In article , "Michael"
wrote:

So before I spend the money. There are, I think, four manufacturers of
these props. Autoprop and Max Prop to name two. I'm leaning to the 4 blade
with big Mickey Mouse ear looking shape style. The boat is a Westerly
Berwick. 31' LOD, 25' LWL, 9.5' Beam with twin keels about six tonner.
Engine is a 30HP Volvo Penta with about 120 hours on it. I have room to put
in a reduction gear. I'm leaning this way because of the experience with my
Yamah T9.9 and the wish to put as much of the power curve as possible into
the speed range of my boat.

We swing a 16" 3 blade MaxProp and LOVE it.

The only reason to go for more blades is if you don't have the room to
swing a bigger prop, or in our case, to get rid of a harmonic vibration.
Otherwise, three or four blades don't give better "push" than two
(except possibly if you're pulling stumps) BUT hurt efficiency under
power and add a very slight bit of drag when feathered.n

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/