The 4 blade will definitely hold the water and be more responsive. A 4 blade propeller is slightly smaller than its 3 blade counterpart so that the same RPM can be achieved.
Top speed would go to the 3 blade and so would fuel efficiency numbers my guess.
3 blade vs 4 blade boat propeller. One of the main reasons people seem to choose 4 blade propellers over 3 blade propellers is the benefits afforded by the increased blade area given by the extra blade. This extra blade area provides increased water displacement capability greater lift and better grip than the 3 blade propeller counterparts. The short answer is the 4 blade propeller has more surface area and bite which allows a boat to get up on a plane and maintain it easier at a lower RPM.
However the 3 blade prop has less surface area which offers less drag and more top speed than the 4 blade prop. The most asked question at the boat shows is almost always what is the difference between a 3-blade and a 4-blade boat propeller The difference between a 3-blade prop vs a 4-blade prop is that the 3-blade smaller blade ratio is faster with a higher top speed and the 4-blade higher blade ratio has a better hole-shot acceleration and better stern lift as well as better handling. Three-blade props offer a nice compromise when it comes acceleration efficiency lift and speed.
A four-blade propeller on the other hand can boost acceleration efficiency or lift but at the cost of a lower top speed. Jim Hendricks Sport Fishing. 3 Blade vs 4 Blade Propellers Whats the Difference Between 3 and 4 Blade Outboard Props - YouTube.
Generally yes a 4- blade will be less efficient than a 3-blade for the simple reason that the leading edge of the prop loses efficiency as it encounters the disturbed water left by the blade in front of it. Typically a 3-bladed prop will have more space between the. Testing 3 Blade vs 4 Blade Propellers Whats the Difference Between 3 and 4 Blade Outboard Props - YouTube.
Looking for more performance from your boat. One of the best places to start is with your propeller. Jon tries three different Mercury propellers on an outbo.
In general the 3-blade propeller will have a smaller diameter than the 2-blade propeller that it replaces which also serves to reduce the tip speed and noise. In a twin-engine aircraft the reduced diameter of the 3-blade propeller will result in less tip-generated noise and a greater clearance between the blade tip and the fuselage. A 4 blade propeller is slightly smaller than its 3 blade counterpart so that the same RPM can be achieved.
A 4 blade propeller is only normally used for larger boats and any which need to carry a lot of weight. Conventional wisdom is 3 blade props are better for top end spe. Join host Ryan Wood as he explores how boat performance changes with 3 vs 4 blade propellers.
Mar 19 2020. Three or four blades are just some of the design consideration. Really depends on your performance criteria or what problem your trying to fix.
I went from an inexpensive 3 blade stainless to an OE 4 blade stainless then back to a performance 3 blade stainless of a different design. If you use your boat for cruising or if you have to power in to a current every time you go out a 3 or 4 blade is the better choice. They have a major advantage when going against heavy winds and seas or a current as they will keep your.
Boat is a new 2004 Moomba Outback LS. Its been sold to me with a 3 blade prop on it but the listing says 4 blade prop so I can get the 4 blade if its better for wakeboarding. This is my first inboard boat so Im not sure which prop is better for boarding.
If not done properly with the correct stylepitchdiameter a 4-blade propeller can be a blessing or curse. Over the past many years boaters have debated the question of 4-blade propellers versus 3-blade propellers. The uninformed argument is that 4-blades are slow and 3-blades are fast end of discussion.
The most asked question at the boat shows is almost always what is the difference between a 3-blade and a 4-blade boat propeller The difference between a 3-blade prop vs a 4-blade prop is that the 3-blade smaller blade ratio is faster with a higher top speed and the 4-blade higher blade ratio has a better hole-shot acceleration and better stern lift as well as better handling. Generally a 4 blade is to improve low end performance and in certain specific designs push heavy awkward loadsA 3 blade is more. I have used both a 3 blade and a 4 blade on my pontoon boat.
The 4 blade will definitely hold the water and be more responsive. Fuel mileage is usually a little better and you can usually run the motor a hole or so higher. The 3 blades I have run tend to offer more top speed seems to plane in about the same time.
Unless you are considerably underproped and expierencing High Slip with the 3 Blade Cruise and Top Speed will normally be diminished by perhaps 5 with the 4 blade prop. Rule of thumb decrease pitch 1 - 2 for an increase in Dia by 1 or going from 3 to 4 blades. Normally going to 4 blades is an advantage when Extra pulling power is required.
Probably would get a quicker 0 to 30 mph with the 4 blade on the boat. Top speed would go to the 3 blade and so would fuel efficiency numbers my guess. If you were pulling someone off a grounding incident the 4 blade would be better with more control and torque to the water.
I think fuel efficiency for cruising and what not would end up on the 3 blade column.