To: PYI

Just a short note to thank all those involved in helping to find my problem with the Max Prop. It is nice to know that in this day and age you can still find a company and employees who understand what "service" is. Keep up the good work.

Regards,

Barry Girard

Dear Mr. Laffitte:

Thank you for your assistance, advice, and patience. I am completely satisfied with my Max Prop. You and your company reflect what businesses today "should" be like. My wife originally ordered the composite version for my birthday present. You were out of stock and the order did not arrive as scheduled by your supplier. I had my boat scheduled to be hauled and worked on so you shipped anyway supplying me with the bronze at no additional cost.

I pitched the prop as advised. In initial trials I panicked because the forward speed appeared to be down 1.5 to 2 knots and the engine would only reach the max rpm after about 20 seconds. I re-pitched the prop down to the next low setting and then REALLY panicked with the performance.

You were very patient and gave me good advise; re-pitched to original setting, checked the sailing performance - excellent, checked the acceleration and top end - good, repaired my knot meter, and motored with another Catalina 28.

My forward performance is a little less than the other 28. If he turns 2900 I need to turn 3000 to match big deal ! When I turn my motor off and sail he drops anchor ( so to speak ). The sail performance is astonishing.

Thank you ! I would recommend your company and product to anyone.

Regards

Brian D. Lawrence
"Spray" Catalina 28 #192

Subject: Performance update on Free Spirit From: Captain Gordie Morris
Dear Kevin,

I wanted to take a moment to let you know how Max Prop has effected Free Spirit's performance. You may recall, Free Spirit is a 30 year old 48' Nicol design, ketch rigged, (cold molded), trimaran, at 11 tons of displacement. We sail her over 5000 miles annually in Hawaiian waters, cruising to most of the islands every year for the past 17 years. Over the past 5 years, in our quest to enhance performance we have modified her keel, rudder, and sail plan (which is currently 930 sq. ft.). Everything has helped. With these modifications her speed increased, she now tacks like a monohull, and she's pointing to 55 degrees, (at times). However, none of this prepared us for what the Max Prop has done. Down wind in 25 knots, 6-8 ft. seas, we have cut our 11 hour trek from Honolua Bay on the north east shore of Maui to our slip in the Ala Wai from 11 hours to 9hrs and 15 minutes. Coming home from Kona on the Big Island in December, (our first cruise after installing the prop), we were close hauled under full sail in 30 knot winds and 8 to 10 foot seas crossing the Alenuihaha Cannel averaging 10 to 12 knots, the crew screaming with excitement. I never would have expected such a change. Best we can determine, we've increased performance to weather about 5 degrees and speed by nearly 20%. Plus, no more prop walk in reverse. Get a little way on and she backs wherever you point her. These results probably don't surprise you, but just in case you haven't heard from a tri-cruiser in the past, the best way to describe the change is to imagine that for 29 years Free Spirit has been dragging a 55 gallon drum and suddenly we reached down and severed the tow. I highly recommend Max Prop to anyone, but most especially to every trimaran. Don't hesitate to refer questions to me at XXXXXXX or email at XXXXXXX.

Thanks for the boost. Aloha!

Captain Gordie Morris

Gentlemen:

Aside from the problems and details associated with the installation of the three blade propeller purchased from you last year, I wish to report that it is now on the boat, and fully checked out.

The power and sailing performance of your propeller is all that you claim, and exceeds our expectations. We are very pleased with the obvious improvement in the performance of our Nassau 34.

Thank you again for your patience in working out our problems. You have an excellent product.

Sincerely,

Ralph B. Krueger

Dear Gentlemen,

Outfitting our lancer 36 with, per your recommendation, the 15", 3 blade was a good move. We've traveled 2500 miles from Bay City, Michigan to Titusville, Florida- most of it under power. Your Max Prop really made a difference, especially when maneuvering and backing down in the 75 locks we transited through Canada?s Trent-Severn and the Erie, when powering through heavy waves crossing Lake Ontario and the Port Royal Sound, and when transiting wind-opposing-current waves at Manasquan Inlet & Cape May Inlets. Thanks!

David A. Flanders aboard "Sandpiper"

Dear Sirs,

If anyone ever is dubious about the strength of the Max Prop mechanism, you might want to show them this letter.

A few weeks ago a Little Harbor 54 was coming into Philadelphia from New Zealand as deck cargo on a container ship. She was supposed to have been offloaded into the water and then come to our yard to be rigged.

