Although I have sailed boats fitted with every conceivable make of folding or feathering propeller, I have long-term experience of only three. When we acquired our 1973 Norlin 34, it was equipped with a vintage two-bladed Martec Geartec folding propeller.
Would you buy an automobile whose rear brakes locked up and dragged along the road when going downhill? Not likely. So why do so many sailboat owners do much the same thing by dragging the blades of a propeller through the water behind them when the engine’s off?
Do you antifoul your propeller? Looking around the yard where we keep our project boat, Ostara, the consensus seemed to be “no”. Most propellers showed the telltale signs of barnacle infestation, as indeed did our three-bladed Gori folding prop.
Coastal Maine, a Tiny High
School Sailing Team, and the Legacy of Mike Horn.
The 2026 National Boating Safety Awards recognize outstanding efforts within the marine industry to promote safe and responsible boating to help build more confident boaters.
Race organizers have announced long term plans for the event, including expanded science and education programming and a homebase in Porto, Portugal.
Friends and crew of a boat lost in the 2024 Newport Bermuda return to the racecourse
The smallest end of the Seawind range proves itself during a spicy sea trial.
Even a rainy day can’t cast a shadow over Jeanneau’s latest midsize cruiser.
On a blustery day, this new multihull flagship keeps calm and carries.
A new flagship elevates an iconic and evergreen cruising brand.
Renewing your six-pack license is a process. Here’s what you need to know.
Amidst a construction shuffle, America’s biggest sailboat show will look a little different this year. The City Dock Resilience and Revitalization Project is reshaping Annapolis’
