4 Blade Vs 3 blade

I can't specifically blame this thread either, so I'll just blame the people posting in it.

My three blade props needed cleaned up a bit. Nothing major, just a couple dings from the previous owner. I was quoted $3-400 to fix the pair.

I've been wanting to try 4 blades on this boat anyway.
 
magstang1 said:
I can't specifically blame this thread either, so I'll just blame the people posting in it.

My three blade props needed cleaned up a bit. Nothing major, just a couple dings from the previous owner. I was quoted $3-400 to fix the pair.

I've been wanting to try 4 blades on this boat anyway.
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Now we have a base point.

Again, call Piranha. They will work with you and may have done the same for another boater with your situation. Then you are dialed in at roughly $400 for both props with spare blades.

My 2 cents.
 
I already ordered the new 4 blades. They should be here Thursday.

The old 3 blades are still serviceable, just not ideal. If something goes wrong they will still be available as a backup. I couldn't justify spending 75% of the cost of new props on the old ones.

Who knows. Maybe I'll have a pair of lightly used 4 blades for sale soon?
 
magstang1 said:
Five hundred and thirty dollars later, my four blade stainless props are inbound.

Why did I open this thread????????????
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I was talking about this thread to my wife and mentioned the cost to be around $5-600. Glad I got that right. You know, just prepping her a bit, so she won't kill me later when the bill shows up. :smt001

I'd like to hear how it works out for you guys with twins though, before I make my decision. I have some time anyway...
 
Those were Michigan Wheel prices. Mercury props were a cool boat dollar for the pair. Ouch!
 
I am going to go with hill marine 4 blade Counter Rotation. $600/pr dropping from 19 to 17" pitch. Hopefully for better plane at lower speeds. GAS Looked at Powertech too epensive and Michigan. I have heard poor quality control as they are not made in US any longer. Not sure but mostly Hill because of $$. Lets see how they work out. Rob
 
They can't be worse than my 3 blades that look like they ran through a 5 gallon bucket full of hammers.
 
Not that bad but $200 just the same. I am hoping they perform a little more like Bravo 3. more surface better push. We will see in about 3 weeks or so. Just got 8 more inches of snow yesterday!! Yay. I hate winter!
 
wakeup 19 said:
Not that bad but $200 just the same. I am hoping they perform a little more like Bravo 3. more surface better push. We will see in about 3 weeks or so. Just got 8 more inches of snow yesterday!! Yay. I hate winter!
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Keep us in the loop. Dumping the shrink wrap this weekend so I hope to get out on the water and check my top end speed and RPMs. Emailed the folks at proptech and obviously thats required. They recommended dropping from 21p to 19p for adding the 4th blade as first best guess. Also their per prop $$$ for their recommended prop was more than the estimate below for 2 props from Hill. That's a bigger investment than I want to make, especially as an experiment. For me it would be a nice upgrade and boost on the hole shot, but not a necessity at that price.
 
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i just ordered and received a 14.25" x 17P four blade aluminum Solas prop to try on my boat this year....roughly $110 delivered to my door....i currently have the stock 14" x 19P three blade stainless prop that does OK with just a couple people on board and full fuel tank, but i am starting to do more water sports with my kids and grandkids....the stock prop will allow the boat to plane reasonably well and allow the engine to rev up to the lower limit of my WOT range at around 4400 rpm....maybe the new lesser pitch prop will allow me to gain a couple hundred rpm's at WOT even though it is a slightly larger diameter than the stainless prop...i am hoping the lesser pitch four blade prop will give the boat a little more 'grunt' and allow it to plane easier when carrying 4 - 5 adults while at the same time pulling someone on a ski or kneeboard....i am not concerned if i loose a couple mph off top end speed.....if the new aluminum Solas four blade prop works well i may opt to buy a stainless prop with the same specs, however i have stripped the gears in the upper section of an Alpha drive before when i hit some rocks with a stainless steel blade....the strength of a stainless blade is both an asset and a problem......i may just decide to keep running aluminum props and replace them as needed instead of having them repaired since they are more forgiving on the gears and shafts of the outdrive if the blade hits a rock, log etc.......it cost me $70 each time i have the stainless steel prop repaired so adding an extra $30 and i can buy a new aluminum prop....sure beats the cost of a new stainless four blade prop at around $500-600 each......although the stainless prop is more shiney and looks better while the boat is on the trailer....:grin:

cliff
 
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My 4 blade stainless was $260.

