[C320-list] Flex O Fold prop specs

[Charles Greenwell]

Hi Jerry,

 

I am the Charles you referred to. I have the FOF 3 bladed folding prop.
Same engine and transmission ratio as you. It is a 15x9.  I've had it
installed for 3 years now. Chuck Angle told me that I was the first 320
to install the prop.  Not sure if true or not.

 

With a clean bottom on flat water , the max engine RPM for me is 3200.
This gives me a hull speed of 7 knots.  This RPM goes down a little with
rough seas and dirty bottoms. BTW... this is not a calibrated tach
reading but with my fixed prop, I could get to 3600 RPM easily  in all
conditions.

 

I have a little vibration at about 2200 RPMs.  I have never figured it
out.  Last year I thought about putting a SS shaft in to see if it made
a difference however, I never got around to it.  My thinking was that
the bronze shaft may be flexing a little since the prop is a bit heavier
than the old 3 bladed fixed. It was not a high priority item since I
discovered that in reverse, there is no vibration and I could get the
RPMs up to 3600 easily.  Instead I contacted Chuck Angle and asked for
his idea's thinking that the prop may be over pitched a little.  I even
invited him out for a ride to see for himself.

 

Sailing and reverse performance is on par with other folding props.
There is very little prop walk however, it does take a little time for
the boat to stop and go backwards.  It is much better than the fixed
prop but not as good as the Max Prop or Autoprop.

 

FOF props are OEM equipment on many boats now, including some Catalinas.
Looking back on my decision to purchase this prop,   it was strictly
financial ($1500 vs $2400) and if I were to do it again, I would
probably bite the bullet and purchase the Max Prop.  I am not saying
anything bad about FOF but for a little more money I could have had
better reverse performance, the ability to adjust the pitch fine tuning
it for my boat, and a little less aggravation since there were many
320's already equipped with it.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Charles "Randy"

Le Bijou #719