Am looking to purchase a new prop for my 225 yamaha. Local dealer has several 4 blades at discounted prices. Anyone have experience with them. How do they perform compared to 3 blade?
3 blade or four blade, it dosnt make a difference. just ask how many inches per revolution it goes compaired to your curent prop. Higher numbers are going to go faster wiht less pull, and decrees your max rpm. Lower numbers will pull harder but wont go as fast, and will incease you max rpm.<br /><br />Their are limits on this though, your prop dealer likly knows enough to tell you what it is, so I would ask them.
Generally speaking a 4 blade is better for hole shot and load pushing not usually considered<br />for high speed performance.<br /> Some composite props are 4 blades for general performance.
To the contrary...4, 5 and 6 blade ARE faster! You have to raise the engine on the jack plate so that MORE of the prop is running OUT of the water than a cupped 3 blade, raise even more if your running a 5 or 6 blade. With the increased blade area of more blades you can keep more of the the original thrust area of the prop in the water and reduce the hydrodynamic drag of the lower unit. You MUST run a cupped prop and MOST of the 4+ blade props are cupped. If you keep the entire prop under water You WILL lose speed.....All this really puts a strain on the lower unit because of offset thrust on the prop shaft. Torq is a real bear with this setup too
