Words from Brunton's Propellers about their product...

"Autoprop’s unique design and superb build quality make it the first choice feathering propeller among cruising yachtsmen the world over, with drag reduction when sailing by at least 85%, and a unique ability to change pitch automatically to suit prevailing wind and sea conditions when motoring or motor sailing. Auto pitching, auto feathering, the same thrust in astern as ahead, less prop-walk in astern, a brand new version for hybrid and purely electrically driven vessels, and a recently developed ability to produce very efficient and economic propulsion for purely diesel powered displacement motor boats are more than reason enough."

Bruntons Propellers
​Autoprop

Having just launched recently we have not yet been able to fully maximise and test out the benefits of the Autoprop eg. the reduction of drag and increased speed when sailing as we have not yet hoisted a sail! In saying this, under motor we can feel how Nandji responds different than she did with a fixed blade prop. We no longer prop walk as much in reverse but we do still prop walk which I had hoped for. With no prop walk, it makes it more difficult to handle a three quarter vessel like Nandji. there is a very noticeable difference in the way Nandji prop walks. As we now have the same power going astern than we did with a fixed blade prop, we stop in a very noticeable distance shorter than before. this meaning it is easier to spin Nandji on the spot utilising the strength of the prop walk. 

​I look forward to using and testing out the prop in further tests and especially excited for the difference in sailing speed. Nandji is not classified as a fast boat by any means so the less drag the better for old Nandji girl!

We are so excited to install this prop onto our vessel, in our eyes it is the second most important upgrade to our vessel. The size and pitch of the blades of the prop need to match the gearbox ratio which needs to match the engine power. therefore they are all very dependant upon each other. Researching props we naturally leant towards the autoprop so we aare very stoked to have this piece of engineering genius on our vessel.