can you point me to a plastic variable pitch propeller?!

[Shanaly]

hi I am thinking of changing my prop to the above - but i can't find it again on the web! its a clever prop made of a plastic, and because of the flexibility it feathers and flexes while sailing, reducing drag, while it 'auto adjusts' its pitch in forward and reverse, and according to rpm. not as tough as bronze, but still very apt and much more affordable.

any ideas of the brand? thanks

[noelex 77]

I think you are thinking of the Kiwiprop.

Kiwiprops

[GordMay]

Sounds like the sort of thing used on low-power trolling motors.

The Kiwi is a "feathering" prop.

[chris07732]

General question: How do feathering props deal with barnacle growth? Does a strong marine growth environment, coupled with periods of 2-3 weeks of non use in that environment limit their consideration? Does anyone have a picture of a "barnacled" prop that still was performing?

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by chris07732

General question: How do feathering props deal with barnacle growth? Does a strong marine growth environment, coupled with periods of 2-3 weeks of non use in that environment limit their consideration? Does anyone have a picture of a "barnacled" prop that still was performing?

I have never had our Maxiprop malfunction. It's not often we are still for 2-3 weeks, but there have been occasions when this has happened, without problems.

[Adelie]

Performance Propellers

These guys have both fixed and feathering plastic props.

They indicate that the fixed plastic blades will warp to a slightly better pitch depending on whether the engine is delivering full power punching into wind/waves or throttled back for best economy.

I don't know if that warping works with the feathering plastic props but they have those on the site too.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by chris07732

General question: How do feathering props deal with barnacle growth? Does a strong marine growth environment, coupled with periods of 2-3 weeks of non use in that environment limit their consideration?

Any prop's performance will be significantly diminished by even a few barnacles. If you are asking whether a feathering prop will stop feathering when foul- the answer is yes, but this typically would require really heavy fouling. Just how long that would take to happen is completely dependant on the fouling conditions where your boat lives.

[chris07732]

A reply to my query from Kiwiprops (www.kiwiprops.co.nz) :

"So fouling wise it would be no different from any other unit.
They seem to operate in all scenarios as the mechanical forces involved will wipe any fouling from the
boss. We have seen pacific oysters on the blades - 2-3" and these will affect feathering but we assume
normal owners will not let this situation develop.

I don't have photo's of fouling on operational units.

Our units will initially lose / diminish their feathering ability as very heavy fouling increases while retaining
motoring and reversing capability as this function is not mechanically driven."