I currently have a 2 blade MaxProp classic and Betamarine 25 HP engine and SeaProp 60 saildrive. I want more power and less vibration. I don’t mind losing some speed sailing as I don’t race. My thought is to change to a fixed 3 blade aluminum prop. The SeaProp recommends a 15" x 9" 3 blade aluminum but really having difficulty finding this in Vancouver Canada. Also I think increasing pitch to 11" might be wise as suggested in much that I have read.
Has anyone with similar configuration got thoughts? I hear of NS30C powering at 6+ knots. That is not happening with my boat. Also I am fed up with the complexity of the Maxprop which is clearly why they brought out a new version but out of my acceptable price range.
Thank you
Tim Lepard
S/V Pegasus Vl NS 30C
West Vancouver
BC, Canada
Try https://westbynorth.com/ a local BC prop seller. Last spring I bought a Flexofold from Denmark, but I don’t think this is what you are looking for.
Never seen anyone in BC using aluminum prop on a sailboat. I’d think that with the amount of wood in BC waters, aluminum prop could be too easily damaged or bent… then vibrating.
The standard recommendation on Beta’s website for the Beta 25/Seaprop 60 combination is 16x10 2 blade aluminum. They indicate to consult with them for a more accurate selection.
They also offer a folding prop option which might be considerably less expensive than a Maxprop.
That is a good point about the aluminum prop. I had contacted West by North regarding a Campbell prop but they told me that they don’t make that for saildrives. I will contact them again about an Autostream
Thank you Ward. I am having difficulty getting a direct response from the BC agent for Betmarine. I know he is busy and he has been helpful with the engine. Betamarine recommends a 15x9 3 blade or a 16x9 2 blade in their literature. It looks like I will have to up my acceptable price.
It was good to meet you ever so briefly last weekend.
Chancy has the Beta 25 with Seaprop 60. I started with the recommended aluminium 3 blade prop and it performed just fine for a while.
Aluminium requires a special anti fouling paint which is now hard to get here. When I first installed the new engine and Sea Drive, I used the aluminium paint but it didn’t stand up as long as the bottom paint so I had to pull the boat to attend to the fouled prop.
It may be that the aluminum paint isn’t available in Canada, I couldn’t find any.
Ben Gartside’s recommendation for the Seaprop was to coat it with interprotect and use bottom paint so that is what I did.
I decided to change the prop to a 2 blade flexofold with no paint. I have it on good authority that it won’t have the same fouling problem.
I accept that Chancy now resembles a stearn-wheeler when under power.
Other than that I like the way she slides along under sail, the performance under power and my apprehension about going astern when coming into the dock was unfounded. A 3 blade would have been nice.
You are welcome to the aluminium 3 blade if you would like it.
Thank you Mike. I would like to try the aluminum prop. I take the current prop out 2-3 times a year to replace the zinc. I will try Ben’s idea of the same paint as the saildrive while I have some left. Are you OK with giving/selling the prop.
I wonder if the pitch of your Max-Prop is not set correctly? They are wonderful, if expensive props. Pitch on the Classic can only be changed with the boat our of the water. That is the big difference between the Classic (older) ones and newer. Don’t know why you are getting vibration. I had a 3-blade on a Niagara 35 and it was very smooth. Check complete set-up of prop. It is on the complicated side.
Thank you for all of this very helpful information. I think at this point I should not use an aluminum prop except if I could not get 6 knots out of my 2 blade MaxProp, I would like to try the 3 blade aluminum that Mike is offering. This would let me know if it a 2 or 3 blade that I should be looking at purchasing. I like the idea of the Autostream by Seahawk. I will fill in their contact info and see what the cost is. One benefit of this prop is the improved zinc coverage. Next step is sea trial with prop as is then take it out and check settings.
I have a Kiwi prop. Three blade feathering. I have used it 4 or 5 summers. So far I am happy with it. It is quite reasonable in cost. It is quite simple.
I have a 26 classic. It had a 15;13 two bladed prop. A friend gave me a three bladed 13;13. We took it to the prop shop and they said it will work for my boat. I make 7+ knots and it can stop the boat on a dime. Side note: I soda blasted the bottom this year. They said that there was 1/2 of paint on the hull. Then applied (3) coats of barrier paint and one ablative.
