Get Your Propeller Winter-Ready: The Ultimate Flexofold Checklist

Winter storage is the ideal time to inspect and maintain your propeller when the boat is ashore.

By design, Flexofold propellers require only basic winter maintenance, primarily cleaning and polishing. Removing fouling from the blades and carrying out a few simple checks will help ensure your propeller continues to perform at its best.

A key advantage of Flexofold folding propellers is their water-lubricated design, which keeps maintenance requirements to a minimum.

Read on to discover the seven main areas to consider as you prepare your boat for winter:

1 – Descale

Always descale before polishing. Fouling on propellers and boats mainly consists of calcareous deposits, so descale both the blades and the hub. It's easiest to remove the fouling if you start the descaling process as soon as the boat is out of the water.

NOTE: Steer clear of harsh chemicals, especially on saildrive hubs, as they can damage the friction clutch.

• Remove the propeller from the sail drive or shaft
• Take off the anode (this should not be descaled)
• Disassemble the propeller
• Place the hub and blades in the descaling solution and leave for a maximum of 8 hours

Composite hubs can be descaled in the same way.

2 – Clean

Flexofold recommends using fine steel wool, be careful not to confuse steel wool with steel scouring pads/sponges, as the latter are much more abrasive and will significantly damage the propeller's surface. If using a material more abrasive than steel wool, take care not to unbalance the blades, as an abrasive material will wear down the surface.

Top Tip - Clean the propeller as soon as the descaling is done, as it's much easier to scrub clean while it's still wet. 

3 – Lubricate

Flexofold propellers are water-lubricated, eliminating the need to grease the moving parts. After cleaning the prop, it’s usually very dry, so grease can be applied, but only to specific parts. This is the only time you need to grease the prop. Flexofold recommend using 'ProLan Protective Lanolin – heavy' spray in small amounts.

Parts that can be lubricated when mounting the propeller:

• Pins

• Pin holes

4 – Checks

Now is the time to inspect your propeller. Check for excessive play where the blades are mounted in the hub recesses, as well as within the blade gearing. It is also a good idea to inspect the intermeshing gears to ensure they engage correctly and operate smoothly throughout the full range of blade movement.

Shock absorbers ensure smoother opening of the propeller blades, protecting both the hub and the gearing. Check if the shock absorbers still retain their original shape. If they do, there's no need to replace them. Signs that the shock absorbers need replacing:

• They have visible cracks
• They've lost their original shape
• They show clear signs of marks or surface damage

5 – Polish

Flexofold recommend using a brass polish and following the instructions on the product label. Although time-consuming, we advise polishing by hand to best preserve the propeller's original design and shape. If you choose to use a polishing machine, Flexofold recommend using a felt disc.

6 – Inspect

 It’s important to routinely inspect the anode which protects your propeller from electrolysis in all seasons not just Winter. Learn more about what electrolysis is and how to protect your folding propeller against it here. 

The anode should be replaced when:

• 50% of the anode is gone
• It has lost its original rounded shape.
• The surface is no longer intact/the zinc has started to disappear

This anode has been in the water for only 3.5 weeks, but it has definitely done its job!

7 – Antifoul

When it comes to applying antifouling paint on a folding propeller, precision is key to ensuring optimal performance. As mentioned, we don't recommend a specific product, and it's up to the individual whether to use antifouling paint. We advise you to seek guidance from your local marine supply store, as there are various products on the market.

The blades should be able to move freely, folding and unfolding without any issues. Therefore, it's crucial to keep parts of the propeller free from antifouling paint to maintain its functionality. Antifoul must not be applied on the gearing, root of the blades, the blade socket or the cover plate.

NOTE: Some brands recommend sanding before applying antifouling paint. Be careful not to sand away too much of the surface, as this can cause an imbalance in the propeller.

For boats that stay in the water all year, it’s important to perform regular service checks and clean the propeller if you notice it's not unfolding or folding as smoothly as usual.

Take the right steps now to get the next sailing season off to the best possible start.