3-bladed props for OS160FX

[David Lockhart]

Bill,

I think quite slim.

I've known Fred Burgdorf at APC since he started making props.  I'm not
privvy to exact production costs or sales volumes, but the production costs
for the molds on a 3 blader are much higher than an equivalent load 2 blade.
And I believe the sales volume of the pattern sized 3 and 4 blade props is
probably below or maybe at investment cost.  I'd guess the average 3 or 4
blade pattern APC prop has sold on the order of 200 copies - while props
like the 17-12 and 16.5-12W have sold on the order of thousands - that does
not lend to a money making scenario for any additional 3/4 blade pattern
props.  I know Fred would rather "mimic" a given 3 blade with a super wide
blade 2 blade prop (because of production costs) than make another 3 blade
prop.  I believe all of the APC molds are CNC milled solid aluminum blocks -
you can imagine how much larger the mold for a 3 blade is compared to a 2
blade, and aside from the simple size difference, I believe maintaining the
integrity of the mold and the injection process becomes more difficult as
well (I'd guess someone on this list might have more insight than this
Environmental Consultant).

If enough requests to apcprop.com were made, maybe another prop would make
it to production - I'd be happy to provide the prop for the mold <G>.

Regards,

Dave

----- Original Message -----
From: "William C. Harden" <flyinbill1 at bellsouth.net>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 8:18 PM
Subject: RE: 3-bladed props for OS160FX


> Dave,
>
> What is the possibility that we can get APC to make the 3-blade prop
> that we want??  It seems it would be in their best interest to do so.
>
> Bill Harden
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]
> On Behalf Of David Lockhart
> Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 6:55 PM
> To: discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: Re: 3-bladed props for OS160FX
>
> Claudio,
>
> Below I've posted some info I've written before - I think most of it has
> been on this discussion list before.  In short, progressive twisting is
> not
> needed - a single twist near the root is sufficient.
>
> ions.
>
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