Max - Prop anyone?

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  • Boat
    Senior Member
    • Aug 2014
    • 171

    Max - Prop anyone?

    Anyone using a maxprop on their A4? Looking for sailing performance and some, well, ALOT better reverse. running a 11x7 3 blade now. i was concerned that the freakin shaft always turns albiet slowly when in neutural. anyone running a different transmission? like a hurth or similar?
    '69 Newport 30 MKI Hull #20
  • Dave Neptune
    Afourian MVP, Professor Emeritus
    • Jan 2007
    • 5044

    #2
    The shaft turning in neutral is just the nature of these transmissions.

    What is the worry? And how do you think a different prop will help the turning in neutral.

    I ran the Indigo prop mostly for reverse "control" while backing. Really helped over the 2 blade.

    Dave Neptune

    Comment

    • Boat
      Senior Member
      • Aug 2014
      • 171

      #3
      Aww, I dont think I asked my question very well. Ill try again. Im not thinking that a different prop will stop the turning of the shaft. Im aware that it will somewhat and is the nature of the transmission.

      With the turning of the shaft, the blades will turn on the maxprop, causing it to not be in a feathered position. I dont mind any way except for when docking and etc. i was wondering what guys experience was with it
      '69 Newport 30 MKI Hull #20

      Comment

      • Dave Neptune
        Afourian MVP, Professor Emeritus
        • Jan 2007
        • 5044

        #4
        Are you talking about freewheeling in neutral under sail? If so just put it in forward and she'll stop spinning. I never let my Indigo freewheel and barely even noticed it was there.

        Dave Neptune

        Comment

        • Boat
          Senior Member
          • Aug 2014
          • 171

          #5
          no, not that. right now I dont mind the freewheel under sail. i think it is less drag than locked. Im referring to the freewheeking in neutral like when you are docking and maneuvering.
          '69 Newport 30 MKI Hull #20

          Comment

          • Dave Neptune
            Afourian MVP, Professor Emeritus
            • Jan 2007
            • 5044

            #6
            Why would freewheeling be a problem in docking? There is no real power being delivered to the shaft, just the friction of the unit which is easily stoped by hand.

            OR your reverse band is to tight. Neutral is not an actual POINT in the shifter just where the clutches are loose. It is the rotating friction that drives the shaft and like I said with very little power for unwanted thrust in either direction.

            Dave Neptune

            Comment

            • JOHN COOKSON
              Afourian MVP, Professor Emeritus
              • Nov 2008
              • 3500

              #7
              Originally posted by Dave Neptune View Post
              OR your reverse band is to tight. Neutral is not an actual POINT in the shifter just where the clutches are loose. It is the rotating friction that drives the shaft and like I said with very little power for unwanted thrust in either direction.
              Dave Neptune
              Finding neutral on an A4 can be elusive.

              Take the cable off the shift lever at transmission then shift by hand using the trany shift lever to see if you can find neutral. If you can find neutral by doing this then try adjusting the shift cable. It may not be where you think it should be when the cockpit shift lever is in a certain position.

              If you can't find neutral with the cable disconnected then you will need an adjustment inside the transmission as noted above.

              If you can't find neutral at all you will eventually get used to docking and slow speed maneuvering while the prop is very slowly turning.

              TRUE GRIT

              Comment

              • joe_db
                Afourian MVP
                • May 2009
                • 4474

                #8
                Is there any such thing as a MaxProp for a direct drive A4?
                Joe Della Barba
                Coquina
                C&C 35 MK I
                Maryland USA

                Comment

                • alcodiesel
                  Senior Member
                  • Oct 2015
                  • 293

                  #9
                  I have a Max Prop. Came with the boat. 2 Blade. I think it works great. Very good reverse. Direct drive.
                  Bill McLean
                  '76 Ericson 27
                  :valhalla:
                  Norfolk, VA

                  Comment

                  • Boat
                    Senior Member
                    • Aug 2014
                    • 171

                    #10
                    Originally posted by alcodiesel View Post
                    I have a Max Prop. Came with the boat. 2 Blade. I think it works great. Very good reverse. Direct drive.
                    i am looking at a three blade. Current and etc here in the puget sound im thinking i need a little more power when motoring. Do you still habe good power with the two blade?
                    '69 Newport 30 MKI Hull #20

                    Comment

                    • pcupach
                      Frequent Contributor
                      • Jan 2018
                      • 5

                      #11
                      Max Prop

                      Take a look in the thread Titled: "Max Prop 3 Blade 12" prop.

                      I've had no problems with the Max prop and it has performed flawlessly. Plenty of torque to move the Ranger 33 with an old Atomic 4.
                      Reverse is like driving a car...point and go. Prop walk is all but eliminated. Now that does not account for wind influencing the entire movement of the boat.

                      Comment

                      • alcodiesel
                        Senior Member
                        • Oct 2015
                        • 293

                        #12
                        It'll drive my boat when clean- no current or wind to a shade over 6kts wot. 2100rpm I think.
                        Reverse is good- lots of walk- but I use that to my advantage.
                        Bill McLean
                        '76 Ericson 27
                        :valhalla:
                        Norfolk, VA

                        Comment

                        • Boat
                          Senior Member
                          • Aug 2014
                          • 171

                          #13
                          Originally posted by alcodiesel View Post
                          It'll drive my boat when clean- no current or wind to a shade over 6kts wot. 2100rpm I think.
                          Reverse is good- lots of walk- but I use that to my advantage.
                          do you have a maxprop? i have a three blade, not sure if its an indigo or not. 30 ft newport and i get 6.5kn at 2200 but, my reverse is freakin worthless
                          '69 Newport 30 MKI Hull #20

                          Comment

                          • indigo
                            • Jun 2007
                            • 54

                            #14
                            Reverse

                            Be sure to keep pressure on the shift lever when in reverse as there is no detent like there is in forward.

                            Also, don’t be afraid to give the A4 lots of RPM in reverse. The tranny is noisy in reverse but that is just the way they are.

                            You should be able to get respectable Astern thrust.

                            Tom
                            Last edited by indigo; 09-03-2019, 10:04 AM. Reason: Spelling

                            Comment

                            • lat 64
                              Afourian MVP
                              • Oct 2008
                              • 1964

                              #15
                              One man's solution to reverse issues

                              Old school. No issues with Bernouli principle failing at cavitation.
                              Attached Files
                              Last edited by lat 64; 06-16-2019, 12:45 PM. Reason: spaellin'
                              sigpic Whiskeyjack a '68 Columbia 36 rebuilt A-4 with 2:1

                              "Since when is napping doing nothing?"

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