I wish to install a new 3 blade prop on a Cape Dory 27. The boat is powered by a Yanmar YSB8 eight horsepower engine. I need a prop that will push the boat along against a pretty strong tide as well as one that will allow me to back down against a good breeze at our slip. Thanks for all suggestions.
jneely@optonline.net
Prop for CD 27
Moderator: Jim Walsh
Re: Prop for CD 27
Hi John...
Most of the prop shops have computer programs that will make recommendations. Michigan Wheel and the other prop vendors also offer the service. In "Marine Diesel Engines" there is a chapter at the end on prop. design.
Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30 MkII
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Boyd@wbta.cc
Most of the prop shops have computer programs that will make recommendations. Michigan Wheel and the other prop vendors also offer the service. In "Marine Diesel Engines" there is a chapter at the end on prop. design.
Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30 MkII
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
John Neely wrote: I wish to install a new 3 blade prop on a Cape Dory 27. The boat is powered by a Yanmar YSB8 eight horsepower engine. I need a prop that will push the boat along against a pretty strong tide as well as one that will allow me to back down against a good breeze at our slip. Thanks for all suggestions.
Boyd@wbta.cc
Re: Prop for CD 27
My last boat was a Tartan 34C,it came with a 2 blade prop and I changed it to a 3 blade, very little differnce with a goood bit of expense. I now have a 2 blade on our CD27 with a ysb8, it also lacks power.John Neely wrote: I wish to install a new 3 blade prop on a Cape Dory 27. The boat is powered by a Yanmar YSB8 eight horsepower engine. I need a prop that will push the boat along against a pretty strong tide as well as one that will allow me to back down against a good breeze at our slip. Thanks for all suggestions.
chiping@tcol.net
Re: Prop for CD 27
Hi John
Last winter I purchased the “Campbell Sailer” 3-blade propeller for my CD30C. I am very happy with the propeller. It is the best investment I made for my boat. Now I can enjoy motoring and low drag when sailing. I ordered it from “West By North”. Norm Ross sent me a propeller that looks like a piece of art and does miracles pushing the “Fhloston Paradise”. He also will tell you, based on the info you provide him, what size propeller you need.
Jacob Bogatch
“Fhloston Paradise” CD30C
Haverstraw Marina, on the Hudson. NY
jbogatch@yahoo.com
Last winter I purchased the “Campbell Sailer” 3-blade propeller for my CD30C. I am very happy with the propeller. It is the best investment I made for my boat. Now I can enjoy motoring and low drag when sailing. I ordered it from “West By North”. Norm Ross sent me a propeller that looks like a piece of art and does miracles pushing the “Fhloston Paradise”. He also will tell you, based on the info you provide him, what size propeller you need.
Jacob Bogatch
“Fhloston Paradise” CD30C
Haverstraw Marina, on the Hudson. NY
John Neely wrote: I wish to install a new 3 blade prop on a Cape Dory 27. The boat is powered by a Yanmar YSB8 eight horsepower engine. I need a prop that will push the boat along against a pretty strong tide as well as one that will allow me to back down against a good breeze at our slip. Thanks for all suggestions.
jbogatch@yahoo.com
Re: Prop for CD 27
The CD27 presents a special situation due to the low power/displacement ratio with the YS*-8 series engines. I found that by going to a well calculated 3 blade prop (from the original 2blade) I was able to increase ability to power against some slop; and my astern performance went from practically zero to "acceptable". My engine is similar, it's the YSE-8. Same idea.John Neely wrote: I wish to install a new 3 blade prop on a Cape Dory 27. The boat is powered by a Yanmar YSB8 eight horsepower engine. I need a prop that will push the boat along against a pretty strong tide as well as one that will allow me to back down against a good breeze at our slip. Thanks for all suggestions.
You won't get a major change; only a slight improvement IMHO. For a real improvement, you've got to increase the shaft HP; it wasn't worth the effort to install a larger engine for me - for some it would be essential! A matter of priorities I guess.
I can powersail against the wind/current in Watch Hill Passage; larger boats go by me of course. (I'd rather powersail slightly off the wind than stow all canvas and power dead into the crud; that's a pretty frustrating exercise, IMHO.

But I wouldn't try to power against a 5KT current when I can only do 4KT under given less than ideal conditions!!
Very little (if any) noticeable drag under sail, but then I'm not a racer.
At least now I can power up to the mooring against 20K comfortably; I couldn't before even with the engine turning hi rpm.
The calculation for the prop was made by Randy Hale of Hale Propellers, Old Saybrook, CT; he's the chap who invented the computerized machine for measuring blade/pitch/surface area, everyone in the industry uses the Hale machine, and he's a Federal distrib. to boot. He may still have the measurements on my job, done last year when I installed a PSS shaft seal and new shaft. Lots of discussion on the issue; briefly it worked right in the aperture, a 12" wheel was fine. No need to do fiberglass surgery for a larger wheel, that would have been too much of a project.
Good luck!
Yves
S/V "Alphee" (18)
CD27 $4 (1977)
saltwater@tinyradio.com