Lucia 40: 3 blades folding props on a Volvo D1-30

[CaptainRivet]

regarding Volvo folding or flexofold or any other incl feathering ones


sure you can always find something better but we are cruisers so for most

1) improvement per $ or Euro counts

2) maintenance effort counts, service how often, need to haul out or underwater?
3) as prop specialist Gröover explained me the saildrive bearings are engeneered and calculated for fixed props. the folding props put more strain on that bearings and shorten their life quite significantly. Especially during rev up and manoevering. Worst a 2 blade folding one, 3 blade better but still more strain. All manufacturer of feathering or folding ones doesn't tell you that.



I have upgraded and overpowered D2-50 in my Lavezzi 40ft and fixed 3 blade props fitted by the former owner and bought it with 19h on the engines and saildrive.


fixed prop: costs me around 2kn speed BUT surfing down big waves they brake enough so I don't get into critical zone and maintenance free. Have Coopercoat and new 130S saildrives which you can service from on top. So I only haul out when defects and no additional strain on saildrive bearings.



Radice 2 balde folding: 2x700 Euro, sadly not avaiable in 18ich as I need. Real time Live expenctency around 7 years, haul out latest 2 year for maintenance same performance gain then volvo, a bit more losses during reverse and manoevering but I have plenty power. quite good reviews but vibrations which strains the saildrive bearings more. Would have chosen them as best performance gain for the buck but no fitting one.



Volvo 3-Blade folding: 1800Eurox2=3600Euro and latest all 2year haul out for service, real time live expectency 10years. Not the most effective ones from the tests, so I gain maybe 1-1.5 kn and I loose some power but I have plenty...so best fit for money but all 2 years haul out and additional strain on saildrive



flexofold: 3700Eurox2= due to prop specialist Gröover prefect fit due to adjustable pitch. max power gain but I already have too much, good control in maneöver is better then Volvo. Real Live expectency i assume also 10 years...less strain on saildrive bearings as additional vibrations minimal due to pitch fits well. Maintenance yearly haul out.



EWOL: ?