Flexofold · Propeller

Flexofold folding propellers

Flexofold in Vejle, Denmark, has built folding propellers for sailing yachts since its first prop in 1993 and has belonged to Yanmar Marine International since 2017. The range covers 2-, 3- and 4-blade props for shafts and saildrives, with hub and blades in ALCARO aluminium bronze or as Composite versions with a composite hub. Gears link the blades so they open together under power and fold under sail; the gearing is water-lubricated and takes no grease in service. Many Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Hanse and X-Yachts boats leave the yard with one, and the same hub can later take new blades with a different pitch.

Manuals & documents

The links go straight to Flexofold. We host no manuals or drawings — the manufacturer’s copy is the current one.

Wear parts & part numbers

PartOEM numberAlso fitsNote
Propeller anode1122,3,4,5Martyr CMPNFXZ1Zinc, for salt water. Single nut anode for every 3-blade prop (saildrive and shaft), the 2-blade LA saildrive (closed gearing) and 4-blade props up to 23″. About 0.5 kg, M8 screw with Dri-Loc, 6 mm Allen key, 10 Nm. UK dealer Darglow sells it as 1FF01. The Martyr zinc is listed for the 3-blade by one dealer only.
Propeller anode1176,3—Aluminium, for fresh water: the same fit as no. 112 (3-blade, 2-blade LA, 4-blade up to 23″). About 0.2 kg, 6 mm Allen key.
Propeller anode1167,6—Zinc, for 4-blade props of 25″ and larger; about 1 kg, 6 mm Allen key. Flexofold lists no aluminium version for this size.
Propeller anode1148,9—Zinc pair, for salt water, for the standard 2-blade saildrive prop with open gearing. About 60 g each, screws with Dri-Loc, 5 mm Allen key.
Propeller anode11810—Aluminium pair, for fresh water: the same fit as no. 114 (standard 2-blade saildrive, open gearing). About 25 g each, 5 mm Allen key.
Propeller anode11912,11Lindemann MA0104311Zinc pair, for salt water, for every 2-blade Composite saildrive prop: one anode sits in each blade. About 65 g each, 5 mm Allen key. Lindemann MA01043 is the same pair (its catalogue cites no. 119).
Propeller anode12013—Aluminium pair, for fresh water: the same fit as no. 119 (2-blade Composite saildrive). About 23 g each.
Propeller nutV100814,5—Kit for M16x2 saildrives: nut, tab washer and M8x20 locking screw. For Yanmar SD20, SD25 and SD31 and for Volvo Penta and Bukh saildrives; fits the Flexofold hubs SD, SD2A16 (LA), SD2C16 (Composite), SD3 and SD4. Nut 70 Nm.
Propeller nutV101015,5—Kit for M20x2 saildrives: nut, tab washer and M8x20 locking screw. For Yanmar SD40, SD50 and SD60, Vetus SD10 and Nanni SD12; fits the Flexofold hubs SD40, SD33, SD4, SD2A20 (LA) and SD2C20 (Composite). Nut 90 Nm.
Propeller nutV104616,5—M20x2 kit for the large SD15 and SD150 saildrives: nut, tab washer and M8x20 locking screw; fits the SD3Z25 and SD4Z25 hubs. Nut 135 Nm.
Propeller tab washerV101217,5—Tab washer and M8x20 hex locking screw with Dri-Loc for every Flexofold saildrive hub (Yanmar SD20/25/31/40/50/60, Volvo Penta, Bukh, Technodrive SP60, Vetus SD10, Nanni SD12). Screw 15 Nm. Fit a new set whenever the prop has been off: the Dri-Loc works only once.
