the delivery trip we felt a vibration and engine note change and I noticed I cannot get max revs.Could the pitch have altered itself? It suddenly happened after 2 hours motoring and we thought we had caught a rope or something. Will monitor during March April racing

[grahamcolover]

I fitted a Kiwi to Chai of Burnham , a SO 34.2, in August 2007,
hauled out for winter and lubed before relaunch, but problems expereinecd in later part of last summer , no power in reverse and drop in speed under sail.Increased idle speed to help prop reverse but to no noticable effect.On haul out in November we found two blades seized !Prop returned to Kiwi and blades replaced FOC.KIWI say that East Coast silt is problem and have changed grease !

I await with interest to see what happens this year ,bouncing around marina in strong wind trying to stop and reverse was character building !

I will probably haul out mid summer for scrub and to check prop blades remain free and re-lube.

[MartyB]

graham,

Not sure about a Kiwi, but my maxprop is able to be greased while in the water. So if you have a diver that comes out to check zinks etc every 3-6 months as I do, they may be able to do the checking for you, and grease if necessary. Something worth checking out, especially if your water has some issues with silt as you mention.

Marty

[stuart425]

Hi Tim,

We purchased our (1999) Jeanneau Sun Odyessey 34.2 in 2004 and were extremely pleased with her apart from what we considered to be a rather ‘mundane’ sailing performance. Though the suite of (Elvstrom) sails are ‘original’ fit, they have not had a hard life and the rig set-up seemed to be ok. This led us to consider what effect our (fixed) two bladed prop was having on our performance.

Our previous boat (a Verl 900) was fitted with a two blade folding prop so we were well aware of the pro’s and con’s of this type of solution – minimal drag when folded but the major drawback being the lack of thrust in reverse and a less than ideal performance in anything of a seaway.

By late 2005 and having decided that a new prop (rather than a spinnaker) was the way to go, we did the rounds of prop manufacturers at SIBS etc. and amassed a sizable chunk of sales material (and hand written notes) about the various products. After several weeks of sifting through all of the literature, searching the Internet and many phone calls, we decided to go for the (3 blade) ‘feathering’ Kiwi Prop – engineered in the UK by Vecta Marine of Pewsey in Wiltshire.

The main reasons for this choice were:

• When in the ‘feathered’ position, each individual blade aligns to the water flow rather than the shaft angle, thereby reducing drag to the absolute minimum for a 3 blade feathering solution.

• The three-blade design would give maximum thrust in a seaway.

• The whole ‘hub’ unit (since early 2006) is manufactured in stainless steel – this removes the chance of ‘dissimilar’ metal corrosion and reduces the chance of ‘electrolytic’ (pitting) corrosion.

• The ‘Zytol’ (glass reinforced plastic) blades eliminate the dreaded ‘blade pitting corrosion’ problem.

• If a blade is severely damaged it can be simply replaced by the owner at very reasonable cost.

• Price.

• No problem in keeping our ‘Stripper’ rope cutter.

Prior to fitting the prop we did some engine ‘benchmark’ runs (we already knew our performance under sail!) at four rev settings (2000, 2500, 2700 and 3000 – the latter with considerable vibration) and made a note of boat speed. Post fitting the new prop (March 2006) as per the instructions provided and getting back in the water, we carried out the same runs (approx same tidal and water conditions) which confirmed that for the same boat speed, the rev settings were 1800, 2300, 2500 and 2800 (with no vibration at any setting).

The improvement in thrust is most noticeable in any kind of a seaway – the boat just powers her way through it and as advertised, within a couple of seconds of selecting ‘neutral’ the blades feather and the prop shaft stops spinning (no more gearbox strain or shaft vibration when sailing) and virtually no ‘prop walk’ in forward or reverse, which has been a big confidence booster in ‘close quarters’ situations.

With regards to sailing performance we were, and continue to be ‘gob smacked’:
Prior to the prop change we came last in the two races that we entered; pointing ability was awful; boat speed (especially in light airs) was frustratingly sluggish and (prop) turbulence over the rudder blade impacted on tracking ability. Since the ‘prop swap’ we have had several successes racing with the RWYC (Plymouth, UK). On a beat, we believe we are pointing at least 5 deg higher with an estimated boat speed improvement of 1 – 1.5kt (the boat speed improvement applies across all points of sail).

Turbulence over the rudder is non-existent and tracking is much improved.

At the end of this month 'Imshi' is due out for her annual 'bum scrub' when the prop will also get its yearly grease (Mobil XHT222) treatment ready for the new season.

Regards,

Stuart

Finally I would like to say that the product, the information, fitting instructions and support provided by Vecta Marine throughout the whole process were excellent – I have no hesitation in recommending the prop and the company.


Stuart Carr
Imshi IV

[Zanshin]

I've got a Gori propeller on my boat and have been really happy with it - particularly in "turbo" mode for motorsailing. But I managed to snag a fishing trap off Nevis while sailing to Antigua a couple of days ago and after cutting it away and starting the prop I thought I had bent the shaft as the whole boat vibrated. I turned off the engine but didn't dive as I was alone at sea in a significant swell. Coming into Falmouth Harbour under sail was an experience as well, but after anchoring I did dive and saw that the rope cutter had worked but that one strand of poly rope had wedged itself into the mechanism and prevented correct blade extension. This is the only negative thing that I've experienced with a folding prop, though - but it is worth keeping in mind that a performance improvement is offset by a mechanically complex solution that is much more likely to fail than a fixed prop.

