The propeller is the least glamorous piece of equipment on a sailboat and one of the most consequential. A wrong prop costs you speed under sail and power under engine. These guides cover how to choose the right type, size it to your drivetrain, and keep it in condition.
Sailboat Propeller Types Explained
Fixed two-blade, fixed three-blade, folding, feathering, and variable-pitch — what each design does under sail and under power, and how to choose for your boat.
- Fixed 2-blade: cheapest, most drag
- Folding: low drag, weak reverse
- Feathering: best all-around compromise
How to Size a Sailboat Propeller
Diameter, pitch, reduction gear ratios, and matching the prop to your engine — the numbers that determine whether your engine reaches max RPM at full load.
- Diameter × pitch notation (e.g., 16×12)
- Target RPM at wide-open throttle
- Signs your prop is wrong for your engine
Feathering Propellers: Max-Prop, Flexofold, and Autoprop
How feathering props work, which brands lead the market, what they cost, what they gain you under sail, and how to maintain them in cruising conditions.
- ~0.5kt boat speed gain typical
- Max-Prop vs. Flexofold vs. Autoprop
- Annual maintenance requirements
Propeller Maintenance: Zincs, Antifouling, and Haulout Checks
What to inspect at haulout, the right antifouling for a propeller, zinc replacement schedules, fishing line ingestion, cavitation damage, and the pre-launch checklist.
- Replace zinc at 50% consumption
- Prop speed paint vs. Copper Coat
- Fishing line: how to clear it offshore
About These Guides
These are editorial resources for cruising sailors. Propeller prices, brand availability, and engine specifications change — always verify current figures with your engine manufacturer, prop shop, or dealer. The marina directory lists haulout facilities across North America where prop work can be arranged.