Propeller hardware kitV101418,9—Pivot pin kit for the standard 2-blade saildrive prop: 2 pivot pins Ø14, 2 tapered M8x25 locking screws with Dri-Loc and a hex key. Screws 12 Nm.
Propeller hardware kitV100619,3—Pivot pin kit for 3-blade saildrive hubs: 3 pivot pins Ø16, 3 tapered M8x25 locking screws, 3 cover-plate screws (all with Dri-Loc), 5 and 6 mm hex keys.
Propeller hardware kitV108220,21—Pivot pin kit for the 4-blade SD4Z25 saildrive hub: 4 pivot pins Ø16, 4 tapered M8x25 locking screws, 4 M6x16 cover-plate screws, 5 and 6 mm hex keys.
Propeller hardware kitV108422,23—Pivot pin kit for the 2-blade LA saildrive hubs SD2A16/SD2A20 and the 2-blade RA shaft hubs 25-2A, 30-2A, 35-2A and 40-2A: 2 pivot pins Ø16, 2 tapered M8x25 locking screws, 2 cover-plate screws, hex keys.
Propeller hardware kitV103724,25—Pivot pin kit for the 2-blade ISO shaft hub on 25 and 30 mm shafts: 2 pivot pins Ø14, 2 tapered M8x25 locking screws, 1 shaft-nut locking screw DIN 916 M8x16 A4, hex keys.
Propeller hardware kitV103626,27—Pivot pin kit for the 3-blade ISO shaft hub on 25 to 45 mm shafts: 3 pivot pins Ø16, 3 tapered M8x25 locking screws, 3 cover-plate screws, 1 shaft-nut locking screw M8x16 A4, 4/5/6 mm hex keys.
Propeller hardware kitV108528,29—Pivot pin kit for the 4-blade ISO shaft hub on 35 to 55 mm shafts with Ø16 pins: 4 pivot pins, 4 tapered M8x25 locking screws, 4 M6x16 cover-plate screws, 1 shaft-nut locking screw M8x16 A4, hex keys.
Propeller hardware kitV1059-130—Pivot pin kit for the larger Ø130 4-blade hub on 40 to 55 mm ISO shafts: as V1085 but with Ø18 pivot pins. Check the pin diameter before you order.
Shock absorbersV110231,32—Shock absorbers, set of 2 (medium), for 2-blade props. The 2-blade Composite takes V1107, the very first props the round V1109. Replace as a set.
Shock absorbersV110333,32—Shock absorbers, set of 3 (medium), for 3-blade props; the very first props take the round V1110. Replace as a set.
Shock absorbersV110434—Shock absorbers, set of 4 (medium), for 4-blade props up to 23″.
Shock absorbersV110635—Shock absorbers, set of 4 (large), for 4-blade props from 25″.
Shock absorbersV110736—Shock absorbers, set of 4, for every 2-blade Composite prop: 2 click into the blades, 2 into the hub.
Shock absorbersV110937—Round shock absorbers, set of 2, that fit only some of the very first 2-blade props; Flexofold asks for a photo if you are unsure.
Shock absorbersV111038—Round shock absorbers, set of 3, for some of the very first 3-blade props.
Protective cover plate11339,3—Protective cover plate (gear cover and anode base) for 3-blade Classic props up to 23″; M6x16 screws with Dri-Loc included, 5 mm Allen key, 5 Nm.
Protective cover plate12140—Protective cover plate for 3-blade Classic props of 24″ and more; the shop lists it as T031N002 with item no. 121.
Protective cover plate12241,23—Protective cover (gear cover and anode base) for every 2-blade LA Classic prop (closed gearing); M6x16 screws included.
Protective cover plate12342,43—Clip-on gear cover for every 2-blade Composite prop, fitted by hand without tools.
Propeller pullerT01K04844,45—Prop puller (tool) for every Flexofold shaft prop, with forks for 2, 3 and 4 blades; it pushes against the pivot pins when the hub is stuck on the cone.