As they were lifting the yacht off the ship a sling broke, dropping her ten feet or so onto the concrete. The 31 ton yacht fell stern first, destroying the rudder, causing extensive hull damage and breaking one blade of the three-blade Max Prop.

Believe it or not, the Max Prop mechanism still works perfectly!

The yacht is several years old and has been cruised ten of thousands of miles, but the Max prop works as smoothly as if it had just been installed. And that is after taking an impact sufficient to snap one blade like a potato chip.

That is one hell of a piece of machinery!

Sincerely,

Peter Vanadia
Philadelphia Marine Services

Gentlemen:

The Max propeller herein enclosed represents one of the finest improvements I made to my sailboat when she was new. It has functioned flawlessly for over eight years, which is more than can be said for the majority of marine products.

About ten years ago, my vessel, while under sail only, struck an unmarked, submerged object resulting in a bent rudder and propeller shaft. Although the propeller itself appears undamaged, I thought it prudent to have your firm inspect it thoroughly before returning it to service.

Thank you for providing the marine community with a truly quality product.

Sincerely,

H.J. Colombo

Dear Mr. Laffitte:

Just wanted to let you know that it is a real pleasure doing business with your company last week. It's not often that I feel compelled to pat backs, but true service needs to be recognized. Mr. Ken Woody went above and beyond the call of duty to see my needs were met.

I called late Tuesday afternoon for price and availability information on a 15x1 Max Prop. No 15 inch props were in stock but a 16 inch was cut down for me and at a fair price. I received the prop before noon on Thursday so we were able to install it Friday. The instruction was not difficult and we did not need to call Ken, although he said he would be available to help.

My husband is a member of the 500 Waukegan Yacht Club. You can be sure we are both passing the word along about the fine service we received. We'll launch this weekend, so then we'll be able to brag about the efficiency of the prop, too.

Sincerely,

Jackie Baker

Part 1)
Dear Frederic:

Thank you for your help and generosity in getting the Maxi Props for Canvasback. So far, the boat has traveled down to Newport Beach, mostly under power. The motoring performance of the two 24-inch propellers is excellent and reverse performance is really outstanding. Shifting is smooth and I can?t really tell the difference in these feathering props and the previous fixed blades.

By the time we have sailed to Maui and Truk I should be able to tell you how much our sailing speed has increased. Under sail, the props feather and the rotation of the shafts stops completely.

We are very pleased with the Maxi Props and we believe that the increased speed will allow us to have more time to serve the people in the Truk Islands with medical and dental care.

Sincerely,

Jamie Spence
Canvasback Missions Inc.

Part 2)
Dear Frederic:

Canvasback sailed from Newport Beach to Maui in 12 1/2 days in conditions that varied from moderate to light variable, hardly conditions for a record crossing. Yet 12 1/2 days is about a day and a half faster than our average. The Maxi-Props coupled with teamwork and good seaman made the difference. Captain St. Clair sailed the entire crossing, without power, and averaged over seven knots. The boat also tacks much more smartly.

Under power, we really can't tell the difference in the difference in the Max-Props and our previous fixed three blades. But in reverse, the Max?s are awesome! Thanks for a great product.

Sincerely,

Jamie Spence
Canvasback Missions Inc.

Gentlemen:

Last spring I purchased from my local Tartan Dealer a Max Prop for my 1978 Tartan 37. Wee subsequently took the boat from Duluth, MN to Nova Scotia via the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

Your literature states how reverse performance will be improved, and in the case of the Tartan 37 it is hard to believe. Handling the boat in locks, slips, and marinas becomes a pleasure instead of a nightmare. The Max Prop is one of the best investments you can add to a boat and should be offered as an option by all sailboat manufactures.

Sincerely,

Richard H. Heath

Dear Mr. Laffitte:

You said that the three blade Max Prop would be considerably smoother than the two-blade model. I had the props switched yesterday; I would say the three blade prop is dramatically smoother. I motored home from the yard at speeds approaching eight knots with no rattles from the boat and no feeling that my butt would be buzzed to sleep. Moreover, 18 degrees of pitch on the three blade is better matched to the engine than 20 degrees was on the two blade: the Perkins M20 turns right up to 3600 now.

If your goal was a happy customer, you've achieved it. I now have the smooth, strong engine installation I set out to get.

To my mind, the two blade Max Prop is the right prop for those who want a strong reverse with the least drag. For those who want smooth powering, strong reverse, and modest drag, the three blade Max Prop is the only choice.

Thanks again for your help.

William Courington

Dear PYI,

Since I'm not a free flowing writer and procrastinate easily, you have really earned this letter, as my motivation has overwhelmed me.

