The Prop - Assembly of a 3-Blade Flexofold Propeller

The advantages of a folding or feathering propeller are significant in less drag while sailing, and - with some models, greater efficiency when motoring, plus less or negligible prop-walk.
Here we are assembling a Flexofold 3-blade propeller back onto the ZF saildrive leg of our Beneteau Oceanis 50. It was removed to replace the main anode, but this is the time to also clean up, check everything, and re-lubricate.
The design, robust construction, and simplicity of the Flexofold are just some of the features. Many of us have our favourites - apart from the reviews showing outstanding performance, I like that with the Flexofold there are no bearings, and no seals to have to maintain - simple, yet highly effective.

Пікірлер: 22

  • @michaelcarlson6069
    @michaelcarlson60692 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for posting this! I install mine in a few weeks - I’ll probably watch this 2 or 3 more times.

  • @DavidBurnett1

    @DavidBurnett1

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you found it useful - thanks for taking the time to comment Michael

  • @sputnikginger
    @sputnikginger3 жыл бұрын

    very good video

  • @SailingSharingLife

    @SailingSharingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the feedback Stephen - much appreciated! We will have more 'boat tech' videos in future - just need to edit the raw footage, so if you would like to subscribe, you will see when they are up.

  • @GD-ns8wf
    @GD-ns8wf4 жыл бұрын

    Nice video Very useful. Thanks much

  • @SailingSharingLife

    @SailingSharingLife

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Gui. I intend doing a lot more 'Boat Tech' videos - just need to find the time to edit the footage :).

  • @sailingmarianoa2659
    @sailingmarianoa26592 жыл бұрын

    Hi David, I hope you will react to my question while your interesting movie is 3 years old. Why do you take grease in the central nut before you tighten it very firmly. Shouldn`t it be loctite instead?

  • @DavidBurnett1

    @DavidBurnett1

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hi, The grease is to minimise any chance off galling between the nut and the stainless steel shaft, and also to minimise any chance of corrosion between the nut and the shaft making removal difficult - or worse ...... The nut is retained by the retention tabs you see me bend up around the nut after torquing it down really tight. As a note on this, the minimised friction between nut and threads also means the torquing down process is more efficient. If you take a torque wrench and torque with a totally dry nut and thread, the pressure between the nut face and the prop hub will be less at the same torque due to friction, than if the threads were lubricated. This is usually a somewhat academic point, but in extremes, it can be significant. I hope that helps.

  • @jbunderwaterservices1
    @jbunderwaterservices13 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video, curious do you get the bond you need between the anode and the sail drive, with the paint blocking a good bond between the metals?

  • @DavidBurnett1

    @DavidBurnett1

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the comment Brian. We are a very small channel, but part of the plan is to have more 'Boat Tech' videos on here. Things are changing in our lives, and we plan on soon having more time for the channel, and more for sailing :). So regarding electrical contact (electronics/electrical is my background), as long as the anode is in close proximity to the metal being protected AND in electrical contact with that metal, it will do its job. Obviously it is in close proximity, but electrical contact or connection is the question. The points where that connection occurs are the mounting screws. Essentially the alloy of the saildrive is bare in those threaded holes, and the mounting screws therefore provide the electrical link from the saildrive to the anode. It is not a requirement for the face of the anode to be in electrical contact with the mounting area of the saildrive. In theory, you could connect a wire from the saildrive to the anode, and suspend the anode a few centimetres below the saildrive for a similar level of protection. With that electrical cell of saildrive, through the wire (or mounting screws normally) to the anode, there is protection. I hope that answers your question as you hoped, but do subscribe so that you will receive alerts when further vids go up (including a fully one of dismantling the prop and replacing the seals in the saildrive). David

  • @jeffcee9457
    @jeffcee9457 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing big help what's the name of the white grease

  • @DavidBurnett1

    @DavidBurnett1

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your comment Jeff. TK Marine is the brand I bought locally, but there are many of them around the chandleries. Just a white marine grease. Flexofold don't mention use of grease, and in reality it is not strictly necessary, but they have commented (favourably) some time back on this video, and were not averse to my using the white grease - it certainly doesn't hurt!

  • @TeeFunkable
    @TeeFunkable3 жыл бұрын

    Very nice video. However, I cant help but to wonder how to remove the pins that hold the blades in? They are in deep and appear flat on the end.

  • @SailingSharingLife

    @SailingSharingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for your feedback. Next time we will do a new video showing the disassembly of the Flexofold, but to answer your question in the meantime, the pins are very easy to remove. Basically it is the reverse of the assembly process. Once the locking screws are removed, a pin-punch is used to gently tap the pins out, one by one.

  • @StormchaserIB
    @StormchaserIB3 жыл бұрын

    Hey quick question if you are around ? - I have the same prop and just in the process of remounting with new anodes etc .... and the FLEXOFOLD literature states "No need to grease or oil, the parts are water lubricated as soon as in water" .... So interested to hear your thoughts as I wonder whether the grease could allow debris to stick so could be counter-productive to the cause ... then again I share your satisfaction of seeing a well-greased and protected spline and blade mechanism .....? My yacht goes back in the water in 3-days.

  • @SailingSharingLife

    @SailingSharingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sorry I did not get back to you earlier - just saw your message. Yes, I noted that also re the official procedure. Certainly you need the grease on the splines, but as for the gears that control the folding blades I have always used grease there, and never had an issue with any contamination. If I ever get a chance I will run this past Flexofold, but when they commented on my video (very positively) a little after it went live, there was no mention regarding my use of grease. When we lift, there is just that residual film there on the interlocking teeth, and to me, that has got to be better than just water. Probably the answer (in light of no adverse comment from Flexofold) is that it's not necessary, but does no harm.

  • @StormchaserIB

    @StormchaserIB

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@SailingSharingLife Much appreciated for your response ... I'm about to put my yacht back in the water and think I'll definitely grease the gears as by the sounds of it - it can't hurt !! (as compared to the 200m's plus of nylon fishing line I found wrapped around the spacer so tightly I hat to cut it off - ugh!)

  • @SailingSharingLife

    @SailingSharingLife

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@StormchaserIB Fishing line - Hmm. Really nasty when it gets to the seal.

  • @ronfazio9702
    @ronfazio97023 жыл бұрын

    Flexofold is a nightmare to work with. They sent me the wrong prop the refuse to replace it. My boat is in Annapolis Md . and no one would agree to install it when you said the name Flexofold.

  • @DavidBurnett1

    @DavidBurnett1

    3 жыл бұрын

    Surprised at that. We find them very communicative, and as for installation, well it is very simple as you see. I would have to question the competence of a professional who had issues with installation - unless there is an agenda ..... On another note, Flexofold was brought under the Yanmar group a little while ago now - another affirmation of their standing. Anyway, I find the efficiency, simplicity (lack of seals etc) and quality to be very positive aspects. We did not ask for a Flexofold, but are very glad the commissioning yard chose the brand. I hope you get this issue sorted for your boat Ron

  • @freelectron2029

    @freelectron2029

    2 жыл бұрын

    i had the same problem with kiwi feathering prop. had a nightmare dealing with them. ordered a prop and the distributor was the rudest man in the world (just propellers) it took ages to arrive and couldn't get any info on its arrival time. i simply asked when he might think it would arrive (boat was on the hard waiting for the prop) he abused me for asking that simple question. i immediately sourced a prop from some where else and asked for a refund for my deposit i had made. no skin off his nose. he refuse to return the $900 deposit. had to take him to court. i won. hes still an ahole. now i have a gori. waaaaaay better than a crappy cheap kiwi prop. it has over drive and full thrust in reverse. havent looked back.