Matthias Bröker
Naval Dipl.-Engineer Matthias Broecker of the design office Judel/Vrolijk is a passionate racer and respected expert in his field. He installed a 2-blade VARIPROFILE on his yacht "Pylela" and gives the younger brother of the VARIPROP top marks::
»From the very beginning I was impressed by the small hub and the excellent hydro-dynamic design of the VARIPROPFILE. As confirmed racer I can state that the VARIPROFILE performs incredibly well under sail.
We did not notice any negatives vs. our racing folding prop. Driving the 2-blade VARIPROFILE under power we obtained just as good a performance as with our supposedly advantaged folding propeller with twisted blades.
Because of the turning blades of the VARIPROFILE manevering in harbour is easy and precise, and the stopping power has a very strong "grip".
All-in-all a well designed sailing propeller for all sailors that appreciate fast sailing.«
Matthias Broeker, Naval Dipl.-Engineer
design offices of Judel/Vrolijk & Co.
George Styan
... The VARIPROFILE delivered what was promised.
The forward performance compares very favourably to the powerful twisted blades of the VARIFOLD. To achieve desired cruising of 5.5 kn (2,600 rpm) the VARIFOLD was overpitched and limited to 3,000 max. rpm and 5.90 kn speed. For practically the same cruising speed and rpm the VARIPROFILE places less load on the engine, allowing revs. up to 3,200 rpm and a speed of 6.33 kn. To me, this is a testimonial to the superior efficiency of this new blade design. The stopping distance is the most obvious advantage, and equally important the ability to maneouvre safely in tight quarters with adverse wind and current. Finally, the excellent hydro-dynamic design allows minimal drag, not higher than that of the VARIFOLD, with which I was very happy.
As a long time racing and cruising skipper I have used MARTEC, FLEXOFOLD AND VARIFOLD, each of them showing improved performance with advancing technology. The latest Hi-Tec GAWNblade profile used by SPW seems to beat them all and they succeeded in designing the elusive perfect prop for both cruisers and racers. I am impressed.
George Styan, “Magic Dragon”, Toronto, ON.
Yanmar-France
Test of VARIPROFILE 3-blade vs. ZF Fixed Propeller 3-blade
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Above test shows the VARIPROFILE "Green BIO" prop with 30-35% less fuel consumption and average 7% greater speed at the same rpm as the fixed prop.
If the VARIPROFILE speed is reduced to the same level as the fixed prop, the fuel
economy would be even greater and is estimated to reach 45%.
Fileris Dimitris
We used the propeller VARIPROFILE 17" with 12 pitch on jeanneau 37.2 sailing boat. After testing we have more 1.5 miles in ahead. My problem was on astern and stopping. Now my problem has solved. Im very satisfy and happy for that. thank you. I am from greece-kos island. I suggest on others owners of sailing boats to use your propeller without any problem.
Fileris Dimitris
Dana Sterling
Product Review, VP-104
Quality Product, Exceptional Service
This review is based on the Variprofile 3 blade feathering propeller matched with a Yanmar 110HP engine with direct drive aboard a new Dufour 485 sailing vessel. Results under power deliver amazing power and smooth operation through the entire RPM range of the engine. Prop torque at lower RPM’s makes maneuvering in tight places easy.
Under sail the propeller easily feathers for super low drag and increased rudder sensitivity. The appearance of this propeller reveals a carefully designed blade configuration and a stout build. The propeller consists of two parts, the hub assembly and blade assembly. The manner in which both assemblies’ connect to shaft and one another is an amazing feat of engineering. Simply stated, this is no wimpy prop that will leave you wondering about integrity or leave you short on performance and fuel economy.
Another attribute that makes this propeller user friendly is the external pitch control mechanism. Need to tweak the pitch in either forward or reverse? No problem to do so either in or out of the water. Takes only a few moments and there’s no parts to disassemble or drop to the bottom of the harbor.
Admittedly we had an early version of this propeller that came with the boat from the factory that we later discovered had a glitch. I called Variprop USA on a Friday afternoon to discuss with company representative Rick Steadman who promptly identified the problem and had a new propeller sitting on my door step Monday morning!
Simply stated, the Variprofile propeller is the perfect choice for today’s modern performance cruising sailing vessels. At the end of the day this is truly a quality product that won’t let you down with service support that’s second to none.
Thank you for all the support in helping us make our new Dufour Yachts perform at their very best!
Dana Sterling
Denison Yacht Sales
Dufour Yachts
