Rope cutter

[Vedat Midilli]

Has anyone put a rope cutter to his/her B43. I decided on Prop Protector. It needs a clearance of minimum 23mm (17mm for cutter, and 6mm for free water circulation) between prop hub and shaft bearing. My prop is a fixed 3 blade one.  If someone has this measure it will be great help to me.

[Mark and Karen]

We had a gator rope cutter fitted, as the time the boat was still on the transporter and it only took about 10 minutes for the guys to fit. I think the shaft did need to be extended so I assume there is plenty of length on the universal joint. We have a lot of lobster pots around the coast line so thought this would be a useful 'must have'.

[Vedat Midilli]

Thanks for the reply and photo. Did it cause any vibrations or loss of speed?

[Mark and Karen]

There is no vibration as the rotating part has three blades 120 degrees apart, and these are lined up with the centre of the prop blades so cause minimum flow disruption. We will lose more speed through the fixed three blade prop (1/2 to 1 knot) however it (like yours) has some bite especially when you go astern (we berth stern to). Once we go 'blue water' cruising we would switch to a folding prop of some sort.

[James Taylor]

Mark

Are your props treated with "prop speed" and what do you think of it? ( I was looking at the photo and that's a good looking clean prop)

[Mark and Karen]

Hi James
It hadn't been in the water at the time we had this fitted. When we lifted the boat at the end of last year the prop did have some build up of some sort but it all came off with a wire brush.
Going to leave the boat in the water longer this time, plan to lift in Feb 2012 and will see what it looks like then.
Mark