What will a 4 blade prop do for me???????????

[Entourage]

I have 225 etec with a 15x17p stainless 3 blade viper prop. I am looking for a prop with a little more get up power. I do not have any experience with four blade can somebody please tell me if i am doing the right thing. I carry alot of weight often.

[ChrisC]

I went from a 3 blade aluminum to a 4 blade aluminum on my 17' Formula center console with a 115hp Mercury. Maybe a little better hole-shot but i couldn't tell. The big difference I found was that it backed downed alot better and I am in a small tight dock. For my 2 cents.. if you can find one for the right price why not.

[gofastsandman]

You are doing the right thing for what you want and maybe even more.
Bushwacker borrowed my Mirage+ to compare to his Apollo 4 blade. Beat me everywhere including top end. His 4 blade at 70% power Launches with the E tec!

GFS

[Old'sCool]

My old boat, 22' Whaler outrage w/225 Yam ox66...went to a Solas 4 blade 18P from Yam 3 19P, it was great especially in the ocean. It provided stern lift, higher rpm with lower speed, less top end, but better cruise when rough and better holeshot. I found a shop that let me try a demo prop first and bought it.

[Bushwacker]

It'll give you more stern lift, and if you get the right combination of pitch and diameter, a lot better hole shot due to increased blade area, and possibly a lower min planing speed while maybe costing a few mph in top speed due to more drag from the extra blade. I've tried a 14.25 x 17, and 14.5 x 19 3B SS props and was not at all happy with min planning speed. The throttle on the E-Tec is so sensitive that with a 3B, it would go from just plowing along at 6-7 mph/2000 rpm to 4500 rpm and 35 mph with what seemed like less than 1/8" throttle movement. The 19" pitch was better than 17", so I concluded it needed more blade area to absorb all that power. A 14x20 aluminum 4B was a big improvement, although it was too much pitch. Had it repitched to 14 x 18 which gives ~5500 rpm with a very heavy load. Have finally settled for a 15x15 SS Powertech 4B that gives an awesome hole shot and turns about same max rpm with heavy load. I have the I-command gages which display % throttle opening, and I typically never have to go over 45% to get on plane, cruise at 36-37% and can plane at 12-13 mph.

[Entourage]

hey thanks for the info guys i am going to try and dig one of these up. Seems to be what i am looking for from what i hear.