[C320-list] Kiwi Prop

[Chuck Mueller]

The needle nose fitting that comes with the prop will fit standard grease
guns.  Kiwi Prop does recommend a special grease which I was able to order
online.  I mirror Gus' comments on greasing the prop.  I always force a lot
of water out when I grease the prop, so don't want to leave greasing until
Spring.  I also find that slime will grow on the plastic blades.  In fresh
water, a thin coat of VC-17 seems to help.  I remove the prop every winter
and bring it home for lubrication and painting.

Chuck Mueller
Northwind #676 2000
Holland, MI


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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2017 14:30:57 -0400
From: Angus Henderson <rathlyn1 at gmail.com>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Kiwi Prop for Believe
Message-ID: <DD6CE66E-66B4-4679-9A0D-CCA86448EFE1 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=us-ascii

Brian, this is useful info, particularly about greasing before the winter
I fitted a Kiwi Prop at the start of last season and found it made a big
difference particularly in reverse.  I am now coming to grease the unit for
the first time before launch using the needle nose grease gun attachment and
will be buying a gun for this purpose.  The guns I have seen in auto stores
have a 1/8NPT threaded connection.  Do you know if this is the same size
fitting as the needle nose attachment provided with the prop?  

Gus
Hull# 999
Georgian Bay, Ontario

> On Apr 13, 2017, at 4:30 PM, Amiraults Family <amiraults at sympatico.ca>
wrote:
> 
> Daryl:
> 
> 
> 
> That sounds right. I echo other replies from owners on this list 
> regarding performance. My understanding is that since I got mine 8 
> years ago, the design has changed to eliminate the need for an O-ring 
> at the base of each blade, making for a simpler product.
> 
> 
> 
> As for problems, I have never needed to replace a blade. The only 
> ownership issue is I suppose specific to the Great White North. The 
> prop requires periodic greasing - once a year. I opted to do this in 
> the spring. That first spring I discovered that during the winter 
> while on the hard that two blades had their O-rings blown out. The 
> size is non-standard and I had to get replacements from the prop maker 
> - shipped priority in just a couple of days for me to install before 
> club launch. The reason for the problem was that water which had 
> collected inside the prop during the sailing season had frozen and 
> expanded. Since then I always re-grease in the fall immediately after haul
out and I can see the water being displaced. No problem since.
> 
> 
> 
> Brian Amirault
> 
> 797 Waltzing Bear, too
> 
> 
> 
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End of C320-list Digest, Vol 2863, Issue 1
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