Other Testimonials: Variprop (general) | Variprop (4-blade) | Varifold
Excerpts of letters received from VariFold propeller owners
(Complete letters available upon request)
Excerpts from report by J&A Enterprises, Inc., Noise and Vibration Engineering, dated December 2003, Newport, RI comparing previous 3-blade Max-Prop installation (May 2003) with subsequent 4-blade VariFold installation (November 2003): …have decisively proved that VariFold propeller generates considerably less vibration and noise … to the levels significantly below the levels of non-propeller related sources aboard the yacht. This has proved our assertion made after the 2003 sea trials [with MaxProp installed] that the noise and vibration aboard the yacht are highly dependent among other things on the propeller type.
-- J&A Report – Previous Prop: 3-blade MaxProp
BAVARIA 32 – 19 hp VOLVO MD2020/SD (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
I am very pleased with the performance of the VARIFOLD on my Bavaria 32. It is very smooth and quiet over the full speed range. The boat sails at least 0.5 – 0.75 kn faster in light to moderate winds. Reverse thrust seems to be about the same, so stopping is not a problem. I normally cruise @ 2200 rpm (6 kn). At 2,800 rpm I measured 6.7 kn, reaching hull speed @ 3,200 rpm. I think the 15”x10” VARIFOLD is a very good match for me.
-- MM Previous prop: 2-blade fixed 15”x11”
BENETEAU 405 – 50 hp PERKINS 4.108 (Purchased 2-blade VariFold)
I love my new VARIFOLD and your customer service is fantastic. You made me confident in my purchase. I’ve also gone from last place in every race for two years to now taking 2nd place in both the spring and summer racing series at my club this year. I attribute a lot of this to my new folding prop. Thank you!
-- Dr SG Previous Prop: 2-blade fixed
BRUCKMANN 50 – 140 hp YANMAR 4LH-THE (Purchased 4-blade VariFold)
The VariFold has been working like a champ - practically vibration free, tremendous thrust when I really need it, excellent reverse performance (saved me yesterday in a docking incident from wiping out a 70 ft cruiser), at least a half knot better than the old prop, and fuel consumption that stays in the 2.5 - 2.74 gph range. I seem to be getting a consistent 8.5 kts at 2,500 rpm - much lower rpm at that speed than previously. I'm delighted. Most of all, it was dependable as hell when I really needed it offshore in horrible conditions. I guess I'm not going to sell the boat after-all.
-- Dr. RM Previous props: fixed, feathering
After a full season the 4-blade Varifold remains my favorite prop. It is as fast, quiet and smooth as any prop I have ever owned. To my surprise I quite like the performance in reverse. The prop has very little prop walk and I am able to stop very well from full speed ahead. It engages quietly and feathers easily. I recently motored directly into the wind in near gale conditions for 6 hours. The combination of torque in our John Deere and the efficient delivery of the Varifold kept us climbing over the waves with a solid surefootedness that I have never experienced under power in a sailboat before. It is a very nice prop and is everything that was promised! I am sold.
-- DB “Mr Propeller” Previous Props (30): fixed, folding & feathering
C&C 29 – 25 hp ATOMIC 4 (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
I could not be happier with the Propeller. The lack of vibration compared to the MARTEC is remarkable. I sometimes have to check to make sure the engine is on.
I would not hesitate to recommend the VARIFOLD to other sailors interested in upgrading to a much more satisfactory and elegant product.
-- TG Previous prop: MARTEC 12”x 5”
C&C 30 – 25 hp ATOMIC 4 (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
Your propeller works spectacularly! Compared to the GORI 11.5” x 8” that I used to have on my C&C 30 the difference is remarkable. Going with the VARIFOLD 12”x7” for my ATOMIC 4 was certainly the optimal choice. No vibration, great torque, super top end speed and good reverse – what could anyone want more ….
-- MG Previous prop: GORI 11.5”x 8”
C&C 30 – 27 hp YANMAR 3GM 30 (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
Your VARIFOLD has made going in and out of the slip a dream. The reverse propulsion was a dramatic improvement from my previous propeller and forward is smooth and quiet. My average cruising speed of 6 kn is now reached at 400 rpm less than before…..
