What manufacturers and customers around the world say about Flexofold

Dedicated Sailors

Here you find a partial list of manufacturers specifying Flexofold Propellers. Flexofold propellers are delivered directly to a large number of boatyards ranging from niche specialists to major manufacturers. These boatyards have chosen Flexofold as a standard or optional propeller on their boats.

The three-blade folding propeller is a huge improvement. It feels like I've upgraded to a more powerful engine. So, a big thank you for that and for the great advice. I had a similar experience with my Delphia 28 Sport in 2018, and now with my Hanse 371, it's been another very positive experience. In both cases, I gained two more knots and, very importantly, significantly more thrust (and faster stops) when in reverse.

Poul

Hanse 371 - Sweden

My new 2-blade folding-propeller arrived 4 days after ordering, was attractively priced and fitted like a dream on my Lombardini saildrive. I am very pleased with both sales-service and handling. My boat seem to accelerate faster than usual, but the real test is still to come, as sailing season progress. I am, however, absolutely convinced the propeller will live up to my expectations. I will recommend Flexofold to anybody bothered listening to my endless praise :-) Well done Flexofold 👍

Klaus

Granada 27 - Denmark

We did our first test run on our new Flexofold folding propeller. It was an incredibly good experience. No vibrations like we had with the old one, and most importantly we experienced a powerful reverse maneuver where the propeller responds immediately when it's in gear. Previously we would go 6 knots at 1,900 RPM, but now we effortlessly sail 7 knots at 1,800 RPM!!! So we are very satisfied with our choice and thank you for the fast delivery and good dialogue. We would be happy to give you a positive review at the harbor.

Poul Ingildsen

Impala 36 "Smilla" - Denmark

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. It is greatly appreciated. A bit of history. When I first inquired about what prop to buy from FoF, was it 2011 or so, I can't remember, I was offered a 22" something but I declined that for two reasons. One, I had a friend with a 2001 460 with the identical engine and tranny I had and he was swinging a 20 x 14 three blade FoF and was achieving the same performance that I now have with my 20 x 14 three blade. So I thought that was good data and I was concerned that I would not achieve my full rated rpm with the 22". Second reason was tip clearance. I didn't want to risk having too little tip clearance and not being able to easily measure that parameter. When I first received my prop from you I was so impressed with the quality, finish and beauty of the prop I thought it a cruel thing to submerge it for a life in salt water. I love the prop and since I am active in several sailing forums I always extol the virtues of FoF especially when compared to Max prop. Max prop is mechanically so much more complicated, it only feathers and is more susceptible to snagging things and is very expensive. And I will never understand the Max prop advocates singing its reverse power virtues. I still quote the September 2009 Yachting Monthly study that tested the various props. One time I used a go pro camera to film my prop underwater. It would fully open at less than 1/2 revolution and fold when the power was shut off. Great stuff!!! Again, thank you for your honest assessment. With fuel prices what they are I don't need to spend anymore than I have to.

Michael Murray

Hunter 466 - Silverdale WA, USA

Well we finally had our test sail with our new Flexofold prop when we left Trinidad Sunday afternoon. Wow! That’s all we can say. Wow! It’s one of the fastest, maybe the fastest sail we’ve ever had and so quiet. At one point we hit the equatorial current and usually we’ll come to almost a dead stop but not the other night. We plowed through. So thank you so much for all your help and such a great product!

Ellen H. Tischbin

Miclo III - USA

Thank you for the very good customer service in connection with my propeller purchase, that being both kindness, good advice and fast dispatch of e-mail and delivery. I will definitely recommend you to my friends within the maritime world.

Jørgen Nordgaard

Omega 30 "Nor" - Holbæk, Denmark

When we bought our LM 30 she had a fixed propeller with a lot of drag by sail. We have had even a very good experience with Flexofold on our previous boat - it works. So we had no doubt that our LM30 should have a 3-blade Flexofold propeller too. This time we agreed with Flexofold that we should try not to install the zinc anode on the propeller. Result: we had only 6 barnacles on the propeller, whereas propellers on boats around us were totally fouled.The propeller is not polished nor treated with any kind of anti-fouling. We have now sailed in three seasons without corrosion and fouling - simply fantastic!

Henning H. Nielsen

LM30 "Dea" - Thurø, Denmark

The Flexofold 3-Blade 17x13-3L/R propeller went on after the first attempt. The engines—2x Yanmar 3JH5—come to a nominal speed of 3000 RPM and the Outstar 48 goes at the speed of 9.5kn

Andreas Bock

The new Outstar 48 with twin Flexofold - Germany

Adding the 3 bladed Flexofold was the best thing ever. Should have done it years ago. Better performance under sail and power. Cut fuel consumption in half!

