| | | Autoprop across the Atlantic Another story from the last edition requiring completion is that of the French Naval Architect, Yves Kinard, who had chosen an Autoprop to propel his 21 foot, (6.5 metre), motor yacht across the Atlantic. We've been asked by many people, "Did he make it"? The short answer is yes! Yves found the Autoprop allowed him to cruise at 6 knots at 1250 rpm while the fixed propeller needed 1500 rpm. Over the 3977 nautical miles covered, with just one refuelling stop in the Azores, the Autoprop provided between 15 and 20% greater range than would have been the case with a fixed bladed propeller. The Autoprop message is all about efficiency. Autoprops ability to provide the correct pitch at all times, whatever the engines for boats rpm and the sea state, means less fuel consumption, less emissions, less noise, and less wear and tear. | | |
| | | Last years Proptalk headline, "More growth for Varifold", really was the precursor of things to come! The main subject of the story; the new, Philip Briand designed, 38 metre sloop being built by Perini Navi. This superb yacht, named 'P2', is now sailing, and both her skipper and the yard are full of praise for the performance of the 40" diameter Varifold fitted; at the time the largest we had supplied. This however is far from the end of the story; in the next year Varifold will grow some more and our naval architects and engineers are now working on a 45" version of the propeller to be fitted to a 48 metre yacht. | | We have many customers who have re-propped their boat yachts, replacing either a fixed bladed propeller, or a less than successful folder from another company. For those replacing a ixed propeller the Varifold is nothing short of a revelation when sailing, relieving their yacht of the considerable drag that their old ixed blade produced. Those replacing an existing folder report increased speed, using the same or less engine revolutions, signiicantly reduced noise and vibration, and an almost complete lack of cavitation. | | |