3 blade to 4 blade

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Mr. Gunner,
I love your opinions on this site but have to ask about your Quote on the bottom... Did you realy mean to say Stickley or are you forgetting the R & T(Strictly) also it would be 'AN opinion' not 'A opinion'.
I know we're talking boats not GrAmmAr. chastise me as you see fit

Good question...I guess your getting some milage out a opinion..

 

[ken52]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Dude what happened? Everyone suggested a 4 blade to meet your needs and boom you're getting a 3 blade...?
I went from 3 blade 17P to 4 blade 17P (not enough torq) then to 4 blade 15P. All I do is pull toys & people around. All my props have been Aluminum. The 15P 4 blade is awesome, now It's time for the final upgrade to SS. You should really consider the 4 blade Solas Amita

Trswenson, since my original post I replaced control cables and sprayed sea foam into cylinders to do a partial decarb. Boat ran better than ever before and hit almost 6K rpms and probably could have gone a little higher.

After talking to a prop shop he told me I would suffer on fuel usage and I would only be able to drop down about 300 rpms. So to me the trade-off of using more fuel and dropping 300 rpms just didn't seem good enough reason.

So thats why the change. Believe me I'm still a little confused.

 

[GunHoInc]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Took the 4 blade prop for a spin today. Much better than I expected! It drops the bow like a hammer, and feels like it corners on rails. In the straight away I can still hit 40 mph if it's not too windy. Forgot to check the RPMs though. Water was rough today and my wife didn't want to be out in the chop. And my son sided with her because he didn't think he'd get any tube time. Sucks spendng a ton of cash making an old boat run better than it did new, and can't get any wheel time because the wife is scared to leave the river.

I think I should have gotten a motorcycle and ditched the family on the weekends!?.

Paulie

 

[ken52]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Paulie, I have same problem except I have a motorcycle. Wife get sunburned in the shade, has to get ready(at least 1.5hrs), son doesn't want to get out of bed until 11am. I hate being me sometimes, LOL. Trying to do the family thing sometimes just doesn't pay off.

Now I usually go out(during weekdays) by myself or a buddy. If family is going I let them know 9am AIS (*** in seat) or stay home!

What setup(boat, motor, prop) are you using?

Kenny

 

[GunHoInc]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

I have a 5.7 mercruiser with an alpha 1 out drive. I'm planing on getting a Stainless Steel prop soon, but I want some more water time to see if I need to drop the pitch another inch or not. I just need to check my WOT rpm's.

Paulie

 

[GunHoInc]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Took the boat out today. Was very pleased with the performance of the aluminum 4 blade prop. However, Sea Ray says my optimum WOT rpm is 4600. I have an 18" pitched prop and at WOTthe RPM's are at 4400. Acording to the prop charts drpping the pitch 2" would increase my RPM's up 300. This will make it 4700 RPM's. Right now with the 18" pitched prop I can get up to 40 mph. When I upgrade to a Stainless Steal 4 blade should I drop the pitch to a 16" or stay with the 18". And will I loose more top end speed with the 2" drop in pitch?

Paulie

 

[cribber]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

I have a 3.0l Volvo Penta with an SX-A drive and 1.94:1 gear pushing a Glastron GT-185. I swapped the stock 3 blade Penta OEM 14.3x21 aluminum for a 14.25x20 SS 4 blade Stiletto Bay Pro II. I lost 3 mph top end and about 200-400 rpm from 4600-4800 down to 4400 rpm average depending on trim and water conditions. I gained nearly a second in hole-shot to plane and mid to low range rpm handling we noticed a definite improvement to the point my wife said stick with the 4 blade. Prop selection is all about give and take and finding a reputable dealer who will let you tweak your setup to your satisfaction within reason. Ding it or scrape it on the bottom and you own it... bring it back mark free and you're good to try the next size you've been considering.

 

[GunHoInc]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Hmmmm.

According to the chart I saw on Sea Ray. WOT for my motor was 4600 RPM's. But according to Clymer's The WOT is "between" 4200-4600. With the four blade aluminum 18" Pitch prop that I have now. My WOT RPM is 4400. So I think I will leave the pitch alone.

It's close enough!?..

Paulie

 

[wiretwister]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Wise choice........I did pretty much the same thing with a 140 merc, and was very happy with it.

Wire

 

[Hollywood1053]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Note that to help lower planing speed some you're looking for ideally a 4-blade prop with stern lifting characteristics (not bowlifting or high rake!)... I really like the solas titan (not the HR - high rake version) ...

Aren't the Solas Titan HR one in the same? I can't find a Solas Titan that isn't HR?

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 3 blade to 4 blade

Aren't the Solas Titan HR one in the same? I can't find a Solas Titan that isn't HR?

Not even close one is a pusher and one is a lifter. That is one just produces thrust and one directs thrust...Now where does that energy go..that's the million dollar question...