I'm excited about my new Max Prop. The sailing performance of my Pearson 323 was enhanced measurably. For example:

-I carry more speed thru a tack thus tacking quicker and loosing less speed coming about.
-Acceleration is very noticeably enhanced. On coming about, sheet the jib in and feel the power.
-Weather-helm is reduced I presume because the rudder now has cleaner water-thus more effective.
-Boat speed is greater, I estimate, by knot meter readings and testing with other boats, that the increase is 1/2 to 1 knot. Depending on wind strength.
-Light air performance is like the difference between night and day. The difference is likened to changing from a working-jib to a 150.
-I can make windward progress with main alone. Before, this was not possible in less than 15 knots.
-Safety has been increased because of clean water on the rudder giving more control in preventing broaching, etc.
-My boat is pointing higher on a beat with more speed.
The workmanship of my 3 bladed 16" Max Prop is truly precision. I was impressed which helped justify the price tag.

My fixed prop was a 3 bladed 17" hung on a strut supported shaft. I replaced the fixed prop with Max Props suggested 3-blade 16".

Motoring I find more thrust in reverse and anticipated thud of shifting from forward to reverse is not apparent.

There are a few negatives however:

-Cost! These masterpieces are spendy.
-The initial pitch setting needed re-adjustment and that means waiting till next haul out. Max Prop says you can dive, but my experience suggests it would take two divers and a large bag under the prop to catch falling parts.
-Installation was not super easy, however with a couple of practice dry runs, the handy sailor will do just fine. The grease used in actual installation does obscure the letters though.

Thanks Max Prop for making my boat much more fun and safer.
Sincerely,

Bob Latham

Dear Kevin,

I want to take the opportunity to thank you for the professional work performed in modifying the 24" Max Prop for installation on my 38' Nauticat "Mojodori". Neither of us ever expected that I would encounter a 1 1/2" clearance problem of the propeller to the skeg, when we got the boat hauled out the installation was attempted.

It speaks very highly of your business and professional integrity to so graciously return the propeller to your inventory and refund my money when I returned the propeller to you today. It seems sometimes in today's business world that your approach to your customer's needs is rarely found. I would be pleased to recommend PYI, Inc. To any of your customers that are contemplating purchase of the Max Prop. Whether it be from Max Prop capabilities, or your business ethics, PYI stands out exemplary, and I'd be happy to express my feelings accordingly.

Very truly yours,

John H. Moore

Dear Mr. Laffitte:

Please be aware that I have returned via UPS, the initial Max Prop sent to me. Due to no fault of yours this prop had the wrong shaft diameter.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for sending me a second max prop via Federal Express prepaid so I may meet commissioning deadlines. Next day delivery from Washington to New York (on credit yet) is more than anyone can ask.

Considering I am a first time customer you have certainly gone beyond normal customer relations and service. It gives me great confidence in your company and its products.

Sincerely Yours,

Stuart Kishner

Dear PYI,

Last April I installed a Max Prop on my Fuji 40 and it is the best addition I have made with this boat. I increased my sailing speed about 1 knot over the entire range of sailing conditions and packed up 1 1/4 knots while motoring at various RPM settings. Remarkable.

I pulled my boat a week ago for other reasons and while I had the boat out of the water I repacked the back of the prop with grease. The prop works more smoothly then ever, and everyone in the yard had to play with the prop, going from forward to reverse, etc. I'm pleased!!

Thank You,

Jim Carnevale

Sirs,

I recently put a 12 inch diameter 2 bladed Max-Prop on my L. Francis Hereshoff designed canoe yawl. The prop replaced a 10 inch diameter 3 blade solid prop. Having used the Max-Prop for two months now, I can honestly say that the money spent on the prop is the best money I ever spent on the boat. It took three tries to get the pitch just right (I settled on a 10 inch pitch for my Yanmar 1GM), and the net result is that the boat is one full knot faster under power, but better than that, the sailing performance is outstanding. The old prop was quite close to the balanced rudder and induced an incredible amount of shaking to the rudder up through the tiller. The Max-Prop only has 1/4 inch clearance betweeen the rudder and trailing edge of the prop when feathered but the rudder is quiet now. The reduction in drag allows the boat to carry through tacks and jibes like never before. I am sure the boat is faster under sail, but since I don't race this boat I can't really measure that.

I can't believe that anybody who is even mildly concerned about their sailboats all around performance would not be using one of your props. The engineering and machining seems to be superb.

Regards,

Dave Forsman