Mark Schneider

Smarter Charter Ltd. - USA

We put the boat back in the water with the new Flexofold prop and sailed home about 50 miles. I could not believe the improved performance. We had the original two blade fixed propeller that came with the saildrive and we could do about 5.5 knots and really had to push the engine if we wanted to do more. With the Flexofold three blade, we easily had a 20% increase in speed at 500 rpm less on the engine and the engine was running 8-10 degrees cooler. Even my wife said she felt the difference and said it was the best money we have spent on the boat since we have owned it! The only negative so far is a little vibration at idle speed, but it goes away as soon as we go a little faster than idle. We are very pleased.

Gerhard and Barbara Straub

Wauquiez Centurion 41S "Kijit" - Callao, Virginia, USA

I wanted to give you some feedback after several days of using the new prop: At this point, I feel it is perhaps the best piece of equipment we have added to the boat! Speed under power is 0.6 to 0.7 kts faster at the same engine rpm and although our good sailing days at this point have been limited. I think the improvement is going to be at least as much as what we are seeing under power.

J. Gormley, NC

Beneteau 361 - USA

My new propeller has just arrived at my home address in Sydney Australia just 5 days after you shipped it. Amazing service - thank you!I showed it to my boat crew this afternoon and they were most impressed as I was with the quality and finish of the propeller. Thank you again for your excellent service.

Malcolm Shaw

Jeanneau 34.2 - Australia

In forward I gained almost half a knot at my normal Cruising RPM. In fact, I now motor at lower RPM. In reverse, the performance is excellent & with less prop walk than with my old fixed prop. The reverse action is smoother and there is no significant drop in power the only difference I noticed is that the initial burst of reverse power I need a little more rpm but once the boat gets underway there is no difference. I tried a crash stop in flat water from 6kts and the boat came to a dead stop in about 1 boat length. (35ft). The boat's displacement is approx 5000KG.With respect to sailing the improvement is clearly there, no more noise from the prop and a marked improvement in sailing performance especially in light to medium airs. You have one very happy customer and that refers to both the product as well as the service.

Patrick Genovese

Gib'Sea352 - Malta

I just wanted to send you a note on how delighted I am with your folding prop! It is much better matched with my boat than the factory installed prop – no cavitation issues and speed under power better matched with engine rpms. I have especially noticed an improvement in speed under sail. I am very pleased with your product.Thank you!

George Williams

Catalina 350 - USA

SUPER! No problems with the flexofold so far…and with this kind of service, I will surely recommend it to EVERYONE!

Jessica Janssens

Winner 11.20 - Antwerpen, Belgium

Taking over the boat we mostly took it by motor to Germany. Already in this moment we made the decision that the standard 3-blade folding propeller could not stay. Good move forward, zero move backward, combined with the feeling that it does not fold incorrect. After again an excellent advice the change follows: WHAT A DIFFERENCE: unbelievable how good it is and why sailors could use anything else than a Flexofold. Great move forward. Super move backward and noiseless, easy folding. Thank you Flexofold!

Birthe & Jochen Reimer

Dufour 44 - Germany

After a 400 nautical mile voyage from Tortola to Grenada, I am happy to report that my new Flexofold props are the single best upgrade I've ever made to my catamaran. I wish I'd replaced the old props years ago. My cruising speed under power is at leat 1.5 knots better than before at the same RPMs and under sail, I've picked up about 1 knot better performance. They are simply the best! Thank you again for all your assitance in determining the sizes for the 2 different saildrives. We love your props!

Peter Bonta

Catamaran "Two - Much Fun" - BVI

For 5 years, I am thrilled from your 2-blade folding propeller on my Compromis 999. Last week I called you as the shock absorbers were broken (replaced free of charge). The sent shock absorbers are now mounted and next week we go back into the water. Now I am not just very satisfied with the propeller, but impressed by your customer service. For me, the choice of a new propeller (I am looking for a new ship at the time) is already determined. It will be a Flexofold!

Horst Dammer

Compromis 999 - Viersen, Germany

Just a brief note to let you know how pleased I am with both your service and the prop performance. Seven days from order to receipt included 2 days delivery within Australia.You supplied the 3-blade 22" propeller at short notice and it was duly fitted. I hoped for a performance improvement over the 20x14” 4 blade Tri Stream unit fitted as standard by the boat builder. Cruising revs (100 HP Yanmar) dropped from 2950 to 2400.GPS boat speed increased from 7.1 to 8.2 Kts.Fuel consumption (motor sailing) over 900 Nm compared to 6 previous trips on the same route dropped from .81 to .78 litres per Nm.Acceleration ahead and astern is improved markedly.The astern performance has improved dramatically. Prop walk astern is almost absent. Obviously engine noise in the salon is greatly reduced. Congratulations on a world class product.

