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The future…

Darglow continues to grow each year but will always put its core values at the forefront of future plans:

To supply products of the highest possible quality, backed up by in-depth knowledge and the best possible customer care by a small friendly team who take a pride in what they do.

We look forward to hearing from you…

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1970s

1980s

2000s

2010s

1970s

Darglow was born!

1972
Darglow was born...

Darglow was born...

Company founders Richard Hares and Jim Pearce started Darglow in a small unit at Cobb’s Quay Marina, Poole Harbour on the South Coast of England. Both were engineers and Richard also a keen sailor. Initially they undertook all aspects of general marine engineering work and were distributors of marine engines and equipment. They began to specialise in engine re-fits and also started to manufacture shafts and stern gear.

1978

Darglow Folding Props...

Darglow began manufacturing 2 blade bronze folding propellers and these were very popular selling over 4000 before ceasing production in 1998!

1980s

Darglow become UK Max-Prop Distributors...

1980
Darglow become UK Max-Prop Distributors...

Darglow become UK Max-Prop Distributors...

Darglow began to supply the Italian manufactured Max-prop feathering propellers and were the UK distributors until 2018. During this time we supplied thousands of Max-Props. We continue to run a busy repair and reconditioning service for Max-Prop, we hold records of all the propellers we supplied and still supply spare parts and aftersales advice to Max-Prop owners.

1989
JF Propeller...

JF Propeller...

Being a keen sailor, Richard realised that there were many boats where a Max-Prop or a folding propeller could not fit due to its long hub. He found a company in Sweden that could supply a simple short hub feathering propeller which could fit in to these tight spaces typically found on classic long keel boats. Darglow began to supply this J.F. feathering propeller and supplied several hundred up until 2004 when the Swedish supplier ceased trading.

2000s

FeatherStream was born...

2002

Site move...

Darglow moved to larger premises at Wareham.

2004
Project X and Flexofold...

Project X and Flexofold...

Work began on developing a new, improved version of the J.F. propeller that would become the Featherstream propeller, but this would take some time as we wanted to incorporate the best features of all we had learned about feathering propellers. At the same time, Darglow began to sell the Danish Flex-o-fold folding propeller which has become very popular especially with modern lighter yachts. We now have a busy sales, spares and repairs team dealing with Flex-o-fold propellers.

2008
FeatherStream Production..

FeatherStream Production..

Full scale production of Featherstream feathering propellers began. Using a lost wax investment casting process, the best possible grades of bronze and stainless steel and incorporating a novel pitch adjustment system this rapidly became our best-selling propeller to date. From its beginnings as a niche product for boats with restricted space for the propeller it has become hugely popular with all kinds of sailing yachts and is exported all over the world.

2010s

Recruitment and Fixed Props...

2011
Fixed Props...

Fixed Props...

Darglow started a fixed propeller repair and sales service headed up by Brian Bates. The quality of the repair work and the depth propeller knowledge shared with customers has quickly led to the substantial growth of this side of the business.

2012
Saildrives...

Saildrives...

Sail-drive Featherstream propellers 3 and 4 blade versions launched!!

2013
Adaptor Plates...

Adaptor Plates...

Adaptor plate system developed to make standard Sail-drive Featherstream propellers fully compatible with rope-cutters on all Sail-drives with no machining or modification required!

2018
Recruitment...

Recruitment...

Darglow begin apprentice schemes to invest in the younger generation of future propeller experts :)

2019
A-Hub Saildrive...

A-Hub Saildrive...

Small hub Sail-drive Featherstream model launched as a less expensive alternative for smaller Sail-drive applications up to 16” diameter.