Gori 3-blade folding prop ... experience on IP 380s?

Any insights or experience with a 3-blade folding prop for an IP 380 as replacement for the current 3-blade fixed prop?

We had 2 and 3-blade folding props on our earlier boats, and worked very well, but those were in our club-racing days.

We're underway several weekends a month cruising on the southern Chesapeake Bay, and still dabble in club racing as 'cruisers" here on the Chesapeake.

Any recommendations appreciated.

Chess and Karen
IP 380-88
The Belle of Virginia
thebelleofvirginia.blogspot.com/

We do not have a folding prop as my philosophy is to "keep it simple" and that's one less maintenance issue and thing to break. Barnacles in Chesapeake can be a problem for folding props. With that in mind, IP owners using the Kiwi non-metallic folding prop have reported good results.
Mark Lawrence IP380-132 Tides Inn

Chess,
I put an auto prop on my ip 37 last spring. I was very pleased with the improved performance in all phases, sailing, motoring and motor sailing. Picked over a knot motoring, but i had a failure while I was cruising this fall. Had to hire a diver to come change it out with the old three blade prop which I luckily carried as a spare. The factory said it was a very failure and we are currently negotiating on who should pay for what since they just overhauled it in the spring. I am probably going to try the autoprop again but I'll keep the old prop on board as a back up.
Bob Younh

Bob...appreciate the assessment. Heard the same from a couple of locals here with large Beneteaus and Hunters. A knot more makes big difference on the long hauls.

Best wishes for the holidays!

R/Chess and Karen
IP 380-88
The Belle of Virginia

Mark...thanks!

Simple is always better, and fixed over adjustable reduces number of moving parts. Appreciate that all too well. Had folding props on our Pearson and later on our O'Day. Never had a problem here on the Southern Bay. Key was underway often and good bottom paint/prop-speed sealant on the prop. Our slip is in Willoughby Bay on the Navy Base...and lot of freshwater run-off from the airfield and heliport directly into the marina, so low salt-level...so hardly ever a barnacle problem, just algae slime build-up in the summer months.

Would like to put a marker down for a potential Southern Bay Rendezvous in Apr/May 13. Maybe up in Sara's Creek,willoughby Bay, Hampton,...?

THanks again.

R/Chess and Karen
IP 380-88

I also experienced and Auto Prop failure just recently. While moving Ellis Island from Maryland to Florida I lost reverse propulsion. I had the boat hauled and found that two of the three blades had lost their bearings. The prop has about 600 hours.I plan to send it in for repairs. Any suggestions on where I should send it.

Chuck Ellis
Ellis island
IP 32 - 099

Chuck,

That is exactly what happened to me, two of the three blades lost there bearings. They tell me it was caused by an extremely rare failure. Apparently it is not that rare. Talk to Steve Armitage. Email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Let me know how it goes. Mine only had about 150 hrs since they had overhauled.
Bob

Chess,
May sounds good to us for a southern Bay Rendezvous. Understand you are friends with Doug Lemeke, we don't live to far (at least by car) from him.
Bob

Yes...Doug and I worked through a number of fun maintenance items.

Key was replacement of the Drag-links on the steering...long talk with folks at Lewmar to confirm part numbers, then found the parts on Defender. Too nice.

Had some minor blisters on the rudder...great support from IPY; folks at Ocean Marine planed, evacuated, relaminated, then barrier/bottom coated the rudder. Great work.

Used Doug's layout for a boom brake. Another nice idea. Doug's a master of ideas... and experiences.

As for the link-up...May would be great. Need to get a date marker down to the many IPs in the greater Southern Chesapeake Bay area, and for those potentially transienting.

Hospital Pt in Portsmouth gives access to all kinds of places to go and do...and Willoughby gives us great weather protection and solitude. Guess we could also do the Dismal Swamp welcome center, too...or up in Sarah's Creek...or in Reedsville. Maybe even the Tiki bar anchorage over south of the concrete ships on the eastern shore. Your thoughts?

Chess and Karen
IP 380-88
The Belle of Virginia

Just saw this older post. I have had an autoprop for 10 years. Service it myself and have never had a failure in over 25,000 miles. I gain at least 1/2-1 knot sailing and also gain over 100 kn miles in motoring distance per tank. When you pick up 20 miles a day and you are doing an 18 day crossing it makes a huge difference. Basically shaved about 3 days of the trip from Hawaii to Tahiti. I keep the stock 3 blade for back up and usually put that one on when I am not cruising.

fair winds, Clint
"Kairos" IP 38 #51

After having the auto prop reconditioned by AB marine for the second time I reinstalled it. It failed again after only seventy hours. I bought a properly sized 3 bladed prop and will not WASTE anymore time with the Autoprop