What's the difference

[antique fisherman]

What kind of performance or anything else would be realized between a 3 blade and a 4 blade prop with the same diameter and pitch?

 

[steelespike]

Re: What's the difference

Basically a a 3 blade will have good overall performance.
a 4 blade will have better low to midrange performance.Better hole shot,
stay on plane with less power,more control at the dock,resists ventilation,
allows higher mount of an outboard. Often prescribed for pontoons with ventilation(cavitation)issues.Usually will out perform a 3 blade on a pontoon.Only draw back is a possible slight reduction of top end.

 

[45Auto]

Re: What's the difference

Basic myth is that more blade area (4 blade) gives less slip therefore better acceleration, but the increased blade area also causes more drag therefore slightly less top speed.

Sometimes it works that way, sometimes it doesn't.

Reality is that on a pleasure boat, hull form and drag due to boat loading will have more effect on prop performance than the number of blades.

 

[antique fisherman]

Re: What's the difference

Thank you guys, I've never had a 4 blade. I have to buy one, so I was wondering about them.