3 Blade or 4 blade prop?

Joined
May 20, 2020
Messages
5
I have a 90 HP Force on a 17' combo bass boat, I have always used a 3 blade 17 pitch prop. Anyone have a pro or con on going to a 4 blade, and should I reduce the pitch to 15 on the 4 blade? Looking for the described extra lift and fuel economy that the 4 blade is supposed to provide.
Be safe, thanks
 

Sea Rider

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
12,345
Min-Max wot rpm factory stated ?
Current Load ? Number of Passengers ?
Max achieved wot rpm with 3 blade 17 pitch prop ?

Happy Boating
 

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
7,952
If you think you need stern lift, there are better ways to achieve it. If you would be disappointed when you lost top speed, a 4-blade isn't the way to go. The reported fuel savings are real, but unless you boat 7 days a week you probably won't take it to the bank.

If you want to increase top speed, mid range performance AND improve economy, a state-of-the-art SS Mercury Marine prop (like an Enertia) is what you want.

Yes, if you go from a 3 to a 4, the pitch will need to be reduced, but how much will require GPS and RPM data to dial it right in.
 

QBhoy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
8,286
For me…it depends what the 17” 3 blade you have now is and how it goes. The thought around a 4 blade being better on fuel than a 3 blade…is a tough one for me to swallow. Be a brave man that would argue against sheer physics and it’s laws telling us that less blades always means greater efficiency. Perhaps the confusion comes from a 4 blade occasionaly offering slower planing speeds than a 3 blade. But this doesn’t always mean using less fuel. Lots of variables to consider in play here.
gpimg back to where I started. The notion of going down in pitch from 3 to 4 blade, heavily depends on what 3 blade you have. An example of why you wouldn’t go down in pitch, I can testify to, is if you have a big bladed stainless 3 blade and went down 2” in pitch to a ally 4 blade…you 100% for certain aren’t going to see anything but an increase in rpm everywhere.
As for the notion of more loft from a 4 blade…again it depends on what 3 blade you have now. And what 4 blade you go to. Will going from a cheap solas 3 blade ally prop to a stainless 4 blade bravo or Rev 4 see more lift…certainly…but will going from a tempest or enertia to a solas 4 blade see more lift…certainly not.
Finally…added to all this, the motor you have had only a limited bandwidth of props available in terms of this. It’s likely you’re dealing with ally props perhaps. My opinion for what it’s worth…in your situation, I’d doubt you will get too much better efficiency and lift from any normal 4 blade, over the good old go to and dependable 3 blade laser 2.
 

poconojoe

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
1,966
I have a 90 HP Force on a 17' combo bass boat, I have always used a 3 blade 17 pitch prop. Anyone have a pro or con on going to a 4 blade, and should I reduce the pitch to 15 on the 4 blade? Looking for the described extra lift and fuel economy that the 4 blade is supposed to provide.
Be safe, thanks
Probably not a good idea to use your email as your handle....just saying....
 

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,544
I was running a 3 blade 20P early edition Laser II which would run 48 on calm water, summer heat. As you are talking here, I like to run around 3000 RPM and 25 mph most of the time so I bought a Solace 4 blade 19P. I lost 3 mph of top end (and some RPM) which I don't miss (because I know I can get it back if I swap props back). 2 things at work here....the extra blade efficiency reduction and the stern lifting characteristic which reduces the bow lift necessary to get the hull out of the water, reducing drag to make the top end MPH.

The Laser is ported making for hole shot assistance and the Solace isn't but the 4th blade and prop design made a much more robust shot and easy cruising where I like it. The 4th blade and design give me much more control on maintaining speed and "posture" running at the lower speeds.

Solace has a tutorial and address the stern lifting characteristics of their 4 blade and the bow lifting characteristics of the 3 blade when top end is the main objective. Blade design is somewhat different besides the extra paddle.

PS: After I closed this I happened to look at my post count and 14,000 is a lot of slinging BS around....LMAO
 
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lprizman

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
440
Ken from Prop Gods a member here???
He's on 2 other sites I'm on.....he'd know....
However that year and long-ago 4 blades were not in I believe at that time on that size and style set up
 

Robert1473

Recruit
Joined
Oct 27, 2021
Messages
1
I have a 90 HP Force on a 17' combo bass boat, I have always used a 3 blade 17 pitch prop. Anyone have a pro or con on going to a 4 blade, and should I reduce the pitch to 15 on the 4 blade? Looking for the described extra lift and fuel economy that the 4 blade is supposed to provide.
Be safe, thanks
Thanks to this article I can learn more. Expand my knowledge and abilities.
 

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,544
Thanks to this article I can learn more. Expand my knowledge and abilities.
I bought my first boat as a junior in high school in 1958. I've been boating ever since. I learn something different on every outing I have enjoyed (or otherwise) over the years. You never know it all......
 

82rude

Rear Admiral
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
4,082
My experience is totally different from most here apparently.My boat is a 1975 starcraft ss 160 with a 2011 60hp etec and sitting right beside it is a 1974 6 hp johnson.Inormally carry 12 gallons for the etec and 6 for the kicker.I use 3 props ,a new evinrude al 3 blade at 17p which hits 6000 ,a older stainless 16p sst which hits 6050,and last but not least a solas 4 blade al which hits 6000 rpm.There is a 1.3 mph by gps difff from the stainless to the 4 blade.For me the 4 blade affords much lower planning rpms vs the other 2 with only a 1.3 mph diff in top end.The omc sst was rejigged to 16p from 15p by my friend and it took me off the rev limiter which is at 6250 rpm.Range is 55 to 6000 rpm.For long range cruising i like the 4 blade as i do save gas and i like going at a nice easy pace vs all out.When im fishing i like the 16p sst as it trolls the slowest.I never found the need to change pitch just because i went to a 4 blade but im sure other boat may vary.I should add when i go to camp and im very heavily loaded my speed does not change by more than 2 mph wether i use the sst or the solas 4 blade.
 
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Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,544
My experience is totally different from most here apparently.My boat is a 1975 starcraft ss 160 with a 2011 60hp etec and sitting right beside it is a 1974 6 hp johnson.Inormally carry 12 gallons for the etec and 6 for the kicker.I use 3 props ,a new evinrude al 3 blade at 17p which hits 6000 ,a older stainless 16p sst which hits 6050,and last but not least a solas 4 blade al which hits 6000 rpm.There is a 1.3 mph by gps difff from the stainless to the 4 blade.For me the 4 blade affords much lower planning rpms vs the other 2 with only a 1.3 mph diff in top end.The omc sst was rejigged to 16p from 15p by my friend and it took me off the rev limiter which is at 6250 rpm.Range is 55 to 6000 rpm.For long range cruising i like the 4 blade as i do save gas and i like going at a nice easy pace vs all out.When im fishing i like the 16p sst as it trolls the slowest.I never found the need to change pitch just because i went to a 4 blade but im sure other boat may vary.I should add when i go to camp and im very heavily loaded my speed does not change by more than 2 mph wether i use the sst or the solas 4 blade.
To my surprise, adding a blade and dropping an inch of pitch going to the Solace did little to drop my WOT RPMs while enjoying the rest of the reason for buying the prop. Whats funny is that I dropped WOT RPMs a couple hundred in the process but still got that performance. Possibly the 3 blade was in the rev limiter RPM of 5250 so it could have had more top end had the engine let it wind out. The Solace ran consistently at 5050, Great choice.
 
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