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19-02-2020, 12:47
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Toronto area when not travelling
Boat: Nonsuch 30
Posts: 1,663
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Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
I am replacing the 2 blade fixed prop on my Catalina 36. At this juncture I am leaning towards a Flexofold 3 blade. Boat will be for cruising and day sailing only and the FF seems to offer the best combination of performance and price. I am using the YM test for performance data and current prices I have found. The Kiwi is definitely cheaper but did not do as well in the tests. Featherstream was also a finalist.
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Have taken on the restoration of the first Nonsuch, which was launched in 1978. Needs some deck work, hull compounding, and a bit of new gear.
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19-02-2020, 12:48
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#2
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Ca 't talk you out of it as I like mine a lot
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Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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19-02-2020, 14:15
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,135
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
We've used a lot of different props over the years, and our FOF 3 blade is easily the best so far. Ours has now some 5000+hours on it and no perceptible wear has occurred. Other folders and some feathering props can't equal that longevity, and you already know that they provide very good motoring performance... so, no, I won't talk you out of it!
An outstanding product IMO.
Jim
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Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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19-02-2020, 14:20
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 5,983
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
I've tried most of the folders and feathering props over the years and my favorite is Flexofold..had an issue on their sizing but it eventually got straightened out. Ours is a 3 blade and its fast under motor with lots of pulling power against a seaway and has been bullet proof for many years. Highly recommended.
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19-02-2020, 14:31
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Irish Sea
Posts: 1,321
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Quote:
Originally Posted by AiniA
I am replacing the 2 blade fixed prop on my Catalina 36. At this juncture I am leaning towards a Flexofold 3 blade. Boat will be for cruising and day sailing only and the FF seems to offer the best combination of performance and price. I am using the YM test for performance data and current prices I have found. The Kiwi is definitely cheaper but did not do as well in the tests. Featherstream was also a finalist.
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Any possible clearance issues? If not, go ahead!
__________________
Useful as a fireproof bottom paint...
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19-02-2020, 15:29
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#6
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virgin Islands
Boat: PDQ 36, 36'5", previously Leopard 45 cat and Hunter 33 mono
Posts: 1,345
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
I am another Flexofold fan, but of the prop, not the company. I had a major sizing issue that they refused to deal with, despite the fact that they were the ones doing the advising on size. I would only deal with the factory, so that if there is a problem, there are no middlemen/distributors in the chain, whom the factory might blame. The prop is great.
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19-02-2020, 16:26
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 5,983
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Quote:
Originally Posted by contrail
I am another Flexofold fan, but of the prop, not the company. I had a major sizing issue that they refused to deal with, despite the fact that they were the ones doing the advising on size. I would only deal with the factory, so that if there is a problem, there are no middlemen/distributors in the chain, whom the factory might blame. The prop is great.
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Same thing happened to me, it took a long time and it wasn't free but it finally got sorted. There is no easy answer as they are supposed to know their product, poor customer service.
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20-02-2020, 09:13
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: New Jersey
Boat: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40.3
Posts: 164
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
We had a 3-blade Flexofold on our old boat and really liked it, but we have a Max-Prop on our current boat and it outperforms the Flexofold in my experience. When sailing the Flexofold may have a slight advantage, but under power, especially in reverse (as when backing into a slip) the Max-Prop is far better.
Tom
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20-02-2020, 09:16
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Ranieri/Bari, S. Italy
Boat: Jeanneau 43ds
Posts: 638
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Maybe you should take Jim's advice. I had about 15 yrs successful experience w a Maxprop on a Beneteau 40ft (12m). I changed my fixed 3 blade on my (new to me) Jeanneau 43 ds to a Featherstream which is v similar to the Maxprop design and if you have the YM test report you can see it came out as one of the best. V similar in performance to the max prop but only about 2/3rds of the price. I dealt with Darglow Engineering UK direct, not through a distributor and their sizing and after sales service has been excellent. Absolutely no regrets. If you wish to investigate price and size for yr boat i suggest you speak to Nick.
Andrew
"Genial Bee"
Currently Bari/S.Italy
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20-02-2020, 09:22
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#10
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Enkhuizen, NL
Boat: Pearson 36-1
Posts: 755
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Living in Europe, I dealt with the factory in Denmark. The salesman at the Düsseldorf Boot Show just asked me my engine and sold me a two blade Flex-o-fold. When I intstalled the FOF, the tips of the blades would hit my skeg on my Pearson 36-1. Rather than modify the skeg, I opted for shorter blades.
I heard there were "problems" with the US office some years ago.
When I visited La Rochelle two years ago and hauled the boat the following winter, the propeller shaft and the prop were covered in some calcified marine life, not barnacles. My harbormaster told me I had been to France, he recognized the calcified shells of whatever critters had left behind. I soaked the propeller components in a vinegar based toilet cleaner and the next day with a 3M green scrub pad, I had the propeller looking like new.
Do buy their special propeller puller to avoid problems removing it. Normal gear pullers won't work.
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20-02-2020, 09:47
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,642
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Quote:
Originally Posted by George DuBose
Living in Europe, I dealt with the factory in Denmark. The salesman at the Düsseldorf Boot Show just asked me my engine and sold me a two blade Flex-o-fold. When I intstalled the FOF, the tips of the blades would hit my skeg on my Pearson 36-1. Rather than modify the skeg, I opted for shorter blades.
I heard there were "problems" with the US office some years ago.
When I visited La Rochelle two years ago and hauled the boat the following winter, the propeller shaft and the prop were covered in some calcified marine life, not barnacles. My harbormaster told me I had been to France, he recognized the calcified shells of whatever critters had left behind. I soaked the propeller components in a vinegar based toilet cleaner and the next day with a 3M green scrub pad, I had the propeller looking like new.
Do buy their special propeller puller to avoid problems removing it. Normal gear pullers won't work.
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Prime and paint your propeller To Reduce the surface area of underwater wet metal
No growth , greatly reduced anode burn and better performance
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20-02-2020, 09:51
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#12
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
I have had a MaxProp. I didn't like anything about it bet than my FOF. All it did was cost most to buy, get lower fuel efficiency, and need maintenance.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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20-02-2020, 10:44
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Arizona
Boat: Morgan Catalina 45
Posts: 72
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Love mine, only negative is reverse is not as good as my fixed 3 blade. It doesnt stop as easily, I need considerably higher throttle.However, there is NO propwalk so I like it better even in reverse. I can now confidently maneuver in a tight marina even in cross wind and no thruster.
I dealt direct with no problems.
My boat is a 45 Catalina Morgan with a skeg hung rudder.
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20-02-2020, 10:45
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Med.
Boat: Amel 50
Posts: 1,016
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Quote:
Originally Posted by slug
Prime and paint your propeller To Reduce the surface area of underwater wet metal
No growth , greatly reduced anode burn and better performance
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What primer and paint do you use? Thanks.
I've been happy with FlexoFold propellers too. I've had them on a couple of boats. I particularly liked the low maintenance.
I now VariFold, which is a similar design. Again, no problems so far.
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20-02-2020, 10:55
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: West Chester, PA
Boat: Beneteau 48
Posts: 30
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Re: Talk me out of a Flexofold 3 blade
Have had a 3 blade Flexofold on our last two boats, a total of 12 years over many different motoring and sailing conditions and we have been very pleased.
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