prop performance

[baileyem]

This harks back to a discussion on this forum in which I said that I did not like the performance of my 3-bladed Indigo propeller on my 1966 Pearson Coaster. I complained of the prop cavitating at times and especially if I wanted to turn more than 1700 rpm. Don suggested that I did not have a problem with cavitation, but more likely with my clutch pack slipping.

Since that time I have replaced the rear oil seal in the transmission, installed a new output coupling, repacked the stuffing box, tightened up the adjustment on the transmission, adjusted the shiftting cable, and re-installed the Indigo 3-bladed prop. Yesterday I was finally able to test my work on a short run.

My hat is off to Don Moyer, and I apologize for any bad things I said about the Indigo prop. In my short test run I easily reached 1900 rpm which pushed me along at hull speed: No 'cavitation" or slipping of clutches, just good performance from the engine (it has never seen 1900 rpm before) and excellent performance from the prop.

I am sorry to say that the Indigo prop does not improve my ability to back up, but that is a problem with the design of my boat and not the prop.

For those of you not familiar with the Pearson Coaster: The coaster has a modified, full keel that is rather wide. The rudder is hung on the lower portion of the trailing edge of the keel, and the prop is set in an aperature between the rudder and the keel. Water flow to the prop is definitely inhibited and disrupted by the keel.

Thanks for making this forum available, Don, it is a really great place to go for good information.

Mike Bailey
Tomahawk, WI

[MikeB.330]

Mike,

Send me an email if you would like a spare. I will be giving the CDI prop a try in a couple of weeks. My Idigo is only 1 season old and is in good shape.

Thanks
Mike

[baileyem]

Spare prop offer

Mike
Thanks for offering the opprtunity, but I have a spare in my old 2-bladed prop. I can't see needing a spare Indigo prop. Of course, now that I have said it, I will probably wind up needing one.....Murphy's Law # 276.

Mike.

[MikeB.330]

Just as well.

I tried to install the CDI prop today on my Pearson Vanguard. Unless I shorten the shaft by an inch the prop will hit the rudder post just before rudder hits it's stop. I never noticed when the shaft was replaced last year it was longer. my old 13x9 bronze prop never hit with the old shaft.

Mike