Our yacht is a 1999 Hallberg-Rassy 31 which is fitted with a Volvo 2020 18HP saildrive and had a two-blade Volvo folding prop. Having always had fixed-blade propellers with our earlier Westerly boats we were used to being able to punch our way through any seaway, and stop at will!

Leaving Southampton Water in October 2004 (for delivery of our new purchase to our homeport in Dublin) on the tails of a SE F7 we were un-nerved to find boat speeds of just 2 knots whilst motor-sailing close-hauled with only a double reefed main. Admittedly, conditions were testing but she lacked the drive and power just when it was needed. Marina berthing required excellent judging of distance since it took two boat lengths to stop, and plenty of revs if you had a following wind and tide!
A season with our HR 31 and varying conditions told us we needed to improve matters down-under. We investigated all options and were virtually certain that the Autoprop was right for us, especially because of
its pitch-perfect design irrespective of the heel. And there are many stories of prop changes where the bronze newcomer underneath was not pitch-perfect and/or prevented full revs, and had to come off again for fine tuning!
So now, the key question was, should it be a two or three blade? We had to choose carefully, not so much because of price differences, but the fact that a Volvo 2020 is only 18HP. Engine power was necessary to make the most of three-blade benefits and we were not convinced it could deliver. Sound
advice from Bruntons MD suggested our better option was indeed a two-blade Autoprop. This we bought (great delivery and service) and fitted at the beginning of May 2006.
It’s a dream when motor-sailing in any wind or sea conditions; it will deliver more speed in a sea-way with or without sail up; it will require fewer revs for similar [previous] speeds; it will stop our 6T in about her own length, and it instils confidence. Compared to Southampton Water in a F7, we found ourselves in a NW F8 on route to the Isle of Man from Howth, Co. Dublin in late summer this year. And like Southampton, we were close-winded with a
double reefed main. But unlike our 2004 experience, our boat speed never dropped below 4 knots. Were we pleased? Does a cat purr!
Best wishes & thanks,
Laurence & Daphne Hoolaha