[Public-list] 3 bladed prop

[J. Brown]

At 11:32 AM 3/28/2005 -0500, Bill Ydel wrote:
Does anyone with an Atomic 4 have any experience with the Indigo Electronics
3 blade  10" x 7.4"   Don Moyer seems to be high on the design.


I also wondered about the Indigo prop and three bladed props in general. My 
research seems to indicate that 3 bladed props are not liked by racers. 
They don't like the fact that the 3 bladed props will always have more drag 
than 2 bladed props. The 2 bladed props can be stopped in a position that 
puts the blades up and down lined up with the hull so much less drag than a 
three bladed which can only line one blade up with the hull.

Those who do alot of blue water cruising really don't like 3 bladed props 
because any drag at all can add days to a long trip. They also argue 
that  no engine at all is the best engine option but compromise on either 
an outboard or inboard with a 2 bladed prop.

But Moyer does seem high on the three bladed prop and so do many others. 
These people seem to be viewing it from an engine POV. They seem to argue 
for the three bladed for the Alberg 30 with an Atomic 4 because there isn't 
room to fit a proper sized two bladed prop. To get the Atomic 4 horsepower 
to the water with the limited prop room of the Alberg 30 a three bladed 
prop is needed.

If that is the case then the only people for whom the three bladed prop is 
the best choice is those who use the engine often or motor in rough and 
windy conditions (in areas too narrow to sail I guess). Otherwise the extra 
drag of a three bladed is prop is not worth it because a two blade prop is 
more than adequate in most conditions and a sail boat will normally spend 
more time sailing than motoring.

These are just my conclusions. Are they correct? I don't know.

Haefen
Vancouver


At 11:27 AM 4/13/2005 -0400, you wrote:
>  Does anyone have a three bladed prop they would like to sell?  By the way,
>what are the advantages?  I have heard there were good points and bad
>points.
>
>Phil Prosser
>
>Luftmensch #319
>Fairport Harbor
>
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