Numbers checked against the sources below on 12 October 2026. Always confirm against your serial number and exact type before ordering.

Service intervals

TaskInterval
PropellerBefore every trip: check that the prop drives ahead and astern; stop at once at any unusual noise or vibration3
AnodeCheck regularly, afloat too; replace once about half is gone, it has lost its rounded shape or the surface is breaking up32
Full serviceAt every haul-out or just before launching: strip, descale, clean and polish. Boats afloat all year: whenever the blades open or fold sluggishly32
Shock absorbersCheck at every service; replace the whole set if one is cracked, out of shape or visibly damaged32
LubricationNone in service (water-lubricated); after a full clean, a little lanolin on the pivot pins and pin holes only32

From Flexofold’s maintenance guide and its installation guides (2024–2026). Flexofold ties these jobs to haul-outs and trips, not to engine hours.

Specifications

ModelsSaildrive: 2-blade Classic (open gearing), 2-blade LA (closed gearing), 2-blade Composite, 3-blade, 3-blade Composite, 3- and 4-blade on SD15 hubs, Racing 2-blade. Shaft: 2-blade, 2-blade RA, 3-blade, 4-blade46
Propeller sizesSaildrive: 2-blade 13–18″, LA 14–22″, 2-blade Composite 14–18″, 3-blade 14–20″, 3-blade Composite 16–20″, SD15 hubs up to 26″ (3-blade) and 27″ (4-blade), Racing 16″ and 17″. Shaft: 2-blade 12–20″, RA 14–20″, 3-blade 13–26″, 4-blade 15–27″. The article number reads diameter × pitch – blades + rotation: 19x13-3L is 19″ diameter, 13″ pitch, 3 blades, left-hand46,47
SaildriveFits Yanmar, Volvo Penta, Lombardini, Technodrive, ZF and Torqeedo Deep Blue saildrives, Selva with an adapter. The nut thread decides the hub: M16x2 (kit V1008), M20x2 (V1010; V1046 for the SD15) or M16x1.5 on Lombardini48,5
MountingShaft props: ISO (1:10 taper), SAE (1:16) and IMP (1:12) cones, left- or right-hand49
Propeller nut torquePropeller nut, saildrive: M16x2 (SD, SD2A16, SD2C16, SD3, Technodrive) 70 Nm; M20x2 (SD40/50/60, SD33, SD2A20, SD2C20, SD3C M20) 90 Nm; SD Z25 (SD15) 135 Nm; Lombardini M16x1.5 60 Nm. Shaft (examples): ISO Ø25 mm 70 Nm, Ø30 mm 135 Nm, Ø35/40 mm 250 Nm, Ø45 mm 350 Nm; SAE 1″ and 1-1/8″ 125 Nm, SAE 1-1/4″ 160 Nm. No threadlocker on the propeller nut5
Tightening torquesScrews: pivot-pin locking screw M8x25 (tapered) 12 Nm · saildrive nut locking screw M8x20 15 Nm · anode screw M8 10 Nm · cover-plate screw M6 5 Nm · locking screw of the shaft-hub nut M8x10 10 Nm5
Direction of rotationLeft- and right-hand versions. Saildrives usually turn left; a catamaran may run one counter-rotating prop. The 3-blade Composite comes left-hand only50
MaterialClassic: hub and blades in ALCARO aluminium bronze (copper with 8–12.5 % aluminium plus nickel and iron). Composite: composite hub that electrolysis does not attack51
DimensionsSaildrive hub length: 2- and 3-blade 135 mm, SD2A (LA) 137 mm, SD2C 143 mm, SD3C 147 mm, SD3z25/SD4z25 170/172 mm below 23″ and 185 mm from 23″. Tip clearance to the hull: about 15 % of the diameter as a rule of thumb, though 8–10 mm can work52
Weight2-blade Composite: 2.8 kg lighter than the standard 2-blade folding prop; 3-blade Composite: 2 kg lighter than the standard 3-blade53
LubricationWater-lubricated gearing: no oil or grease in service3
Warranty3 years from delivery on defects in design, material or workmanship; wear and corrosion are not covered, and incorrect fitting voids it9
Years builtFirst propeller 1993 (company founded in Denmark in 1992); part of Yanmar Marine International since 1 December 201754

Good to know

  • The prop folds once the shaft stops. With a mechanical gearbox, stop the engine and put it in reverse. With a hydraulic gearbox, shift into reverse while the boat still moves ahead and the engine is running, then stop the engine.55
  • No grease in service: it holds sand and shell grit in the gearing. Only after a full clean, when the parts are dry, put a dab of lanolin on the pivot pins and pin holes.32
  • Antifouling is optional. If you paint, keep it off the gear teeth, the blade roots, the blade sockets in the hub and the cover plate: painted gears can stop the blades opening fully, and paint on the cover plate cuts the anode’s contact.32
  • To descale, take the anode off, strip the prop and soak hub and blades for up to 8 hours in coffee-machine descaler. Then polish by hand or with a felt disc, using fine steel wool (not scouring pads) and brass polish; sandpaper can unbalance the blades. Keep mineral oil and petrol off the prop, and no harsh chemicals on saildrive hubs: they can damage the friction clutch.32
  • The screws come with Dri-Loc, an underwater threadlocker that works only once: refitting under water, use new pre-coated screws; ashore you can reuse them with a medium-strength blue threadlocker such as Loctite 243. Never put threadlocker on the propeller nut. On a saildrive the tab washer holds it, bent down over the nut and up over the locking screw.56,57
  • The hub name you need for torques and spares (e.g. SD33, SD2A16, ISO 30-3) is printed on the box the prop came in. Keep a photo of it with the boat papers.3

Fitted in

Boats whose builder lists it as standard or optional equipment:

  • Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 — Flex-o-Fold (Option in every list from 2013 to 2022: three-blade folding propeller)
  • Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 — Flex-o-Fold (Option in the lists from November 2019 to September 2023: three-blade folding propeller)

