Flexofold has appointed Scandinavian Marine Supplies as distributor for its sailing-yacht propellers across Australia and New Zealand. The agreement gives the regional company responsibility for sales support, technical advice and after-sales service across the Danish manufacturer's folding-propeller range.
The appointment is relevant to the 12-to-23.99-metre sailing-yacht sector because Flexofold systems are used both by private owners and by production builders. The company lists yards including Beneteau, Dehler, Elan, Grand Soleil, Hanse, J/Boats, Malö, Najad, Swan and X-Yachts among users of its products.
Folding propellers target lower drag under sail
Flexofold designs its propeller blades to fold back when the yacht is sailing, reducing the underwater drag created by a fixed propeller. When the engine is engaged, the blades open to provide ahead and astern thrust for manoeuvring and motoring.
The range includes shaft and saildrive configurations with different blade counts, diameters and pitch options. Selecting the correct unit depends on the yacht's engine, gearbox or saildrive ratio, hull characteristics and intended performance rather than simply matching shaft diameter.
Scandinavian Marine adds local technical support
The new distributor will provide Australian and New Zealand customers with product advice, supply and after-sales support. That local layer matters because propeller specification errors can affect engine loading, acceleration, stopping performance and vibration.
Scandinavian Marine already supplies a range of specialist sailing and marine-equipment brands. Adding Flexofold extends its propulsion offering and gives boatyards and yacht owners a regional contact rather than requiring all product support to be handled directly from Denmark.
Flexofold remains designed and manufactured in Denmark
Flexofold was founded in 1992 and continues to design and manufacture its propellers at its dedicated factory in Vejle, Denmark. Yanmar Marine International acquired the company in 2017, but Flexofold continues to operate under its own brand and Danish corporate identity.
The manufacturer sells both directly to boatbuilders and through distribution channels serving private owners and service yards. Its international dealer network is therefore central to supporting existing installations as well as supplying propellers for new yachts.
Australia and New Zealand gain a single regional route
The new arrangement gives both countries a common distributor for the full Flexofold range and related spare parts. For owners cruising between Australia and New Zealand, that should make technical support and replacement-part sourcing more consistent across the region.
It also gives local yards another propulsion option for sailing-yacht refits where reducing drag is a priority. As with any propeller change, owners should confirm the final specification against engine and drivetrain requirements rather than assuming a folding design is a direct one-for-one replacement.
