Finally Got A New Prop

[Latitude9.5]

I had removed the feathering prop after it ate itself on the way to haul-out (at least it was convenient timing) last year. The spare prop I had was a 24/20 the prop I removed was a 26/20. As you can imagine I lost some top speed with the smaller prop.Soooo, I finally tracked down a replacement, not brand new, but reconditioned from Tacoma Propellers, should be here next week, then i just gotta put it on!

I am planning on doing the propspeed treatment to it, anyone tried that?

[Pblais]

I am planning on doing the propspeed treatment to it, anyone tried that?

Everyone that I have talked to about prop treatments seems to feel you get about 6 to 9 months of protection and then it gives out. If you look at what it costs it seems to me they end up the same as having a diver come regularly.

[Latitude9.5]

Everyone here is going on and on about fet pen, I've had several people tll me to take a magic marker and write all over the prop.

I''ve actually got a small amount of the propspeed that was given to me, that's why I was thinking of using it. Now that we are in cleaner water I am going to do the bottom myself, but figure i'll give the stuff a try and see what happens.

[SkiprJohn]

Congratulations on the new prop. I'm going to try the felt tip marker thing but haven't yet.
That sounds like a huge prop. Mine is only an 18/13. You do have about double the engine power and size of boat though.
JohnL

[David M]

Is that a 24 inch X 20 inch prop? If so that is huge for a 46 foot sailboat. I have two, four bladed 24" X 24" attached to twin 330HP engines that runs the boat at 20 knots. Is this a metric size or some other sort of size?...just curious. Is your engine able to reach its full rated maximum RPM?

I talked to the boatyard manager who is responsible for my haulouts. He thought coating the prop is hype and a waste of money. He said, just keep the shaft anodes up and make sure the blades are kept trued and ding free. A nice polishing done by the prop shop would not hurt either. There is so much stuff in the water that any sort of coating is not going to hold up over time. You will never recover your costs in fuel savings or in the cost of occasional prop maintenance. ...so I have been told.

[Latitude9.5]

The old prop is a 24x20, the original prop and the one that I am putting back on is a 26x20, which is what it came from the factory with. I also had them spec it based on all the boat stats. they recommended a 26x20 or a 26x19 it was definetely much faster top speed with the 26, i can outrun most the trawlers

Yes it reaches full rpm, it's 85 hp perkins 4.236 with a 3:1 reduction, boat is 36,000 lbs, 37.5 loa 46 overall. Full rpm is 2800 and it reaches it fine. I know one other boat with similar specs (vagabond) with a 4.236 and he is running a 26x20 as well, so I don't think it's as uncommon as you might think.

By the way, i checked out mussel busters too, they want a mere 300 for a coating they guarantee for 6 months.

[Alan Wheeler]

Good results have been obtained here so far using Propspeed. I am considering using it next haul out.

The Felttip marker pen originated here several years ago. Someone stated that their new prop that had the price written on it in felttip marker, was covered in growth everywhere except the writing. So he was going to cover the entire prop in the felttip marker and see what happend. I can not remember who on earth it was and I don't ever remember them coming back with a reply. It was several years back now. So unless you have prrof the marker works, it may just be a rumour started from CF.

[Latitude9.5]

Yea I'm thinking I will give the propspeed a try, my cost is 115.00 for the kit, in the scheme of things that aint bad

[Latitude9.5]

Got it last week, just got around to snappin photos

[Weyalan]

I used propspeed for the first time about 14 months ago and have been impressed with the results, but less impressed with the cost...

[Alan Wheeler]

Wow! Latitude, thats a beauty. Eeooo Shiineyy!

[Latitude9.5]

Yea makes me a little sad to stick it under water where no one can see!

[FrankZ]

Originally Posted by Latitude9.5

Got it last week, just got around to snappin photos

Ahhh.. a nice little bit of boat porn.

[Latitude9.5]

it was terrible day in reality. I got a brand new macbook pro and my new wheel on the same day....... valentine's day and I had promised to cook up some lobster for the wife.

Not much tears me away from lobster, but come on now