[corksailor]

YAHOO!! This KIWi prop is great on a Sun Odyssey 35.Boat going like a train upwind.We can point higher snd sail faster.2 races sailed and 2 1st places.Beat a Hanse 37 and a Hanse 36 on the water in 15 knots wind and flat seas on a 2 hour plus race last Sunday off the south Cork coast. Next test Sunday March 2nd with light winds forecast.Also marina manouvering a doddle.

[so40gtb]

I fitted a Kiwi on my SO34.2 before launching it 2 years ago. As I fitted the prop upon purchasing the boat "on the hard", I have zero experience with the 2-bladed Radice standard prop.

The Kiwi has fully met all expectations, sailing in fresh water (Lake Michigan). Incredible reverse thrust! Minimal prop walk! It doesn't seem to attract marine gunk and stays loose if it's lubricated to spec annually.

A SO37 that winters at the same yard as I do also has a Kiwi and its skipper has similar opinions to mine.

For the money, you can't go wrong. The more complex and expensive props may not be any better. John Blundell will work with you via e-mail from NZ to optimize your fit and performance.

Wishing I had that 36i,

-- Karl

[charles]

I have a 45DS and am considering fitting a feathering propeller in place of the fixed one supplied as standard .

I note that the Kiwiprop is suitable for engines up to 55HP , so I am just within that at 54HP . In theory should be alright but I wonder if there are any members who have fitted a Kiwiprop to a boat with similar sized engines - the Vectra Marine brochure gives many examples of boats recently fitted with a Kiwiprop but they are mainly in the 30-40 foot size .

Charles.

[flippercarson]

I have a 36i here in Toronto and will be fitting a feathering prop over the winter. I am trying to decide between the Kiwi and a Variprofile.

Kiwi recommends painting the blades with anti-fouling...Does everyone do this or do you just let the water to the cleaning?

Secondly, was installation on the Kiwi difficult?

Any other feedback or info on ANY experience with a 36i and ANY feathering prop would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

[flippercarson]

I forgot to ask in my last post if anyone has gone from a three blade fixed to a two blade feathering, or if you all stuck with a three blade feathering.

There are obviously issues of cost, drag, and performance involved. Looking for feedback. Thanks.

[Don Reaves]

I sail on Lake Ontario, and I can say that anti-fouling isn't necessary in the fresh water.

Installation of the KiwiProp was very easy. I did it myself without any special tools, though I had the yard remove the old two-bladed prop. I wasn't sure if it was going to require a prop puller, and the yard charged me far less than it would have cost to buy one.

Don

[flippercarson]

Thanks Don. How was the improvement? Is the light air upwind noticeably better?

[Don Reaves]

Everything is better, though the most dramatic change is backing power and reduced prop-walk.

[so40gtb]

Anti-fouling not necessary in Lake Michigan, so I would expect nothing different in Lake Ontario. Just give the blades and hub a good scrub with a stiff brush after autumnal haul-out. I did mine last weekend and the blades look like new, after 3 seasons.

[flippercarson]

Thanks for the info. Any issues with the blades sticking?

[SO 36i - Penelope]

I have a Variprofile 3 blade feathering on my SO36i. No anti fouling needed and the prop works great. Good performance in forward. Extreme stopping power in reverse. Works great an no issues regarding blades that don't work etc. Easy to install (did not do that myself, was service delivered by the Jeanneau dealer). If you telle the Variprofile dealer the specs of your engine they will give you the right settings for the prop and then you can easily mount under your boat.

The performance under sail is noticiable. Difficult to assess the exact gain, but the Jeanneau dealer estimated aprrox 0.8-1 knot in light winds. I think 0.8 is about right.


Ewald

[flippercarson]

Ewald,

The Variprofile was the other model I had considered. I really like the quality of construction and overall fit+finish of the product. It really is a beautiful piece of kit.

Did you consider a two blade model? It's a little less pricey, and might offer even less drag....?

Anyway, I am starting to lean toward the Kiwiprop though because I understand that it vanes into the flow of the water instead of lining up with the shaft which should produce less drag. The better price point and good reviews it gets here help as well.

Is there any prop smack or snap as the blades spin from the low drag mode to "drive" mode? Forward to reverse?

Thanks.

[SO 36i - Penelope]

I was also impressed with the build quality and the tests of the prop were also very positive. Two blade is too small for the 36 foot. The standard prop is also a three blade.
Kiwiprop might be ok, but I don't want any trouble with my prop. It should work properly every time I need it. So I choose the one I think is best. And quality comes with a price.

There is no smack or noise when the prop is set in reverse or forward from the feathering mode. It works smooth. No large amount of revs needed. Just put in lowest forward mode and the boot will manouver as you intended. Also when you go from forward mode to reverse mode and the prop needs to adjust. This works quickly and without noticing anything. Except from the stopping power!
The performance of the three blade is very good. I was quicker than a Maxi 1060 with two blade folding prop!

Good luck with your choice.

Ewald

[Don Reaves]

The Kiwiprop blades don't have a sticking problem as long as you follow the maintenance program. This consists of filling the blades with waterproof grease before launch every year, and replacing the O-rings if they need it.

The entire operation took about 10 minutes the first time I did it.

Don