Your props should have a rubber hub to prevent gear case damage. I'm surprised you took out a drive before a hub.
 
magstang1 said:
My 4 blade stainless was $260.

Your props should have a rubber hub to prevent gear case damage. I'm surprised you took out a drive before a hub.
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The Bravo 2 4-blade SS prop from Hill is $700. I just got a new one on eBay for $350 but I haven't tried it yet.
 
magstang1 said:
My 4 blade stainless was $260.

Your props should have a rubber hub to prevent gear case damage. I'm surprised you took out a drive before a hub.
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i was surprised too.....it is possible that the PO had hit something several times before i bought the boat and all those impacts had eventually damaged the gears....then my impact with the rocks was enough to finish the gears off....i had the hub checked after i hit the rocks and it was still tight.....

cliff
 
Gunn said:
I was talking about this thread to my wife and mentioned the cost to be around $5-600. Glad I got that right. You know, just prepping her a bit, so she won't kill me later when the bill shows up. :smt001

I'd like to hear how it works out for you guys with twins though, before I make my decision. I have some time anyway...
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Are you going to try the 4 blade? I would buy a pair right now if they would give me a better hole shot! Fully loaded for Bimini trip is pretty brutal on these 4.3's and planing time is extreme! She does fine with minimal load and just two of us.
 
JimFromMD said:
Keep us in the loop. Dumping the shrink wrap this weekend so I hope to get out on the water and check my top end speed and RPMs. Emailed the folks at proptech and obviously thats required. They recommended dropping from 21p to 19p for adding the 4th blade as first best guess. Also their per prop $$$ for their recommended prop was more than the estimate below for 2 props from Hill. That's a bigger investment than I want to make, especially as an experiment. For me it would be a nice upgrade and boost on the hole shot, but not a necessity at that price.
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Jim, I got price for Powertech closer to 450 each. Hill Marine only had the std 4 blade in RH turning but he said he would make me a LH rot. for same price of $300. Cover is off and need to clean and get props. Won't be in until mid april at latest. I would have liked PT props because of thier hub system. Not sure how you got better price but good for you. Looking forward to seeing everyones results. Rob
edit, re-reading post I gues you didnt order PT props. maybe Hill is an option. thx Rob
 
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Yeah I didnt make a move yet. Waiting to get better stats this weekend if I get on the water or next at the latest to then go back and ask questions with more details in hand. Top speed, Max RPM WOT, min speed to plane etc.

Mind you it was one email slavo back and forth through their website, but the prop the guy quoted was ~$800 a prop for me. Hopefully I misunderstood or there was some other mistake/miscommunication. Will definitely be inquiring more once I have the details to provide them, but if it truly is $800 a prop, I'll be looking elsewhere or sticking with my current 3-blades and getting them trued up. It's just not something I want to put $1600 into right now.
 
floriduramax1 said:
Are you going to try the 4 blade? I would buy a pair right now if they would give me a better hole shot! Fully loaded for Bimini trip is pretty brutal on these 4.3's and planing time is extreme! She does fine with minimal load and just two of us.
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I know exactly where you are coming from, same here. But I am waiting for others with similar configurations to report back before I take the plunge.
 
I went from stock 21 pitch to 19 Mirage plus props. Seemed to plan out faster and hold plan better at lower speeds and in the turns also. Tops out at 40 to 42 mph compared to the 38 mph. Seems like it run about 4400 rpms on the 21 and 4600 rpms on the 19. Pricey props. My Power Play the 19 Mirage drop engine RPM's down 200 rpm's all through the planing speeds comparad to the 19 pitch Mercury Vengance.
 
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