Looking for suggestions for a new prop

[Noah]

Kevin- If by "CS" you mean Campbell Sailor, I doubt that is what Catalina equipped your boat with OEM. I think they used Michigan Wheel props.

[scgunner]

My mistake, it's stamped "Sailer Michigan".

[waughoo]

Alex—just curious. What is the difference between the prop CD now sells and the Campbell prop? The CD prop doesn't look like my old Michigan Wheel Sailer prop either—-which I keep as a back-up/spare.

Noah,

The CS has a unique blade sesign that provides similar thrust in a significantly smaller blade profile than the michighan wheel.  The Mich Sailor is likely a bit closer to the CS, but the CS still presents less surface area.  Here's a link to a comparison of the two.

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/threads/prop-review-campbell-sailor.112587/

[scgunner]

Just an FYI Guys,

Found the paperwork for the prop it was made by a company called PerfectPitch and sold through CDI. As I suspected it's no longer available. I purchased mine in 2001 and I think they went out of business a few years later which is unfortunate since it got a lot of positive reviews. Interestingly it's blade shape is similar to that of the CS blade in the picture Alex posted.

[waughoo]

Kevein,

There is a prop called a Kiwi Prop that sounds similar to what you said you had.  The same company that sells the Campbell Sailor reps them.  Might be worth a look see.

https://westbynorth.com/kiwi/

[Noah]

I think Kiwi Prop only makes "folders" not "fixed-blade" props. Unless you have a saildrive.

[waughoo]

Noah,

I looked again at West by North's page for the Kiwi and they list shaft drive options for 1" 1-1/8" and 1-1/4" and specifically talk about the shaft angle.  That said, when I went to the Kiwi Props of North America page, they prominantly feature a sail drive leg.  I am not sure how to be sure one way or the other.

EDIT: I clicked the link on West by North's page for Kiwi props and they do show that they are saildrive OR shaft mountable.

https://www.kiwiprops.co.nz/cms/index.php

[Ed Shankle]

Kevin,
Sorry for not responding sooner. But really not much more to add to what I already noted. I don't race, but like to sail efficiently and the FlexoFold gave me almost a knot under sail and half a knot under power. And reduces the snag potential under sail if you have the tranny locked in reverse. I used to worry about the blades not opening fully due to barnacles or soft growth, but an occasional "over the side" scrub down keeps it clean. (Yes, I do use an anti fouling paint on it). For spring commissioning, after flushing it out, I give the gears a squirt of lithium grease and work the blades until they fold up by themselves.
Hope that helps.
Regards,
Ed

[scgunner]

It does, thanks Ed.

Alex, thanks for the info on the Kiwi prop, looks really cool but I think it's a bit more exotic than what I need.