United Kingdom

Brunton's Propellers Ltd

Bruntons Propellers has retro-fitted the 49.3 metre classic topsail schooner Orion of the Seas with new Varifold folding propellers. With a diameter of 45in, (114cm) they are the largest Varifolds produced to date, although the power they handle, at 210hp each, is small for a propeller already proven capable of handling power outputs of over 750hp. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/138131/image/large-fad2aeeed24cbf1146786e2f8bb48d7d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/138131">A spokesman of the company said, “A growing number of classic yacht owners are discovering the substantial improvements that fitting a Varifold can bring. It was during a recent refit that ‘Orion’s’ owner took the opportunity to rectify a problem which was causing considerable annoyance and is a common reason for the growing replacement of some propellers with Varifolds – noise and vibration. The yacht also did not perform as well as was hoped under power but, while this was not of major concern, the fact that her flat bladed feathering props created excessive noise and vibration certainly was.” Since the new Varifolds have been fitted, the noise and vibration levels have been improved considerably. Sound levels when cruising at 1200 rpm have fallen in the owners’ bedroom from 59.5db to an almost silent 47db. Cruising at 2000rpm they have fallen from 69.1db to 58.1db. Little vibration is now transmitted into the vessel, which being of a steel framed, wood planked hull construction also speaks volumes for the efficiency of the propellers. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/138132/image/large-3e9c38256ff37ec2c6f442471c5ff8c9.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/138132">Although performance was not a major issue the new propellers have been able to produce improvement here also, showing that considerably less noise and vibration does not have to be bought at the expense of reduced performance. <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4394">Orion</a> is now making 11.7 knots at 2,700rpm compared with 11.2 knots before, while at her maximum revs of 2,880rpm she now reaches 13 knots. <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4394">Orion of the Seas</a> was designed by Charles E Nicholson, built by Camper &amp; Nicholson and launched in 1910. Bruntons Propellers Ltd David Sheppard +44 (0)1255 420005 <a href="mailto:david@bruntons-propellers.com?subject=Bruntons%20Propellers%20on%20SuperYachtTimes.com">david@bruntons-propellers.com</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruntons-propellers.com">www.bruntons-propellers.com</a> By Merijn de Waard

Orion of the Seas gets the largest Varifold folding propellers to date

Brunton’s Propellers Limited, a leading manufacture of custom designed propellers, including sailboat propeller brands Varifold and Autoprop, has announced the opening of its new sales office in Italy. Bruntons Italia, which is located in Viareggio, will offer the same personal service and attention to detail as that provided by the staff at the companies head office. It’s highly skilled and multi-disciplined management team has decades of experience in the yachting and superyacht industry and is headed by Giuliano Tofani. David Sheppard of Brunton’s Propellers Ltd said: “We have seen increased levels of enquiries for our product range in Italy and our new sales office will be instrumental in advancing enquiries to orders by having direct contact with boatyards, boat dealers and end users.” Brunton’s Propellers Limited, which was founded in 1868, claims to be the only propeller company in the world dedicated to supplying low noise propulsion solutions for sailing yachts from 8m to 80m and motor yachts from 24m to 100m. The company recently delivered their largest Varifold propeller to date, to Perini Navi for their Philippe Briand designed 38m Sloop. Brunton’s Italia will be responsible for all marketing and sales aspects of the Autoprop, Varifold, fixed bladed, and Superyacht propulsion systems. The new company will be exhibiting for the first time at the Genoa Boat Show this October, and can be found on stand No Pad. C Terreno - U39 <noscript></noscript>

Bruntons opens Italian sales office

Bruntons Propellers have delivered their largest Varifold propeller to date to Perini Navi. The 40" propeller is 4" larger than the previous largest Varifold, a 36" model used to propel the Baltic Yachts 147. Perini are fitting the propeller to the new 38 metre sloop (<a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/44">C.2104</a>) they are building to the design of Philip Briand. This 38 metre has been designed as a performance cruising yacht and many designers and builders now see Varifold as an excellent alternative to a CPP propeller installation on yachts of this type, offering as it does, significant advantages where weight is a major consideration. Weight saving is however only one of the advantages as Adrian Miles, Managing Director of Bruntons explains:- " Varifolds unique design brings with it the ability to handle power outputs way in excess of anything previously available from a folding propeller. Currently we have demonstrated we can produce a propeller that will handle 750hp and our research and development team, in conjunction with SPW GmbH, are working on designs for power levels in excess of this. Not only can it deliver the power and produce excellent performance, Varifold does it with the lowest possible levels of noise and vibration. When you consider that many sailing yachts today are able to use their generators to provide power to thrusters etc in close quarters manoeuvring situations, the complexity, weight, service requirements and cost of a CPP unit on a performance sailing yacht could be considered an unnecessary luxury." Although 4" larger than the unit supplied to Baltic Yachts the Varifold being fitted to the Perini 38 will 'only' be handling an engine of 400hp, well within the known capabilities of this impressive propeller, which is now regularly fitted, not only by Baltic but Swan, Wally, Oyster and Southern Wind.