cobra marty

How is it in the turns? Does the prop lose bite and how is it fully loaded-fuel, guests-Easy to get on plane? Generally go 1" smaller if using a 4 blade. 3 blade wil run faster if it keeps its bite in the turns and it planes easily.

Waterfoul

Like I said, I run a boat with about the same displacement and similar hull design......I will never go back to a 3 blade. Handling is much better on my boat with a 4 blade prop. Handles better in rough water (better bight in churned up water), handles better around the dock (small steering inputs and small throttle inputs do more than with a 3 blade), and I can get on plane with 6 people and a full tank MUCH easier than with a 3 blade. I don't know about you, but I don't do a LOT of boating without some people with me and a fairly full fuel tank (not to mention all the gear, food, and beverages people bring with them). For my money the 4 blade is without question the better choice. I'll give up the 1-2 mph on the top end to have a better all around prop. You'll find that your cruising speed and efficiency will also increase with a 4 blade wheel.

Does your boat have trim tabs?? If not, a relatively inexpensive set of Bennet or similar brand of dual ram tabs will help a lot too with your planing when loaded. Not to mention their benifit when the water gets snotty or the load needs to be leveled.

Just some thoughts.....

88 MACH 1

Yes on the trim tabs. Sometimes I have people with me sometimes not. With the turning I usually put the drive down when turning to prevent cupping. I didn't the first time out and it was not good so trim down on the turns.

As for the prop I guess I'll try a 23 and a 25 3 blade and see which one works better. Thanks, 88 Mach 1

Pics of my boat are in the photo area, User name 88 Mach 1

Apache22

Something doesn't sound right, you have 500 HP and can only turn a 22P 4 blade to 4,200 - 4,400?

I have a hundred HP less and turn a 24 pitch 4 blade to 5,100 and a 25P to 4,900
You may have HP but what were your TQ numbers?

88 MACH 1

Don't remember, the Dyno was last December. I was turning a 3 blade 19 p at 5800 I have been told that figuring props is all trial and error so still trying.......lol

Waterfoul

Running the 4 blade I don't have to trim down much if any in turns....and I have a raised x dimension on my boat from stock.

88 MACH 1

I started trimming down with the 3 blade, I haven't tried the 4 blade. Kinda new to the I/O set up. Used to run an inboard.

Hudson

I have also been trying a different prop. My boat came with a 23 pitch mirage 3 blade and I have just installed a 24 pitch 4 blade Bravo 1. I really really like the way my boat performs with the 4 blade prop. I, like an earlier poster, will not go back to the 3 blade. My boat is a 23 foot SeaRay with a 385 hp 454 MAG and Bravo 1 outdrive. It turns about 4700 rpm with the 4 blade prop. I have thought about dropping down to the 22 pitch Bravo One, but I'm not sure I need to . Boat is not a go-fast boat like a lot of them here, but it does run gps 63MPH with the 3 blade and 62 with the 4 blade. It feels a lot more stable with the 4 blade, even at WOT. The boat feels really loose with the 3 blade at WOT.The engine would bump the rev limiter with the 3 blade.

88 MACH 1

Wanna sell your 23 p 3 blade? Let me know

paradigm shift

88 I am running about the same. A 29' vee with a 502mag mpi and a 23 pitch 3 blade. If you are having any blow out or cavatation I would agree with waterfoul on the 4 blade vs the 3. Try a smany props as you can in the range you think you need before buying is all I can say. Oh yea carefull on the trim in those turns. To much trim while turning is not a good thing.