[alberg30] Re: Atomic 4 wheels

[David Swanson]

From: David Swanson <zira at mindspring.com>

Rick -

I too am very interested in the CDI prop.  My 13X9 (?) will not let the engine
get above 1600 rpm.  This is too low, causes carbon build-up & extra wear on the
bearings per Don Moyer.  Moyer really likes the CDI.  The feedback from
rec.boats.cruising and alt.sailing.asa newsgroups is much more mixed.  I could
not find anyone with a boat similar to the A30 that had actually used one.  Most
of the people who buy one are Catalina 30 owners, or similar.  A LOT of them had
the blades shear off.  Some thought this was good (saved the
engine/shaft/strut), some thought it was evidence of structural weakness.

Does anyone have any first- or second-hand knowledge of how it works on an A30
or similar?

dls
Strayaway Child
Alberg 30 #229

p.s. Group purchase item, anyone?

dls

Rick Leach wrote:

> From: Rick Leach <RLeach at mbayaq.org>
>
> Dick,
>
> I'm happy to hear that your Atomic 4 is alive & kicking.  As much as I would
> love to repower with diesel, I can't bring myself to spend all the time
> effort and MONEY to pull out a perfectly good engine.  With regard to prop
> selection,  I inherited a 13x9, two bladed wheel.  Not only is it slightly
> out of balance, it's too much prop.  I can't get the engine revs up into the
> juicy part of the power band.  It always feels like it's lugging a little
> bit.  Fortunately, here in Monterey, my mooring is only a few hundred yards
> from the breakwater and the open bay, so it hasn't limited my sailing time.
> When I haul-out in April I will be replacing it with a prop from CDI
> (Cruising Designs, Inc.).  They have developed a prop specifically for the
> Atomic 4, made from polyurethane (like bowling ball material) it is a 12x7,
> two blade.  They claim this is the best unless you have wide deadwood or a
> very light boat (doesn't apply to A-30's).  I actually handled one of these
> at Sail Expo last year and was impressed with it's lightness and it's
> toughness (and it's price, only $175).  Whether or not urethane suits your
> taste, a 12x7 is probably close to ideal.  If your running a 12x6, you can't
> be too far off.  I would expect that you should be able to reach hull speed,
> just at a little higher revs.  I know prop shops can repitch props within
> reasonable limits too.  That may be worth looking into.  Anyway, those are
> my thoughts on the subject.  Good luck!
>
> Web address for CDI's Atomic 4 prop is:  http://www.sailcdi.com/pa4page.htm
>
> Rick Leach
> Sugar Magnolia, #121
> http://www.angelfire.com/ca/Alberg30/index.html
>
> http://www.sailcdi.com/pa4page.htm
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Did you know that we have over 85,000 e-mail communities at Onelist?
> http://www.onelist.com
> Come visit our new web site and explore a new interest


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start a new hobby. Meet a new friend.
http://www.onelist.com
Onelist:  The leading provider of free email list services

 920682782.0