My two cents, I had the Martec Folding Eliptic on our boat from 2002 to 2007. I had a few close calls when it wouldn't open. These may have been my inexperience with a large boat. It seemed like I needed to put it in reverse at four boat lengths from the dock to get it to stop reliably in my slip. I had many doubts about the folding prop at the time, but I've since learned better boathandling skills and learned to respect the design.
I did much research at the time and learned most racers use this prop because it has the least drag. My Martec prop was on it's last legs and well worn. To replace it, I chose a MaxProp two blade feathering prop. That was eleven years ago. I am happy with it, as it is quicker to deploy and stops quicker and the gearing maintains balance. I think it is more forgiving and reliable. I do align the coupling before a race so the blades are vertical, because of the angled shaft, that gives me the least drag. People who cruise more than race, buy the three blade version for better grip in bad weather. Our two blade (size determined by Pyacht) does lose grip in strong (twenty five knots plus) headwinds and boat speed suffers down to 5 or 4.5 knots. I made blade alignment fairly easy on my 34R. I painted the coupling and transmission white, so you simply open the rear panel of the engine compartment and turn the coupling by hand until a black line on the coupling lines up with a black line on the transmission and the blades of the prop will be vertical. The friction of the wax seal holds it for the race or a long cruise. In hindsight, if I had a healthy Martec Folding Eliptic, I would use it, and get the rebuilds, but when time came to replace it, I would probably do what I did before and get a geared feathering prop, especially if I planned to motor for long periods or cruise. The geared prop gives instant response but is slightly more drag and twice the cost, so maybe not for everyone. > On February 16, 2018 at 1:25 PM Pierre Tremblay via CnC-List > <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > I also have the original Martec Eliptic on my 38-3. No vibration, hull > speed at 2400 RPM, and in reverse, you have to think ahead. > > To align the blade, I installed a cheap fleabay car backup camera > connected to the video input of my chartplotter (Zeus Touch). With paint mark > on the tranny and cuppling, easy to align. It also give me view on the > engine, stuffing box and bilge when motoring for prolonged period. > > > Pierre TremblayAvalanche #54988 > > C&C38-3 WK, hull #76 > > > > Le vendredi, 16 février 2018 11:53:09 Est, Gary Russell > via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> a écrit : > > > I have to provide the dissenting opinion on the Martec prop. Many years > ago, I had to make a quick stop when two kids in a dinghy came out of a > mooring field in front of me. In order not to hit them I slammed the boat in > reverse. Being not geared, one of the blades did not open. The resulting > imbalance ( at full power) bent the shaft severely. The resulting 1/2" run > out created incredible vibration. The shaft and prop had to be removed for > repair. I would never use a folding prop that isn't geared. I currently use > a 3 blade Flex-O-Fold prop which has very good reviews and I'm happy with it. > > Gary > S/V Kaylarah > '90 C&C 37+ > East Greenwich, RI, USA > > ~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~ > > > On Fri, Feb 16, 2018 at 9:54 AM, Dreuge via CnC-List > <cnc-list@cnc-list.com mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com > wrote: > > > > > > My LF38 came with a 2 blade Martec Eliptec (LH18DX14P-3 1-1/8), and > > I agree with others that the performance is surprising good. Yes I often > > forget/neglect to align the blades, and I have experienced the boat shake > > on a rare occasions. Performance wise, forward to hull speed is no problem > > in flat water, but like others, I cruise at about 6.5 with a lower rpm > > (Yanmar 3QM30/Paragon/Walter-Vee). With regards to backing/stopping, I > > have not hit anything (harder than willing) yet. I do get some starboard > > prop walk which I try to take advantage of, but it is nothing compared to > > the walk of my old 29Mk1 w/ a fixed 2 bladed prop. > > > > > > - > > Paul E. > > 1981 C&C 38 Landfall > > S/V Johanna Rose > > Fort Walton Beach, FL > > > > http://svjohannarose.blogspot. com/ > > http://svjohannarose.blogspot.com/ > > > > > > > > > On Feb 15, 2018, at 10:32 PM, > > cnc-list-requ...@cnc-list.com mailto:cnc-list-requ...@cnc-list.com wrote: > > > > > > My Martec runs very smoothly with a couple small harmonics at > > > different > > > rpm's. That's normal for nearly all drive trains. > > > > > > Forward power is good. I think my prop is a wee bit > > > underpitched. I can > > > get hull speed with a clean bottom and max rpm but only > > > 6.4-6.5 at cruise > > > rpm (80% max). > > > > > > I really haven't had any issue with opening, closing, etc. I > > > think the > > > Martec is a good choice for folks who race and want minimal > > > drag. If my > > > use was only cruising, I'd probably have a different prop. > > > > > > Dennis C. > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________ _________________ > > > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. > > Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list > > - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/ stumurray > > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each > and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each > and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use > PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > >
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
