What is the best application for the 25XR's???

I have a boat on order (26' Formula with a 496 Mag/B-III and 26" props). Which would be a better prop choice for my set-up?

What are the pro's and con's of the 26 (3-3) versus the 25 (4-3)?

Thanks!

A small amount of aditional planing ability with the 4-3. Otherwise they perform eqally as well.

Oh yeah, the 4-3 is less prone to cav burning.

I am not familiar with prop burn... can you please explain what this is and why it happens? Is this more of an issue with bigger boats using the Bravo III with bigger power?

Cavitation burn is caused by a large pressure differential on the face of the propeller blades (high pressure side). The differential is so great it actually boils the water with enough violence to deteriate the blade metal. Certain hydro dynamics induce this effect.

The original blade design on the B3 propellers was prone to this in high horsepower large boats. In fact, when we began to mate 500 efi's to B3's on Formula Sport cruisers in the 2000 time frame, we could burn up a set of props in less than 10 hours. That was the reason for the new design. To reduce the burn. The 4 blade front and hi-polish all came later in the development. As with many things we did at Mercury, It took 5 years to get them out the door.