-- DR Previous prop: MICHIGAN Folding
C&C 33 MK I – 25hp ATOMIC 4, 2:1 (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
The prop (VARIFOLD 15”x9”) worked well for me this year. It worked very quietly with very little noise, and at any speed…I have had the boat at 6.2 kn at ¾ throttle and had no trouble relying on the prop in reverse or forward. I had to back out of the slip every time I used the boat and reverse was always there when I needed it no matter what the wind direction. I have had folding props on other boats where the reverse would not work unless you opened the prop in forward before you placed it in reverse. This was never the case with this prop. I have had no trouble with the unit to date and would recommend the prop to anyone.
-- CD Previous prop: 2-blade fixed 16”x10”
C&C 33 MK II – 19 hp YANMAR 2GM 20 (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
The VARIFOLD 15”x10” is superior in all motoring situations. Powerful thrust against wind and waves, higher speed at same rpm, better reverse and maneuvering in harbor. I am very satisfied with my new VARIFOLD.
-- GS Previous prop: FLEXOFOLD 15”x11”
C&C 35 MK II – 22 hp YANMAR 3GM (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
I have been very satisfied with the performance of my boat with the new prop (VARIFOLD 15”X10”). It is faster under sail and under power. What else could I want ? At 3,000 rpm the speed ranges from 6.5 to 7 kn depending on headwind/tailwind. Max. rpm is 3,500 but haven’t checked out speed at that level. Probably exceeds 7.5 kn. The biggest question I had with the prop was how it would perform stopping the boat in reverse. My particular situation at the Trident Yacht Club requires that I approach the dock at 3 kn in a cross current and hit reverse hard to stop. If insufficient speed is maintained the current carries the boat out of reach and docking has to be aborted. REVERSE WORKS WELL, THANKFULLY. I have not experienced any vibrations. It is smoother than my previous 17”x10” fixed 2- blade and outperforms it in all situations. I have wondered what a 16” blade could do, since my engine is not strained at all by the VARIFOLD 15”x 10”.
-- JH Previous prop: 2-blade fixed 17”x10”
C&C 38 – 29 hp PERKINS M 30 (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
Just finished returning from New York to St. Johns, Nfdl. and here are my observations: Pop (VARIFOLD 15”x9”) runs smoothly and quietly up to aprox. 2100. When I go up to 2500 there is more noise, but I suspect that is due to other factors which I will check out over the winter. My average cruising speed is 6.5 kn @ 2,500 vs. 6 kn @ 2,800 previously. Maximum rpm is 2,900 but engine smokes at that speed. When I back of to 2500/2600 I can carry on indefinitely at that speed at 6.5 kn. Reverse is excellent compared the previous GORI which is next to useless.
-- HS Previous prop: GORI 16”x9.5”
CS 36 – 30 hp WESTERBEKE W 30 (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
The VARIFOLD 16”x 9” has given marked improvement whilst running quieter and smoother. Cruising speed at 2,500 rpm increased by 1.2 kn and top speed by almost a full kn. There is more power against wind and waves. Service has been excellent.
-- DD Previous prop: GORI 16.5”x11”
DUFOUR 45 – 55 hp VOLVO D2-55 (Purchased 3 Blade VariFold)
I have used many props in my life. This VARIFOLD 3-blade 19”x 14” outperforms MAX-PROP, FLEX-O-FOLD, VOLVO-PROP AND MARTEC.
Great power in forward and reverse, yet very quiet. Reaching hull-speed no problem and cruising @ 2,400 rpm with 7.5 kn.
-- JS Previous prop: N/A – new engine.
HUNTER 29.5 – 18hp YANMAR 2GM20F (Purchased 2-blade VARIFOLD)
Just to let you know I am impressed by the prop performance and pleased with my purchase. I get the same maximum speed but cruising speed is about 5kn @ only 2,000 rpm and 6.5kn @ 2,800 rpm, lower than with the fixed prop. The VARIFOLD is very powerful in forward !
I am amazed at the fact I can hear the prop open at the dock just by engaging forward gear at idle of about 900 rpm it starts to push the boat forward. No need to rev the engine to get the prop to open,WOW amazing. Stopping and backing into a slip is a lot easier. It does need more rpm than forward to stop the boat, but there is absolutely no prop-walk, cavitations or sliding of the rear to the left. In the past with the fixed prop it used to slide to the left about three feet before starting to move backwards. Now it starts to move backwards right away and backs up straight where you are pointing as soon as you have enough speed to get rudder authority.
Very quiet operation and no vibration at all from the prop. It did improve sailing speed in light air for sure and the boat get’s to hull speed a lot quicker than before. It was a very easy job to install (about 30 min.) I am very happy.
