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26-02-2022, 09:47
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Brookhaven, NY
Boat: Pearson 34-2
Posts: 260
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2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Hello All! Next year we will be cutting our dock lines. Our intial cruise plan is to do the Great Loop, starting in New York, but turn right to the Bahamas as we round Florida. Since much of this trip is under motor, we were thinking about going to a three bladed prop instead of the 2 on it now. Maneurverability is marginal now, as I am sure you can imagine. I have the stuffing box, shaft and prop out right now, and will be doing the Cutless bearing soon. So while it is apart, I can change what I need to. I was thinking of putting the three blade on now, then switch back to the 2 blade in Mobile. I have heard good things about the Campbell Sailor prop. Many freinds of ours have Max Props, and they love them. But they are not trouble free, and expensive. The boat, a Pearson 34-2. sails very well, and I would prefer to keep it that way. I do fear a negative impact when sailing (Great Lakes segment), but the added control motoring may make up for it. I would appreciate hearing what you think!
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26-02-2022, 10:33
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kingston, ON
Boat: Albin Vega 27'
Posts: 534
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
I don't think a three bladed Sailor prop will slow you much, maybe 0.2 of a knot in lower winds. But it should be significant more effective when motoring and maneuvering. Which I believe will be much more of a benefit to you.
__________________
Glenn
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27-02-2022, 10:56
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Carrabelle, Florida
Boat: Fiberglas shattering 44' steel trawler
Posts: 6,082
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Ditto. You're going to spend a lot of time motoring. Or, figure you have a life ahead of you with this boat and spring for the Max Prop or Varifold.
__________________
Never let anything mechanical know that you are in a hurry.
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27-02-2022, 12:22
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minnesota
Boat: Tartan 3800
Posts: 5,414
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Very little sailing on the Great Loop and a good deal of debris.
A Maxprop etc is easily destroyed by hitting a log and expensive to replace
Fixed prop can be damaged or destroyed also but is more likely to be repairable and will cost less if replacement is necessary.
For the great loop, a spare prop may be wise unless you have an alternative means of propulsion e.g. an outboard. Sailing is not an effective way to stay out of trouble on the rivers.
__________________
The best part of an adventure is the people you meet.
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27-02-2022, 15:03
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Brookhaven, NY
Boat: Pearson 34-2
Posts: 260
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Thank you all! Looks like a 3 blade prop may be in my future then! Another post about props mentioned the Campbell, so that may be the best bet.
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08-04-2022, 08:43
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Oriental, NC
Boat: None
Posts: 440
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Go with the largest diameter Michigan MP3 that will allow you to make 3600 RPM max while underway at wide open throttle.
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08-04-2022, 09:14
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Comox, BC
Boat: 1985 C&C 33-2
Posts: 55
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Quote:
Originally Posted by fred4936
Hello All! Next year we will be cutting our dock lines. Our intial cruise plan is to do the Great Loop, starting in New York, but turn right to the Bahamas as we round Florida. Since much of this trip is under motor, we were thinking about going to a three bladed prop instead of the 2 on it now. Maneurverability is marginal now, as I am sure you can imagine. I have the stuffing box, shaft and prop out right now, and will be doing the Cutless bearing soon. So while it is apart, I can change what I need to. I was thinking of putting the three blade on now, then switch back to the 2 blade in Mobile. I have heard good things about the Campbell Sailor prop. Many freinds of ours have Max Props, and they love them. But they are not trouble free, and expensive. The boat, a Pearson 34-2. sails very well, and I would prefer to keep it that way. I do fear a negative impact when sailing (Great Lakes segment), but the added control motoring may make up for it. I would appreciate hearing what you think!
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I replaced my 2 blade with a 3 blade prop on my C&C 33-2. 1 extra blade has insignificant sailing impacts for me mostly cruising and occasionally racing.
The 3 blade is a massive improvement through current and/or waves. Plus with the 2GM20 it free wheels while sailing in neutral so that probably reduces the drag.
