folding prop for SO42i

[mojo64]

we have just taken delivery of our new SO 42i and are thinking of getting a folding prop for it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also with our present set-up when we are under sail and the throttle is shifted past neutral towards reverse, we cannot go back to neutral unless we are at a dead stop, normally head to wind.....

Anyone know why this happens?

[MartyB]

If I could remember where it is online, there is an article done by a college on the east coast of the US on how efficient the different folding props are, as far as when folded, vs forward vs reverse.

I have a max prop on my 30' boat. Overall pretty happy with it, altho it will not always rotate to being least forward resistant. Noticed that last weekend, thought I was hearing hum of boat going over hull speed, and realized the prop was spinning. Put in reverse, and gained another knot! so from up to 1+ over, to over 2 even close to 3 knots over hull speed! mid 9's for a mid 6knot hull speed boat, it was a fun sail downwind!

Anyway, the same boat as I have in Vancouver BC, that owner had a MaxProp, an switched over to Kiwi?, and found better boat speed motoring, and sailing. I should note he is an avid racer, and places frequently at the end of the year in that area's top 10, including a top boat in 05?!? Top in his class for many years.

The previous/original owner for 20 yrs of my boat, mentioned a gain of over 1 to close to 1.5 knots in most points of sail with the max prop vs a fixed prop.

marty

[bill42i]

I had my 42i fitted with an 18x14x3 Gori prop and it seems to do the job. I often see over 9.5 kts when sailing and 1,800 rpm in overdrive gives me about 6.9 kts in calm water. The difficulty you experience in shifting from reverse, when sailing is caused by the turning force exerted by the water over the locked prop. At high sailing speeds over a long period this could cause damage to the gearbox. Hope this helps,

Bill

[mkremedy]

Mojo64,
I have a 36i with a 3 blade flex-o-fold prop that came installed on our boat. Seems to work fast and well under power both in forward and in reverse. Our 36i hads a 6'-4" draft. she does about 7.5 knots @ 3,000 rpm. When going in to reverse, the boat goes straight back, it doesn't crab to the side.

[Trevor]

Hello mojo64,

We have an SO36i and the dealer put together a boat show package that they considered provided good value for maximum enjoyment of the boat. One of the things in the package was a folding prop. Because they are pretty expensive I procrastinated and wanted to swap it for something else.

The dealer gave me some very good advice. "if there is one thing you take our advice on, please keep the folding prop in the package".

We have a "slipstream" folding stainless steel prop. It performs well. No hesitation in forward or reverse.

I am really glad I didn't swap it for something else.

Regards,

Trevor

[peterherbert]

Hi, I have had a gori on a 42 and worked well, But we currently have a 39i and i
I fitted a Kiwi Prop 18 months ago, and wow, brilliant results, upto 1.5 knot increase in boat speed, no propwalk in reverse and no loss of speed under power, and half the price of the others.
The reason the gear locks up is that it puts pressure on the gear engagement and needs to have the pressure released, ie dead stop or engine run and flick imediately into Nuetral. this disapears with the KIWI

[Don Reaves]

This past Spring, I replaced the fixed 2-blade prop on my SO35 with a Kiwi prop, and really like the difference. But I've never had any other brand of folding or feathering prop, so I can't make comparisons.

Don

[tomina]

For my money.... get a Kiwi prop. I reduced my revs by 500 to still maintain 6.1kts on my SO40 at 2100. Also on any point of sailnig in almost any wind above calm we get the better part of an extra knot. The real bonus for me is the weight saving a 3 blade Kiwi 18" prop weighs 3.5kgs, much less than half the weight of its bronze counterpart. The reduced strain and vibration on the engine, running gear and hull has to be witnessed to be believed.

Best wishes Tomina

[gre2]

We have a SO 37 and last year added a Kiwi prop also. Very pleased with the result. Considerable improvement in reverse, no cavitation and definitely picked up some speed in almost all points of sail. Great delivery from the manufacturer and complete instructions, so was able to install the prop myself

Garry Grant Liberte'