-- ML – Previous prop: 2-blade fixed.
J-42 – 50hp Yanmar 4JH3 (Purchased 3-blade VARIFOLD)
I know that three blade folding props are supposed to be slower than two blade folding props but I wanted to let you know that with the new VariFold, Bravo has won both races entered this summer! And while sailing fast is always good, we're cruisers at heart and under power at any speed is now silky smooth . A transformational experience -thanks!
-- TB-Previous prop: 2-blade Martec
JEANNEAU 30 – 15hp Yanmar 2GM (Purchased 2-blade VARIFOLD)
I thought you might like to know how the new propeller is performing on L’ARIST0.
In one word: EXCELLENT. Under power about 0.5 kn more speed at the same rpm as with the previous GORI. Our best news is the racing performance. After a couple of dismal finishes while I was stuck with the temporary fixed prop we are now back up to speed. We have done six races with the new prop and our record is one second and four firsts. Most of our VARC competitors are boats we have raced against for years, so it is easy to tell that our boatspeed has increased significantly. We are about 5 kn faster both up and down wind. Thanks very much for your help with this project.
-- CB – Previous prop: 2-blade GORI
LANGAN 85 – 300 hp Caterpillar 3126 (Purchased 4 blade VariFold)
This prop is just great.
We haven't got the complete picture yet but roughly in flat water:
1600 RPM 8.8kn
1700 RPM 9.2 kn
1800 RPM 9.4 kn
This is at least 1.5 kn faster than before! Almost 20% in other words.
The prop is much quieter, the prop vibration and cavitation noise, and the noise transmitted into the thrust bearing have all but gone.
The prop will pay for itself in fuel savings……….
-- Capt. MF Previous prop: GORI 3-BLADE 30” x 23”
MIRAGE 33 – 22 hp YANMAR 3GM D (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
The prop performance (VARIFOLD 15”x10”) in harbor and on the water is much better than with my previous prop. Much improved performance under sail, reaching hull speed often …
--JU Previous prop: CAMPBELL SAILOR 15” x 12”
NAUTICAT 44 – 120 hp LEHMAN 2275 (purchased 4 blade VariFold)
We picked up the boat yesterday and sailed her home. The transmission, drippless seal and the prop worked great. Very smooth at 1400 RPM and 7.0 knots in calm water. 1800 RPM brought us close to 8 knots. We were able to motor in to a 22 knot head wind and 3 foot seas at 7 knots. Reverse needs a few more RPM's to get us going but I will adjust to that. So far the Varifold prop is excellent.
Thanks for the great service.
-- RW Previous prop: 4 blade fixed
NONSUCH 27 – 13 hp WESTERBEKE W 13 (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
The performance increase sought for my blunt bow NONSUCH 27 was forward speed in rough conditions. The VARIFOLD 15”x 8” improved speeds from 2 kn to 4 kn, worth the change even at some reverse thrust loss. However, the present version is now better in reverse than the first smaller one ( 14”x 8”) with no change in forward performance. I am satisfied.
-- JC Previous prop: GORI 15” x 10”
SAGA 48 – 100 hp YANMAR 4JH3-THE (Purchased 3-blade VariFold)
It was a pleasure meeting you at the Annapolis Boat Show and to discuss how much we like the new VARIFOLD prop we have just installed on our SAGA 48. We replaced a MARTEC feathering prop which caused considerable vibration and did not seem to deliver sufficient power to push the boat upwind when we needed it. The VARIFOLD has reduced the vibration and delivers plenty of power to keep the boat moving in all conditions.
-- RP Previous Prop: Martec 3 blade feathering
SAN JUAN 30 – 10 hp VOLVO MD6B (Purchased 2 Blade VariFold)
We are quite pleased with our VARIFOLD. It generally runs more smoothly and provides more positive control than our old prop. Since it seems to transfer power more efficiently, we achieve maximum speed of 5.5 kn at lower rpm’s – around 1,900. … Forward thrust is strong and positive with little noticeable P-effect. Reverse is also strong and smooth…and I should tell you that my wife fell in love with the VARIFOLD when it first arrived. She saw in it a piece of art, all new and polished as it was. We may have to take it off the boat, come haul-out, polish it up and display it prominently in the house over the winter…thanks for your follow up. All-in-all we have great confidence in this prop and are very pleased.
-- BMcL Previous prop: MARTEC 14”x9”