Propeller suppliers

[PCSB]

It is beginning to look like I may need to replace my current prop. I'm looking for recomendations of suppliers please (other than Midland/ASAP). Looking for something a bit more robust and hopefully well balanced.

 

Currently have a Vetus 18x12 RH. This has worked well on the boat so not really minded to change size (though might consider a 4 blade).

 

As nice as the Vetus props are they have very fine blades so get dinged up quite easily - I'm now getting more and more vibration at most rev ranges, with some worse than others.

 

I have checked engine mounts and alignment and all seemed in order, though I will double check before any purchase. Engine and gearbox regulalry serviced as per the manual and the stern gland also checke at more frequent intervals than recommended. It has a Vetus dripless gland fwiw. Engine is a Canaline 42 with a PRM 150 gearbox.

 

Any suggestions welcomed, especially if I've missed checking something.

 

TIA,

Paul.

 

 

[Bee]

Propellers are expensive things. If yours is just looking a bit knocked about I would get it reconditioned. T Norris used to do that, not sure if they still do, Fal propellers still do as far as I know and no doubt others can  repair, balance and so on.

[pearley]

Seem to recall from our old boat that Vetus props have a different taper to most.

[IanD]

19 minutes ago, PCSB said:

It is beginning to look like I may need to replace my current prop. I'm looking for recomendations of suppliers please (other than Midland/ASAP). Looking for something a bit more robust and hopefully well balanced.

 

Currently have a Vetus 18x12 RH. This has worked well on the boat so not really minded to change size (though might consider a 4 blade).

 

As nice as the Vetus props are they have very fine blades so get dinged up quite easily - I'm now getting more and more vibration at most rev ranges, with some worse than others.

 

I have checked engine mounts and alignment and all seemed in order, though I will double check before any purchase. Engine and gearbox regulalry serviced as per the manual and the stern gland also checke at more frequent intervals than recommended. It has a Vetus dripless gland fwiw. Engine is a Canaline 42 with a PRM 150 gearbox.

 

Any suggestions welcomed, especially if I've missed checking something.

 

TIA,

Paul.

 

 

The Canaline ones (used to be Michigan Marine, now Nakashima) are good quality and robust, but you'd have to find a cheaper supplier than Midland -- maybe Aquafax?

 

https://www.aquafax.co.uk/products/michigan-canal-propeller-18-x-12-3-blade-1-1-2-shaft-1-12-right-hand-cl151812

[Tony Brooks]

48 minutes ago, PCSB said:

It is beginning to look like I may need to replace my current prop. I'm looking for recomendations of suppliers please (other than Midland/ASAP). Looking for something a bit more robust and hopefully well balanced.

 

Currently have a Vetus 18x12 RH. This has worked well on the boat so not really minded to change size (though might consider a 4 blade).

 

As nice as the Vetus props are they have very fine blades so get dinged up quite easily - I'm now getting more and more vibration at most rev ranges, with some worse than others.

 

I have checked engine mounts and alignment and all seemed in order, though I will double check before any purchase. Engine and gearbox regulalry serviced as per the manual and the stern gland also checke at more frequent intervals than recommended. It has a Vetus dripless gland fwiw. Engine is a Canaline 42 with a PRM 150 gearbox.

 

Any suggestions welcomed, especially if I've missed checking something.

 

TIA,

Paul.

 

 

 

If you have a Vetus dripless gland I think that is normally paired with a fluted rubber Cutless shaft bearing. It may be worth a trip down the weed hatch to try to judge if there is much wear in it. Try moving the prop up, down and sideways.

 

Steel Developments of Merton refurbish props, or did last time I looked.

[PCSB]

40 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

The Canaline ones (used to be Michigan Marine, now Nakashima) are good quality and robust, but you'd have to find a cheaper supplier than Midland -- maybe Aquafax?

 

https://www.aquafax.co.uk/products/michigan-canal-propeller-18-x-12-3-blade-1-1-2-shaft-1-12-right-hand-cl151812

Thanks

12 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

If you have a Vetus dripless gland I think that is normally paired with a fluted rubber Cutless shaft bearing. It may be worth a trip down the weed hatch to try to judge if there is much wear in it. Try moving the prop up, down and sideways.

 

Steel Developments of Merton refurbish props, or did last time I looked.

I'll take a look at trying to move the shaft, last time I tried there was no sideways movement but a tiny bit of up and down (perhaps 1mm to 2mm) really just enough to feel, rather than see if that makes sense!

 

47 minutes ago, pearley said:

Seem to recall from our old boat that Vetus props have a different taper to most.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll do a bit of checking!

[David Mack]

When I was looking at while back, someone recommended Clements Engineering. I started a useful discussion with them, but then found what looked to be the ideal prop on Ebay (and only about 6 miles from home), so I didn't take things further.

[BEngo]

When they closed, Crowthers recommended Clements as the best substitute.

 

Most narrowboats use a taper defined in imperial units (the detail of which I cant recall).  There is also a metric units version,  but which is  not the same.  Vetus, being continental,  most probably use the metric version.  No matter, provided you tell the new prop supplier which taper you want, or take the old one in to be matched.

 

Dont forget a new nut ( A4 stainless or bronze), matching key, and stainless split pin.

Edited May 5 by BEngo

[PCSB]

37 minutes ago, BEngo said:

When they closed, Crowthers recommended Clements as the best substitute.

 

Most narrowboats use a taper defined in imperial units (the detail of which I cant recall).  There is also a metric units version,  but which is  not the same.  Vetus, being continental,  most probably use the metric version.  No matter, provided you tell the new prop supplier which taper you want, or take the old one in to be matched.

 

Dont forget a new nut ( A4 stainless or bronze), matching key, and stainless split pin.

Thank you, the additional info really helps. Looking at the Vetus site, their taper is 1:10, whereas the others I've looked at are 1:12 so will have to take that into account. The prop shaft is also metric too (30mm I think) which may complicate things.

[IanD]

2 hours ago, PCSB said:

Thank you, the additional info really helps. Looking at the Vetus site, their taper is 1:10, whereas the others I've looked at are 1:12 so will have to take that into account. The prop shaft is also metric too (30mm I think) which may complicate things.

You've probably got this one:

 

https://www.aquafax.co.uk/products/vetus-propeller-18-x-12-3-blade-30mm-shaft-1-10-right-hand-v-p3b18x12r

[CIEL]

+1 for Clements - satisfied customer for refurbish and repitch to better match my set up.  They take time to understand your set up and recommend/explain what they can do.