I still get some comments and DM's on these FlexoFold video's. I took the propeller to a local workshop who fixes bent propellers and such, they found that there where an imperfection in the propeller that made it vibrate (Weight difference in the blades), and that again made it collapse when it had to rely on the centrifugal force to hold it open in reverse. The issue was fixed and the propeller performed great after that. Although FlexoFold did get back to me, they used all their e-mails and phone call yelling at me for makin a bad video about their propeller than actually helping me and giving me tips to find the problem. Hope this answers your questions. 🙂
I have a three blade Flexifold and it has never failed since I bought my 50' Beneteau in 2009. It has always worked flawlessly. I have both called Flexafold and Emailed them for advice on a good coating to reduce barnacles and they have always responded!
I use the Zinc spray! Petit Prop Coat. Two thin layers. I remove it every year with glass beads in a blast cabinet and put another coat on. Its only about $20.00 per can and the can will last two seasons.
Flexofold is a nightmare to work with. They sent me the wrong prop then refused to replace it. No one would install it for me when I told them it was a Flexofold prop.
The water looks nice and warm - yikes! ;) I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with your prop! I'm sure it's extremely aggravating! I have a Gori folding prop and no experience with FlexOFold. From doing a quick check on Google, it seems there are mixed reviews of FlexOFold props. I'm sure the same is true for Gori. How about the place that sold you the prop? Could they be of any help? (now that FlexOFold won't help you)
***** Hei Mads. The water was pretty cold tho the steamsuit and neopren socks answell as the hood it wasent that bad. First dive with out the hood was like getting a constant brain freeze. :-D The propeller has been in my basement since I bought the boat. So there is no place I bought it. Alltough, I have sent some mails to FlexOfold, however they are not interested in answering e-mails. I still have my old Radiche folding prop, however I don't want to take the boat back up on the hard if I could avoid it. There is a plan forming in my mind and I have started getting some drawings down on paper to see if there is some modifications I could do while in the water. All would have been so much easyer if the water wasen't so damn cold. :-D
+Sail Life Re Crocodiles. When I was a boy Oldham Power Station in the north of England had its own croc! It lived in the ponds of warm water that were underneath the cooling towers. Several workers had reported seeing the crocodile but at first the management assumed that they were either joking or drunk. The croc was real however and it was thought to have been a pet that got too big. As to food it was probably eating wild rabbits. Possibly it was the most northerly free-range crocodile in the world! As crocodile poo was not wanted in the cooling water the croc was given to Belle Vue Zoo.
you are making your life hard - get a weight belt - get neutrally buoyant - get some fins on (civy flippers) you might even try an SSBA - surface supply - our flexofold is nothing short of brilliant - so not sure what has happened in your case
I know this is old video. I was Googling for this prop brand reviews and came here. I just bought my boat with this prop and was curious....Anyway, I have no experience with THIS prop but looking at your other two videos I suspect that your rudder is very close to the propeller to generate the needed water flow for it to stay open. I would love to know if you found a better solution since this video.
Hello Val. There where an imperfection in the propeller that made it vibrate, and that again made so it wouldnt open properly. The issue was fixed and the propeller performed great after that. :-) Good luck with your new boat.
Rex, I am surprised you are having a problem. This prop has never failed me. I take it apart yearly, glass bead blast the blades, put Zinc Spray on it and reassemble it. I do use a grease needle to push grease inside the gears so noting will get in there. My E mail is Moecolontoniojr@gmail.com
+wigglewoo3 A transmission fault is rather unlikely as 99% of the time it is the forward clutch plates that wear out first. If reverse relies on centrifugal force, thin light propeller blades are unlikely to do do the job. Instead fairly thick heavy blades are required.SIMPLE!
+Tech Davey Update. Re the British Made Easyflow, Johnson Matthey stopped making it as it contained a little Cadmium (now regard as a bogey poisonous metal!) Unfortunately an American company hijacked the name but spelled it as Easy-Flo. This is NOT the same thing as the Matthey product as the material that arrived from Amazon is really for brazing Monkey Metal. Caveat Emptor!
Propane torch, Easy-Flo low temperature brazing rods and thick brass or bronze sheet to be shaped and brazed to the rear of the blades. (try to get the balance correct) The object of the exercise is to make the blades heavier in order to generate more centrifugal force. Plumbers soft solder could be used for prototyping as its much easier to undo if plans change. Thin light blades are useless if the propeller needs centrifugal force to hold it open in reverse.
![[All About] Boat Propellers and Prop Walk | Sailing Wisdom](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E1dt19C_vxE/mqdefault.jpg)
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I still get some comments and DM's on these FlexoFold video's. I took the propeller to a local workshop who fixes bent propellers and such, they found that there where an imperfection in the propeller that made it vibrate (Weight difference in the blades), and that again made it collapse when it had to rely on the centrifugal force to hold it open in reverse. The issue was fixed and the propeller performed great after that. Although FlexoFold did get back to me, they used all their e-mails and phone call yelling at me for makin a bad video about their propeller than actually helping me and giving me tips to find the problem. Hope this answers your questions. 🙂
I have a three blade Flexifold and it has never failed since I bought my 50' Beneteau in 2009. It has always worked flawlessly. I have both called Flexafold and Emailed them for advice on a good coating to reduce barnacles and they have always responded!
