4 bladed inboard wheels ??

[Miles Offshore]

Anyone tried them??? I am considering buying a 16/16 4 blade vrs 16/17 cupped and am curious. The prop guy tells me the 4 blade wont give you any more speed but will give you more control of the boat. Also told me that you need to decrease pitch by 1 inch to keep the rpm's up. What do you guys think or does anyone have any first hand experience??? craig

[omaier]

I too was considering putting on a 4 blade to get more hole shot. All I could find were 17" diameter wheels that would then need to be cut down to 16". Have you found a 16" prop?

[ March 16, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Mike M. ]

[Miles Offshore]

Murphys Propeller shop here has them. They are in Norfolk Va. 757-853-4731.I think Im going to have to wait a while nowbefore I switch due to all the money I have spent on everything else. Next time- lemme know if you try it! craig

[GetReel]

Guys: Please post any info IF you try it, I think I'm gonna stay with my 16x17 wheel (with "lite cup" per my bill of sale) which does achieve the recomended rpms, but I could use a little more "hole shot" as well...I checked with another IB owner who has the same prop I do and I guess its the oringinal spec., he hits the rated rpms as well on his 454 with same prop...my only real complaint is "hole shot", my cruise is fine and top end is decent...

[PipeDreamsMarine]

The 34' Sportfish I run has 4 blade wheels on it. when we first launched the boat it had 3 blade wheels on it. There is a noticable differance in performance with the 4 blade wheels on it. The boat has better hole shots and handles better in docking conditions and respondes to the wheel better. We only lost a knot off of top end but gained the torque on the hole shot. A lot of ski boats run 4 bladed wheels for the hole shot and because that extra blade makes the pull a lot smoother. I'd look in the Books like Overton's for a 4 bladed wheel.

Don Battin
Pipe Dreams Marine
www.pipedreamsmarine.com

[Tom Bare]

I'm with Don-

We recently went to four blades on a Cabo I run for a guy in the Bahamas. Holeshot, docking, as well as a lot less vibration when geting up to speed. We lost a couple of knots but have raised more fish, and that was the main reason we changed to begin with.

Any four blade wheel will give you better hole shots and mid range throttle response. The biggest trade off is top end. Look at any bass page and you'll seee lot's of discussion on fours vs. threes. Boats are different but concepts are same.

TB.