I've had a 3 blade Flexifold on a saildrive for many years and it's been great.
No noticeable change in motoring performance in forward or reverse over the fixed prop.
Signifcant improvement in boat speed under sail.

Flexifold seem to provide a quality product so I assume the composite hub would have been well tested before release.

You wouldn't consider a 3 blade prop?
It may perform better in rough conditions than the 2 blade.

Dexport said..

seabird said..
I've had a 3 blade Flexifold on a saildrive for many years and it's been great.
No noticeable change in motoring performance in forward or reverse over the fixed prop.
Signifcant improvement in boat speed under sail.

Flexifold seem to provide a quality product so I assume the composite hub would have been well tested before release.

You wouldn't consider a 3 blade prop?
It may perform better in rough conditions than the 2 blade.

Hi Seabird, thanks for that. Yeah they seem to be one of the best brands out there.
They quoted me $2300 for the 3 blade: flexofold.com/folding-propellers/7-saildrive-propellers/14-3-blade-saildrive-folding-propeller/

Yes the three blade Flexofold is the one I identified as a likely buy to replace mine down the track. I guess you've seen the Yachting Monthly comparison tests from a few years back?
www.yachtingmonthly.com/gear/folding-and-feathering-propeller-test-29807

The 2 blade composite hub Flexofold looks really interesting...

2bish said..
Hi Dex, did you end up buying the Flexofold 2 blade composite? Or were you able to get any first hand info?

Hey, nah still didn't commit to one but its getting close now. I've been talking with them, I'll let you know which one I go for

MorningBird said..

southace said..
I have heard great things about the kiwi prop has plastic blades i think.

My only experience with Kiwi props is a mate with an S&S34 has one and finds it noisy and fails to deliver boat speed. He reengined the boat and fitted the Kiwi based on the Kiwi people's advice. I have experienced it and it does thrash around. That the blades on his prop have no washout towards the tips does indicate that thrust will be reduced and cavitation at the tips increased.
This isn't a definitive example of Kiwi props being no good, it could have been a mismatch of engine, prop, hull. But it invites a note of caution when considering one.

Again, second hand Kiwi Prop info. A mate had one. Blamed poor performance on old engine. Replaced engine with new bigger Yanmar. Same issue.
Fitted new prop {Volvo}. All good.
My last four boats have had 3 bladed folding props. 1 Volvo & 3 Flex O Fold.
I would not hesitate to fit the Flex O Fold to any future yacht.

southace said..
I have heard great things about the kiwi prop has plastic blades i think.

The Kiwi prop can't change pitch in reverse, even in idle you charge off backwards out of control. I wouldn't buy another one.

I've got a 2 blade flexo fold. Running with a D1-30 on a 37 Bav
FF advised me toward the 2 blade version for less drag under sail, possible best flat water speed under engine and only slightly less grip for bashing through heavy swell. I had a three blade Volvo before and I have not noticed any loss in pushing through swell, maybe a little less prop walk in astern. Overall the make a nice solid prop I think.
cheers Richard

Well good to hear some favourable comments about Flex-o-fold props in general although no-one seems to have any first hand knowledge of the composite model. The factory have told me that they supply this composite prop as standard to shipyards Elan Yachts and Saffier Yachts.

2 bish and Dexport,
my Flex fold is the all bronze model, I think it could be an old model, as the current bronze ones show a small round anode in the hub. Mine is sans this. I think it is fair to sat FF make good gear, the composite obviously they see as an improvement, so should be a good product and price competitive. The equivalent 3 blade VP is nearer 3k in Australia.
Richard

One thing that still puzzles me though is why my old prop fell off in the first place. Anyone have it happen to them?
Schiehallion was launched in 2005 with this prop and it suddenly falls off 2 weeks after I buy the boat? Too much of a coincedence for me.

There is only one thing that I can think of that could have made it happen. Keep in mind, this is the first boat I've sailed with a folding prop. I was told to put the gearbox in reverse while sailing in order to close/fold the blades.
Twice it happened that after sailing for a couple of hours I came to a point when I wanted to get the motor going and forgot to put it back into neutral. So the engine started and went straight to full revs in reverse. Now this is obviously a stupid thing to do. My thinking is that this might have just basically undid the threads of the locking nut.
The guy from Flex-o-fold thinks not but I can't think of anything else.

Anyhow, I will be seeing if I can install a sensor on the gearshift so that the motor won't start unless in neutral.

Thanks for any input

>Vernon

My folding prop does not always fold flat when in neutral, i generally need to put it into reverse to stop the prop spinning, but I think it has more to do with how much gunk has built up on the prop. I have started mine in reverse (accidently) quite a few times over the last 7 years and the prop is still there.
The switch for neutral sounds like a good idea, but i suspect in a couple of years the switch will start playing up with corrosion and you wont be able to start. Better option may be to drill the propeller shaft and put a split pin on the locking nut.

+1 for sometimes having to put in reverse to stop prop spinning (seahawk slipstream 3blade folding)

EC31 said..
My folding prop does not always fold flat when in neutral, i generally need to put it into reverse to stop the prop spinning, but I think it has more to do with how much gunk has built up on the prop. I have started mine in reverse (accidently) quite a few times over the last 7 years and the prop is still there.
The switch for neutral sounds like a good idea, but i suspect in a couple of years the switch will start playing up with corrosion and you wont be able to start. Better option may be to drill the propeller shaft and put a split pin on the locking nut.

haha, good to know others made the same mistakes.

Ramona said..
Just put the gearbox in neutral before you shut down the diesel. That prop will fold easily with a bit of forward speed.

So if I stop the engine, put the gearbox in reverse for a few seconds the prop should then be closed and I could put it back in neutral. The prop won't then open again as long as I've got some forward movement. Then when I go to start up next time I won't have to think about it. That sound right?

Ramona said..
I don't put my boat in reverse unless I want to motor in reverse. I just put the gearbox in neutral when I sail and the blade folds, takes very little pressure to push those blades down.

Ok good to know. How do you know for sure that the blades are folded then? I'm guessing you would feel some cavitation through the helm if they were still open?
Thanks for all the help anyway, I'm sure I'll figure it out, just don't want to loose another prop.