[Alberg30] Roller Furling and Props

[Brian and Elaine Timmins]

Kevin,
      I really like the products I've gotten from Indigo to upgrade the A4.
Tom Stevens is a nice guy also. I met him at a Moyer A4 training seminar in
Harrisburg several years ago, where he first introduced his prop (still
under design at the time). I almost decided to try his prop when I changed
mine, but the CD salesman I dealt with at the boat show convinced me his
prop would work just fine. (Oddly, that sales guy left CD and now works for
one of those folding / self feathering prop companies) Initially, it
appeared that the CD prop really was "All That" and in fact, I sent CD a
testimonial re how much I liked their prop. That might have been motivated
by their offer to send a prop puller to anyone who sent them an opinion
after installing their prop. I began to suspect something after I received
the "Puller". It's an aluminum ~ 1"x2"x1/2" block with 3 holes and 2 screws.
(probably <$5.00 to make)
       I'm still curious about the Indigo prop. My biggest thought problem
with it is the 10" diameter behind our medium / large deadwood. After you
install it and get a chance to evaluate it, please start up a new subject
thread and post your impressions. I'm most curious about it's ability to
pull our boats in reverse where it's thrust will run into the deadwood
immediately. I'm sure Tom Stevens designed it to push his boat and let the
A4 rev up to where it should. The only problem is that Tom has a Tartan 34
(or 30?) which is one of those fin keel boats with 0 deadwood. Three blade
props are generally thought to be better in reverse than two bladed props. I
keep my boat in a slip (bow in) not on a mooring so every time I go out, I
have to start out in reverse. Of course, the prevailing wind is on my port
quarter to dead astern. Figures doesn't it?
Regards,      Brian      Free Spirit      #497
----- Original Message -----
From: "T. Kevin Blanc" <tkevinblanc at yahoo.com>
To: <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Alberg30] Roller Furling and Props


> I looked into the Cruising Design prop. The folks
> there were kind enough to tell me right up front that
> it wasn't so great in boats where the prop would be in
> an aperture with lots of deadwood. I thought that was
> pretty good of them.
>
> I'm still wondering if the Indigo stainless steel
> 3x10x7.4 A-4 prop I bought will work better. I hope to
> install it this Spring.
>
> --- Brian and Elaine Timmins <timmins at optonline.net>
> wrote:
> > Roller Furling / Reefing
> > My A30 is the first boat I've had that has Roller
> > Furling. I have what most people consider not a
> > great system. It's an older Hood Line Drive system
> > that uses a continuous loop of line that goes
> > through a furling drum that resembles a self tailing
> > winch top. Although this system has a few drawbacks,
> > (I'll discuss them seperately if anybody really
> > wants to know), I highly recommend adding roller
> > furling / reefing. It just makes going out sailing
> > that much easier and more convenient. It takes away
> > the excuse that it's too much work or I'm too tired
> > after work or whatever your own favorite excuse is.
> > You can have your present jibs and genoas modified
> > by almost any sailmaker or if your so inclined,
> > Sailrite and others sell what you need to do it
> > yourself. You should add a sacrificial UV Blocker
> > band to the foot and leach of any sail you'll leave
> > on the furler to protect the sailcloth. In my area,
> > I find it most appropriate to have a 135% bent on.
> > It has the widest range of usage for my local wind
> > conditions. Don't think that one all purpose sail
> > will go from drifting to storm conditions. The most
> > you should plan on is the ability to reef 10 - 20 %.
> > If you go past that, the sail shape deteriorates
> > Quickly. It can be done but as you go smaller, the
> > sail gets baggier instead of flatter which is what
> > you really want as the wind picks up. If you get a
> > new, purpose built sail, it should have a foam (or
> > other style, thick) luff pad to help flatten the
> > sail as you reef. Most sailmakers also will give you
> > reference marks and reinforced patches at the
> > suggested reef points. I actually have a 170%, my
> > favorite 135%, and a working jib (100%??) set up to
> > use. Only the 135% has the UV strips. In 5 years of
> > use, the 135% is up 95%, the working jib 4%, and the
> > 170% 1% (approximate guess). If your a high tech
> > racer, there are some systems that let you remove
> > the drum easily and use the airfoil shape extrusion
> > alone. In my opinion, This is overkill, but it does
> > let you remove the drum for maintenance.
> > There is one drawback to roller furling/reefing. On
> > longer passages where the wind can pick up on you,
> > if you reef down and then find you want to change
> > down, you have to let the whole sail out to lower
> > it. In other words, after you think the wind is too
> > strong for the full sail and the wind is getting
> > worse, to go smaller, you have to deal with more
> > sail than you want in those wind conditions. There
> > are other potential problems, but they're minor (in
> > my opinion)
> > Go for it, You'll love it (after you get used to
> > it). Buy the best you can afford. The Profurl units
> > in the group purchase are great. I know several
> > people that have them, and the group prices seem
> > good.
> > Props
> > I have an A4 in my boat. It had the standard 2 blade
> > 13X7 which kept the engine RPM max too low. I
> > changed to the Cruising Design Atomic 4 Prop (7/8
> > shaft). It's OK, not as great as I originally
> > thought after installing it. It does let the engine
> > run up to a better max RPM (for engine health), but
> > it's not as great in reverse as they say. Believe me
> > on this. I'm still tending to an ankle/calf injury I
> > got last May that was ultimately caused by my own
> > stubborn stupidity when I couldn't back out of my
> > slip due to high winds. The Prop also doesn't react
> > well to things like a plastic bag getting caught on
> > a blade, but no prop does. All I can say is this
> > prop works but it's not the end all, be all of props
> > for the A4 in an A30.
> > Regards,
> > Brian      Free Spirit      #497
> >
>
>
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