Maxprop Cutlass bearing Low RPMs

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

The name " maxprop" is just a synonym for a feathering prop....imo...at least around here..

That's like saying "Ford" is a synonym for "car."

[OloteleMtn]

In my case, it was on the boat I bought, and replacement would cost about the equivalent of what i paid for my boat. The product and the support are fine.

[kenbo]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

That's like saying "Ford" is a synonym for "car."

Not quite. It's more like band-aid for adhesive bandage, xerox for a photocopy and jello for gelatin based dessert.

[MicHughV]

yep, pretty much.....when I talk to other sailors about a feathering prop...the name Max prop pretty much dominates the conversation...though I know other feathering props are out there.... I do not know the name of a single one...and don't particularly care to know either...

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by kenbo

Not quite. It's more like band-aid for adhesive bandage, xerox for a photocopy and jello for gelatin based dessert.

Not even close. Those things actually are eponyms. Max Prop is not.

[SaltyMetals]

i had a Maxprop on my previous boat. All worked ok. When i bought my current boat it had a 20" fixed 3 blade and after some research i bought a Featherstream (Darglow Eng., UK) which is virtually the same as a MP as indeed is shown by an excellent piece of research by Yachting Monthly, UK (Mar 2015) where they compared 15 different feathering and folding props. Does the same job but cost 30% less than a MP. Pitch can be adjusted externally and can be set differently for forward or astern. Boss is bronze and the blades are SS.
Andrew

[MicHughV]

tell me of another name for tissue besides Kleenex...no matter what brand is out there...the product will be known as " Kleenex"..

I think I'm spending too much on these CF boards....need to get my life back again.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

Name one or two...

Well, the Seahawk/Autostream is one that I have extensive experience with... there's one for you. All the rest I can only rely upon other's reports for info.

Jim

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

That's like saying "Ford" is a synonym for "car."

That is exactly correct, down South any adhesive bandage, is a Band Aid, all soft drinks are Cokes, and any small motorcycle was a Honda, there are many, many examples.
But people are social animals, and most often their purchasing of anything clothes, houses automobiles etc is based on Social acceptance of whatever they have, it’s why I guess some Women’s purses cost thousands of dollars and I’m sure Men’s suits too. It’s not that they are so superior, it’s for the snob appeal.
It’s brand recognition plain and simple, the majority of Harley Davidson buyers are not Motorcyclists, this is their first bike, but they want to be seen on a Harley.

However I don’t care who makes it, a flat plate wing will generate lift, just very inefficiently, a balsa airplane with a sheet of balsa for wings will fly, just not very well.
A flat plate prop blade will generate thrust, just inefficiently, so if you desire an inefficient prop, then one with flat blades is the one for you.

[MicHughV]

I think the whole point about a maxprop or any other feathering prop is not so much the thrust it can provided, rather it is the reduction of prop drag under sail.

Maxprop claims an efficiency of around 95% as compared to a fixed prop...

My personal experience with the Maxprop would appear to indicate little or no difference when under power or none that I could detect.

No one can deny that a Maxprop's reverse thrust is light years better than a fixed blade, not that boats travel backwards, but......hey, each to his own...

[MicHughV]

I think Maxprop's claim to effiency has something to do with their blade area, what they lack in blade twist is made up by blade area.
When I first saw my Maxprop, I thought, wow, these are b-i-i-i-ggg blades.

I'm very pleased with the Max prop performance, both under power and sail.

[a64pilot]

So you know why the flat plate props perform so well in reverse?
It’s not that they perform well in reverse, it’s that they perform equally as bad in reverse. You see a regular prop has an aerodynamic profile, an airfoil that increases its efficiency, it also has blade twist that attempts to equalize thrust over the whole blade length thereby increasing performance, but pop it in reverse and the leading and trailing edges swap, so you lose all those increases in performance.
The only way to get the same performance in reverse on a well designed blade is for it to turn around 180 degrees so that it’s leading edge is still the leading edge, even in reverse. Only one model that I know of does that.

But manufacturers must believe their isn’t a need to have as strong a reverse as forward, or they wouldn’t turn the prop slower in reverse, and they do. But honestly I don’t understand this desire for a strong reverse, why do people want a powerful reverse? I think marketing has then believing they need it, or that it’s such an advantage.
You don’t really come into a slip or fuel dock at a speed that it takes a powerful reverse to stop do you? If so what’s the plan when you put it in reverse and the engine stalls?

[MicHughV]

I think the focus is reduced drag.....not improved performance.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

I think the focus is reduced drag.....not improved performance.

I agree, but this is one case where you can have your cake and eat it too.
In my opinion the real advantage of these props is their adjustability, most props you have to hope are correct, without removal and more money spent, there is no dialing it in. And it’s very rare that they are spot on, best you can normally get is close

[MicHughV]

yes, very true...the ultimate DIY prop