Hello MMoerjrbig... what product did Flexofold recommend to coat the prop with? Thanks.
Hello Christopher Hogan. I have tried some norwegian boat forums, however not sailnet yet. I'll come around to it. Thanks. :-)
I use the Zinc spray! Petit Prop Coat. Two thin layers. I remove it every year with glass beads in a blast cabinet and put another coat on. Its only about $20.00 per can and the can will last two seasons.
I have the exact same issue with my two blade Flexofold propeller! Please let me know if you found a solution.
Flexofold is a nightmare to work with. They sent me the wrong prop then refused to replace it. No one would install it for me when I told them it was a Flexofold prop.
The water looks nice and warm - yikes! ;) I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with your prop! I'm sure it's extremely aggravating! I have a Gori folding prop and no experience with FlexOFold. From doing a quick check on Google, it seems there are mixed reviews of FlexOFold props. I'm sure the same is true for Gori. How about the place that sold you the prop? Could they be of any help? (now that FlexOFold won't help you)
***** Hei Mads. The water was pretty cold tho the steamsuit and neopren socks answell as the hood it wasent that bad. First dive with out the hood was like getting a constant brain freeze. :-D The propeller has been in my basement since I bought the boat. So there is no place I bought it. Alltough, I have sent some mails to FlexOfold, however they are not interested in answering e-mails. I still have my old Radiche folding prop, however I don't want to take the boat back up on the hard if I could avoid it. There is a plan forming in my mind and I have started getting some drawings down on paper to see if there is some modifications I could do while in the water. All would have been so much easyer if the water wasen't so damn cold. :-D
Patrick Blanchard Thanks Patrick and god no. No gators here! :-D
SY JollyDodger Correction: no gators that you know off ;) I've heard that global warming thing is really picking up ;)
+Sail Life Re Crocodiles.
When I was a boy Oldham Power Station in the north of England had its own croc! It lived in the ponds of warm water that were underneath the cooling towers. Several workers had reported seeing the crocodile but at first the management assumed that they were either joking or drunk. The croc was real however and it was thought to have been a pet that got too big. As to food it was probably eating wild rabbits. Possibly it was the most northerly free-range crocodile in the world! As crocodile poo was not wanted in the cooling water the croc was given to Belle Vue Zoo.
you are making your life hard - get a weight belt - get neutrally buoyant - get some fins on (civy flippers) you might even try an SSBA - surface supply - our flexofold is nothing short of brilliant - so not sure what has happened in your case
I know this is old video. I was Googling for this prop brand reviews and came here. I just bought my boat with this prop and was curious....Anyway, I have no experience with THIS prop but looking at your other two videos I suspect that your rudder is very close to the propeller to generate the needed water flow for it to stay open. I would love to know if you found a better solution since this video.
Hello Val. There where an imperfection in the propeller that made it vibrate, and that again made so it wouldnt open properly. The issue was fixed and the propeller performed great after that. :-) Good luck with your new boat.
Hi
I have the same problem with Flexifold 3 blade, has been tested and there is no reason why it won’t open. Have you found a solution?
Rex, I am surprised you are having a problem. This prop has never failed me. I take it apart yearly, glass bead blast the blades, put Zinc Spray on it and reassemble it. I do use a grease needle to push grease inside the gears so noting will get in there. My E mail is Moecolontoniojr@gmail.com
I have the exact same problem with the same prop.
Silly thing, but make sure your shaft is spinning properly in reverse. You may have a transmission problem. Good luck.
+wigglewoo3 A transmission fault is rather unlikely as 99% of the time it is the forward clutch plates that wear out first. If reverse relies on centrifugal force, thin light propeller blades are unlikely to do do the job. Instead fairly thick heavy blades are required.SIMPLE!
+Tech Davey Update. Re the British Made Easyflow, Johnson Matthey stopped making it as it contained a little Cadmium (now regard as a bogey poisonous metal!) Unfortunately an American company hijacked the name but spelled it as Easy-Flo. This is NOT the same thing as the Matthey product as the material that arrived from Amazon is really for brazing Monkey Metal. Caveat Emptor!
Propane torch, Easy-Flo low temperature brazing rods and thick brass or bronze sheet to be shaped and brazed to the rear of the blades. (try to get the balance correct) The object of the exercise is to make the blades heavier in order to generate more centrifugal force. Plumbers soft solder could be used for prototyping as its much easier to undo if plans change. Thin light blades are useless if the propeller needs centrifugal force to hold it open in reverse.