3 Blade S/S - 4 Blade S/S

[mattbo505]

Hey guys i have a 16' Sea Chaser 90hp E-tec I currently have a 3 Blade S/S Viper prop unsure of the pitch on it came with the boat but i tried out a 4 blade S/S yesterday and the results were very different. Faster hole shot which is why i tried it but i always thought its was a toss up of hole shot vs. top end speed. I benefited in both areas gained about 6-7 mph and about 10 less ft out of the hole. The reason for the swap is obviously a better tuned boat but also a faster hole shot to get out of skinny water as i can't jump to a plain on anything less than 20-25" of water. I guess my question is could my boat have been over propped? And how much difference overall will the 4 blade make over the 3 blade? Should i consider a jack plate as well?

 

[Philster]

Re: 3 Blade S/S - 4 Blade S/S

Too much conjecture without knowing what we are comparing the new SS prop to. The old SS prop is a mystery at this point.

You could have been wrongly propped (more than just pitch was wrong), or simpy over propped or under propped.

At what RPM range is your engine supposed to top out at, and at what RPM range is it topping out at now with the new SS prop? I ask because -- lacking this information -- we have no idea if you are even propped correctly right now!

A jackplate with a 4-blader, in what seems to be shallow waters, does make many a boater happy. It's depends on how much shallow water you run in and how often you are gonna be raising the engine to get prop chopping at the top of the water.

 

[mattbo505]

Re: 3 Blade S/S - 4 Blade S/S

Hey Philster thanks for the input! I am new to the idea of prop changing and all as i have never considered it until a friend of mine suggested it. I will get back out on the water and get some numbers recorded as soon as the 4 blade s/s comes back from the shop. Thanks again.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 3 Blade S/S - 4 Blade S/S

Don't forget the numbers on both props also would be excellent to have performance numbers for both props.