Rowley Errington

Buizen 48 with a 3-blade 22" - Australia

I received my prop and installed it on March 23, that day I only motored a bit to see how it worked. Forward I now reach 7.5 knots at a comfortable RPM and before 6.5 was over reved. Reverse thrust is predictable and strong. This past Saturday I sailed along with a boat that is one of the fastest in our racing fleet and he did not pass me in an hour of shadowing each other. At Dauphin Island Race Mobile Bay AL we placed second in class in the warm-up race4-23 and first in the DIR race 4-30-2011. I feel the Flexofold prop played a part in this success.

Randy Rutledge

At Dauphin Island Race Mobile Bay AL - USA

At the beginning of the year I have purchased a flexofold 3-blade propeller for my sailing boat. In the meantime, I have transferred my boat from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and sailed from beginning of Mai until now about 3500 miles. After this long trip, I wish to congratulate you to the performance of your propeller which proved to perform extraordinary well. I reach the required speed at all sea states and winds at less revs which saved a lot of fuel.Compared with other propellers I used during the last 13 years, your propeller proved to be the best.

Alexander Kocks

Hallberg-Rassy 36 with a 3-blade 18" Flexofold propeller - Germany

When we started Team "Sort Sol" we were very conscious that a propeller is not just a propeller. It was important for us that we found a partner who could understand our needs and high demands in terms of performance and low drag. We expected that we had to use one propeller for racing and another for cruising. Flexofold, however, got the solution and supplied a fantastic 2-blade Flexofold Racing propeller which meets all our requirements! It has a very low drag under sail and high performance under power, without any vibration. So, with Flexofold we can use the same propeller for both racing and cruising. Much obliged!

Søren Hansen, Danish Champion in 2008 and 2010

Scan-Kap 99 "Sort Sol" - Denmark

Thank you for the very professional advice ... As per your advise I switched from a Flexofold Race-propeller to a standard Flexofold propeller on my my IMX-40.The results are very impressive. Very good thrust forward, backward and with good maneuverbility. And by sail, the standard Flexofold propeller has as low dragas the race version :-) It was perfect customer service!

Jürgen von Gosen

X-Yachts IMX-40, Hamburg - Germany

When installing a new electric engine I should have a relatively large 16" propeller - which worried me a lot. I ended up choosing a Flexofold Racing Propeller which is perfect in terms of low drag, high performance and super finish. I´m very pleased.

Leif Pehrson, Group winner of the 138 nautic miles regatta "Palby Cup 2010

Ylva "Den Røde Løber" - Denmark

This prop has completely changed my mindset... This is the end of my second season on my 2009 Beneteau 49. My Flexofold performed flawlessly. I had zero drag issues and my prop always folded closed while sailing. I keep my boat in Annapolis, Maryland and frequent a restaurant called Pussers. I have to parallel park my boat into whatever space they provide me with, usually not more than 53 feet. While I have a bow thruster, my Flexofold prop stops me on a dime! The Chesapeake does have a fair amount of crustacean buildup but it has never jammed up or affected my props performance. I have been sailing for over 40 years and was very sceptical of switching over from a fixed blade prop. This prop has completely changed my mindset.

Maurice Colontonio

Beneteau 49 "Big Moe" - Annapolis, USA

We have a Dynamique 52 that weighs 17 tons. After 4 years with a fixed propeller, we changed to a Flexofold 3-blade 22x15-3R propeller. We were a little worried about how it would perform by dock maneuvers, especially in reverse. But it is not a problem, it works 100% ok. By cruising, the engine fell 2-300 RPM for the same speed. By sail we enjoy the extra 1 knot speed and no tingling from the shaft. The propeller is still, after 5 years in the water throughout the year, still as new, no corrosion or traces of wear.

Anne and Jesper

Dynamic 52 - Denmark

I installed my new 3-blade Flexofold propeller and yesterday tried out. The calculation and recommendation was very good. Already by 1450 RPM I have a good "cruising speed" of 6.3 knots. At 2000 PRM it´s about 8 knots. Regarding propwalk in reverse, you were right, this is much less than with my old double-wing fixed propeller. I am very pleased with the smoothness: No cavitation or noise, no vibration, no shock when the propeller opens. Praise the manufacturer! Thanks for the good advice.

References

Flexofold sailboat propellers are some of the best propellers in the world and we welcome the many positive comments from our customers who call or write