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Sources

  1. budgetmarine.com/catalog/engines-outboards/anodes/zinc/anode-flex-o-fold-3bld-sgl-hole-zi…
  2. shop.flexofold.com/products/anode-zink-112
  3. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/3-blade%20US%20SD33_2024-1.pdf
  4. darglow.co.uk/product/flexofold-anode-3b-1ff01/
  5. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/Tightening%20Torques%20for%20Nuts-2.pdf
  6. shop.flexofold.com/products/anode-alu
  7. shop.flexofold.com/products/anode-zink-116
  8. shop.flexofold.com/products/anode-2pcs-zinc-114
  9. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/2-blade%20US%20SDz_2024-1.pdf
  10. shop.flexofold.com/products/anode-2pcs-alu-118
  11. lindemann-kg.de/en/products/13/Anoden/Flex-O-Fold
  12. shop.flexofold.com/products/anode-2pcs-zinc-119
  13. shop.flexofold.com/products/anode-2pcs-alu-120
  14. shop.flexofold.com/products/shaft-nut-kit-v1008
  15. shop.flexofold.com/products/shaft-nut-kit-v1010
  16. shop.flexofold.com/products/shaft-nut-kit-v1046-sd
  17. shop.flexofold.com/products/tab-washer-shaft-nut-locking-screw-kit-v1012
  18. shop.flexofold.com/products/kit-v1014
  19. shop.flexofold.com/products/kit-v1006
  20. shop.flexofold.com/products/kit-v1082-for-saildrive
  21. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/4-blade%20US%20SD4z25_2024-1.pdf
  22. shop.flexofold.com/products/kit-v1084-for-la-and-ra-models
  23. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/2-blade%20US%20LA%20Model_2024.pdf
  24. shop.flexofold.com/products/kit-iso-25-30
  25. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/2-blade%20US%20shaft_2024-1.pdf
  26. shop.flexofold.com/products/kit-iso-3-blade-hub
  27. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/3-blade%20US%20shaft_2024-1.pdf
  28. shop.flexofold.com/products/kit-v1085-iso-4-blade-35-40-45-50-55
  29. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/4-blade%20US%20Shaft_2025.pdf
  30. shop.flexofold.com/products/kit-v1059-1-iso-4-blade-40-45-50-55
  31. shop.flexofold.com/products/shock-absorbers-2-blade-flexofold-v1102-medium
  32. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/en/how-do-i-maintain-my-flexofold-propeller
  33. shop.flexofold.com/products/shock-absorbers-3-blade-flexofold-medium
  34. shop.flexofold.com/products/shock-absorbers-for-flexofold-4-blade-medium-v1104
  35. shop.flexofold.com/products/shock-absorbers-for-flexofold-4-blade-large-v1106
  36. shop.flexofold.com/products/shock-absorbers-for-flexofold-composite
  37. shop.flexofold.com/products/round-shock-absorber-2-blade-older-model-v1109
  38. shop.flexofold.com/products/round-shock-absorber-3-blade-very-old-model-v1110
  39. shop.flexofold.com/products/protective-cover-113
  40. shop.flexofold.com/products/protective-cover-031n002
  41. shop.flexofold.com/products/protective-cover-for-la-propeller
  42. shop.flexofold.com/products/protective-cover-for-composite-propeller
  43. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/2-blade%20US%20SD2C_2024-2.pdf
  44. shop.flexofold.com/products/prop-puller
  45. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/How%20to%20use%20the%20prop%20puller.pdf
  46. flexofold.com/folding-propellers/saildrive-propellers
  47. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/What%20does%20the%20Flexofold%20art.%20no.%20mean-1.pdf
  48. flexofold.com/folding-propellers/saildrive-propellers/2-blade-saildrive-folding-propeller
  49. flexofold.com/folding-propellers/shaft-propellers/3-blade-shaft-folding-propeller
  50. flexofold.com/folding-propellers/saildrive-propellers/3-blade-saildrive-composite-folding…
  51. flexofold.com/benefits/prop-material
  52. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/hubfs/Will%20the%20propeller%20be%20able%20to%20fit%20%28spac…
  53. flexofold.com/folding-propellers/saildrive-propellers/2-blade-saildrive-composite-folding…
  54. flexofold.com/about-flexofold
  55. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/en/how-do-i-operate-my-flexofold-propeller
  56. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/en/can-i-install-a-flexofold-propeller-under-water
  57. knowledgebase.flexofold.com/en/how-to-bend-the-tab-washer

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