Tartan37.com

Just finished up a 6 week long project of painting our topsides with Alexseal. It came out better than expected, just rolled and no tipping since we used the roller additive. Colors are Ethereal Blue and Cloud White. Good lord my shoulders sure are glad that it's all done!

That looks outstanding.
Are you planning to re-install the skeg? Was she skegless when you bought her?

Thank you!

I'd like to replace the skeg and the flaps between the hull and rudder in the future. Unfortunately the previous owner took them off because they constantly filled with barnacles. I think I heard Tartan will still make skegs for these old girls? If not, I'll make one myself

I'd also like to replace that big fixed 3 blade with a folding or feathering 3 blade at some point but boy are they expensive! We have a race coming up in a week and a half so I'm in a bit of a rush to get her back in the water

Gorgeous color choice!

The paint job looks great. Take a look at the Flexofold 2 blade, had one for 20 years, was great. Went to a FoF 3 blade, not sure I didn't like the 2 blade better. The 3 blade is smoother, but the 2 blade had a better cruise speed and less likely to get fouled up. A lot of moving parts with the 3 blade.

Thanks Mac and Puffcard.

Puffcard, how did the 2 blade compare to the 3 blade in reverse? We have pretty severe prop walk with the fixed 3 blade but I've come to like it for turning in a tight spot. Did the 2 blade bite like the 3 blade?

I’ve had 2 blade a Flexofold on Esprit for over 25 years. I bought it used for $250 shortly after we bought the boat. It performs very well in forward and reverse. Better than a feathering in both performance and ability to shed crab pot lines.

That's intriguing... Do you happen to remember the size/pitch if you still have the original W50? These props are expensive new, I'll have to see if I can find something used

I don’t remember off hand but it is too big. I think it’s 17” and over pitched as well. I bought it to try out since it was so cheap. If I liked it, I was going to spring for a 16” properly pitched. I just never got around to it. If I push the W-50 up to 2,000RPM, the boat is going 7+ with the exhaust under water. 1,800 is top and 1,500-1,600 is where I tend to settle. I always worried about carbon build up but I had the exhaust manifold off this year (for the first time) and everything was clean inside. Black but absolutely no accumulation. Reverse “dig in” is solid. If I hit the throttle in reverse, the boat walks to port and stops. In Maine, I sailed through the lobster pots without paying them any mind. Only worried about them under power.

Awesome! I found one here locally a couple of days ago but it was only marked "Flexofold", it didn't have size or pitch marked on it so I didn't pick it up. I wonder if there's a way to measure pitch, size would be easy, just need my tape next time