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08-04-2022, 09:32
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Ontario Canada
Boat: Jeanneau SO 389
Posts: 1,969
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Lots of sailors over prop their boats in hopes to defeat hull speed. The clutch and transmission are the weak points. A two bladed prop at max rpm hitting near max hull speed sitting down in the water is perfection. 3 large fixed blade will increase prop walk a lot, especially with the angle of the Prop. Sailing up Lake Michigan stay off Michigan’s shore. Restock in Holland Michigan cause it’s so pretty.
Before Chicago you have to demast for a fixed railway bridge then if you go through Chicago there is another 15’ bridge. When you shoot across Lake Huron you enter the south channel of Georgian Bay and down to the Trent Severn Lock System. Many loopers will tell you it’s the friendliest cleanest part of thetrip. If you fish and like walleye small mouth bass and white fish it’s amazing. Lock 45 is easy and great clubs all around little lake. After the next Lock which is a railway there are 45’ overhead wires in Copps bay an opening on the Severn. Take a detour to Viamede Resort in Stoney Lake. The Docks food golf hot tub is a hidden gem on Stoney.
You’ve two lift locks to travel. Kirkfield and Peterborough. Near Kirkfield there is a 5’ deep narrows but I heard they dredged it to 10’
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08-04-2022, 10:38
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Boat: SAnta Cruz 27
Posts: 7,198
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
We have Catalina races on Tuesday nights, and any boats who want to be consistently in the top half of the fleet have replaced their props with folding or feathering ones. There is more vibration with a two bladed prop.
You will still be able to sail across Lake Michigan with a 3 bladed fixed prop, and it will serve you much better with 5,000 miles of motoring. See if you can find a used one. It cost $1500 to fix the props on my Great Loop Boat after log strikes.
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08-04-2022, 10:49
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Brookhaven, NY
Boat: Pearson 34-2
Posts: 260
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Thank you all for the great advice! We now have a three bladed Campbell sailor on order.
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08-04-2022, 10:57
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Brookhaven, NY
Boat: Pearson 34-2
Posts: 260
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rumrace
Lots of sailors over prop their boats in hopes to defeat hull speed. The clutch and transmission are the weak points. A two bladed prop at max rpm hitting near max hull speed sitting down in the water is perfection. 3 large fixed blade will increase prop walk a lot, especially with the angle of the Prop. Sailing up Lake Michigan stay off Michigan’s shore. Restock in Holland Michigan cause it’s so pretty.
Before Chicago you have to demast for a fixed railway bridge then if you go through Chicago there is another 15’ bridge. When you shoot across Lake Huron you enter the south channel of Georgian Bay and down to the Trent Severn Lock System. Many loopers will tell you it’s the friendliest cleanest part of thetrip. If you fish and like walleye small mouth bass and white fish it’s amazing. Lock 45 is easy and great clubs all around little lake. After the next Lock which is a railway there are 45’ overhead wires in Copps bay an opening on the Severn. Take a detour to Viamede Resort in Stoney Lake. The Docks food golf hot tub is a hidden gem on Stoney.
You’ve two lift locks to travel. Kirkfield and Peterborough. Near Kirkfield there is a 5’ deep narrows but I heard they dredged it to 10’
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Thank you for the advice! The Trent Severn part of the trip is one segment we are very much looking forward to. We plan on putting the mast back up in Georgian Bay, and sail to Chicago, then drop it again. Lots to lok forward to!
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08-04-2022, 11:13
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Port Charlotte Fl
Boat: Dean 44
Posts: 9
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Re: 2 blade vs. 3 blade prop for Great Loop
I have a 17 inch Flex O Fold 3 blade prop in very good condition. I would sell it for $1500. It was on a Sail Drive. I had 2 on my Cat and lost one in Panama. I had spare 2 blade props but the 3 blade just out pulled the single 2 blade. So I just used the two 2 blade props. 719-290-0319
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