Is ‘maxiprop’ just another name for ‘maxprop’ as mine is labeled?
Fred Rachwitz
Concerto
Nonsuch 30 U #445
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Northern Lake Michigan
Fred
maybe, is PYI the company who made it?
The Maxprop was designed by Maximilian Bianchi and is manufactured in Italy. I believe PYI is the leading distributor/vendor of the Maxprop in the Pacific Northwest and May all of North America.
Mark Powers
My recollection is that PYI was a distributor in relation to MaxProp. I know when I purchased Concerto in 2007 I was completely unfamiliar with folding or feathering props. It had a “Maxprop” 2 blade feathering prop. After my first season I had it overhauled and checked out by PYI as somehow I had learned they dealt in MaxProps. My experience with them was fabulous. When returned to me the prop looked and felt like I imagined a new one would. I faithfully have greased it with their recommended lube every year and have not had a single issue.
I need to check my literature and get back to you to confirm things. Will try to do soon as I can get to the boat easily, even here in the still frozen north.
Fred Rachwitz
Concerto
Nonsuch 30 U #445
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Northern Lake Michigan
Wow, Mark beat me to it but confirmed my thinking. And, he is right about the Italian manufacture I remember now. I’ll still check my literature.
Fred Rachwitz
Concerto
Nonsuch 30 U #445
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Northern Lake Michigan
Fred
I did look at Maxprop but at twice the price, I couldn’t find twice the value.
More moving parts, more maintenance, and as I sail in a bay full of crab/prawn traps in season, folding is less likely to catch a line.
Hi Paul,
I finally got a quote from Flexofold. My NS 30U has a Westerbeke 35D-Three engine with 31 HP at 3000 RPM, 1" shaft and 2.134 reduction. My current pop is a 3 bladed 17" Autoprop.
I wanted a 3 bladed prop, Flexofold recommended a 15" x 13" 3R prop. This is 2" smaller than my current prop. I am wondering if they gave you a 3 bladed prop recomenndation as well? If so, what size & pitch?
Thanks,
Don
Sorry Don, they only quoted me for the two blade. Anyway my engine is a W33 and my gear is 2:1 so it wouldn’t be apples to apples anyway.
how about gori?
There are some good review articles on this subject and good previous discussion and several types that Nonsuchers have been very happy with.
I chose the Flexofold for the following reasons.
Overall, near or at the top in most rating categories. The only one, as I recall, that it wasn’t was stopping power. Like most engineered systems, there are compromises.
What pushed me over was overall simple, robust design and Calder’s recommendation.
I did purchase a flexofold this year, and asked the manufacturer for paint recommendations. Their reply (which surprised me, but likely not more experienced owners) was: " We recommend that you don´t do any painting or modification at first. This if there should be the very rare need of some exchange. In such case, the propeller parts must be kept in original condition.".
Anyway, glad I asked.
Mike
NS30C
Port Moody, BC
Hi Mike, what size Flexofold prop did you get, and is it 2 or 3 blades? Also what engine HP and transmission reduction do you have?
FYI, in my 30+ years of experience, props were not painted, but polished with a buffing wheel. Usually little growth of barnacles on polished metal. Now many paint their props and shafts with zinc spray paint. Two years ago in July, when I bought boat, they zinc spray painted shaft & prop. A year later when I pulled boat in June, there were more barnacles on prop & shaft than I have ever seen before. See photos. But I painted it again with zinc spray paint. Last month I pulled boat, and there were only two or three barnacles. In the off season I run engine, in gear, at dock every 3-4 weeks, in part to keep growth off prop. Also, zinc spray used two years ago was not same as Martyr brand used last year. I’m not convinced that painting prop and shaft are necessary. But I do paint the strut.
Don
'87 NS 30 Ultra #369
Vancouver BC
Hi Don,
I have a Volvo Penta MD2030 (max. rated 28 hp / 3600 rpm, gear reduction ratio 1:2,47 ) with a saildrive. Flexofold recommended a 2-blade 16X12L or a 3-blade 16X11-3L. I went with the 2 blade mainly because it was C$1000 less than the 3 blade.
Thanks for providing your experience regarding polishing vs. zinc paint varieties. I’ll follow your schedule of regularly running the engine in gear and see how well the barnacles are kept under control.
Mike