That is pretty much exactly what i am experiencing, how much top end do you guys think i would lose going to a four blade prop?

Godsreel, Honestly I don't think you'll lose squat on top end (well, maybe stern squat). With a 550-600 lb 4 stroke motor hanging 2+ feet back, a 4 blade will only benefit you. The Potter hull was designed for a 400 lb motor to ride on the transom. And while they did put twin 200s on they didn't plane a low speeds either. Heavy 4 strokes were probably a contributing reason for the evolution of the 4 blade prop

Jr. those RPM's seem pretty high, fuel burn is a lot for a 4s. My budy has a new 23 SC (euro transom so they call it 25) and he gets the same fuel burn with twin 150 optimax, and few mph faster

Are you running with a heavy load, do you have trim tabs?

My hull is a 1972. It was rebuilt and is pretty heavy. I had about 100 gallons of fuel on board. I think that newer hull is probably a lot lighter than this. Those optis are supposed to be pretty good on fuel. Also I have a t top and an eisenglass front window which I think catches a lot of drag.


Another thing is that I am pretty sure I am getting some cavitation from my transducer. It's a transom mount mounted too low and in the middle since their used to be twins. Time will tell.

Also if you look at the performance between comparable boats on the yamaha website the 23 regulator and 23 sailfish seem to have similar specs to what I have seen. Only thing I can see is that I may want to try a prop with more pitch I guess, which doesn't make a ton of sense, but it seemed like the 23 sailfish with the 19" prop performed better.

You guys close enough to Chas SC are welcome to ride with me or run
mine to check out the 4 blade on 2S 250 :)

4 blade 19 pitch on its way from propgods :) Will run it up and down the Indian river this weekend and report back :D

Sounds good. Was it a rental? I need to get a 17 4 blade re-hubbed then I can try it. For now I need to haul out and move that stupid transducer.

copied from my post over at propgods.com......


27.7mph @ 3800
42mph @ 5600
30mph @ 4100
25.5mph @ 3600

20 mph beam wind, same rpm/speed running both ways up and down the river.

Load was 55 gallons fuel, 2 guys, full live well (about 360 pounds), with empty baitwell the speeds/rpm were the same but the hole shot was even worse. A little trim tab solved this.

5600 was as much as I could get without trimming the motor up too much. Prop really grabbed well, no problem keeping on plane at low speed, felt great. 3800 to 4000 seemed to be a really nice cruise. Hole shot was terrible but I expected as much.


AND

F225 manual says under a full load, the RPMs need to be in the upper half of the full throttle range. Full throttle range is 5000 to 6000. I was not at a full load and barely getting into the upper half of full range (5600).

I just wish they made an 18 pitch !

Solas has a 14 1/8 x 18

4 14 1/8 18 R 3553-141-18