For this application, good performance SS 4 blade props would be the best
choice. They will give you better acceleration, planing speed, and low
speed cruising ability. You will loose a few mph on top end but chances are
your not trying for top end speed anyway. You will definetly like the way
the boat behaves. Prop for right at max rpms on the engines at wide open.

Don't waist your money on aluminum 4 blade or composite 4 blade as you have
too much torque for these props to hold their shape over time.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"Diver1055" wrote in message
...
Hi

I have just purchased a 2950 Proline with twin 225 OceanRunners. I am
trying
to get the best economical cruise speed I can. I was wonderig what would
be
the advantages to a 4 blade prop as apposed to a three blade prop...

Thanks
Rick

For this application, good performance SS 4 blade props would be the best
choice. They will give you better acceleration, planing speed, and low
speed cruising ability. You will loose a few mph on top end but chances are
your not trying for top end speed anyway. You will definetly like the way
the boat behaves. Prop for right at max rpms on the engines at wide open.

Don't waist your money on aluminum 4 blade or composite 4 blade as you have
too much torque for these props to hold their shape over time.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"Diver1055" wrote in message
...
Hi

I have just purchased a 2950 Proline with twin 225 OceanRunners. I am
trying
to get the best economical cruise speed I can. I was wonderig what would
be
the advantages to a 4 blade prop as apposed to a three blade prop...

Thanks
Rick








Tony,

I don't disagree with the response as far as the qualities of 4 blades but he
was asking for the most economical cruise. I can't imagine a 4 blade being more
economical than a 3. Common sense tells me there would be less drag with one
less blade.

Barry

The most economical cruise is going to be at the lowest rpms and maintaining
plane. A 4 blade will allow for a lower rpm than the 3 blade at minimal
plane speed. It will also give you better throttle response and quicker
planing.

--
Tony
My boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com



"F330 GT" wrote in message
...
For this application, good performance SS 4 blade props would be the best
choice. They will give you better acceleration, planing speed, and low
speed cruising ability. You will loose a few mph on top end but chances
are
your not trying for top end speed anyway. You will definetly like the
way
the boat behaves. Prop for right at max rpms on the engines at wide
open.

Don't waist your money on aluminum 4 blade or composite 4 blade as you
have
too much torque for these props to hold their shape over time.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"Diver1055" wrote in message
...
Hi

I have just purchased a 2950 Proline with twin 225 OceanRunners. I am
trying
to get the best economical cruise speed I can. I was wonderig what
would
be
the advantages to a 4 blade prop as apposed to a three blade prop...

Thanks
Rick








Tony,

I don't disagree with the response as far as the qualities of 4 blades but
he
was asking for the most economical cruise. I can't imagine a 4 blade being
more
economical than a 3. Common sense tells me there would be less drag with
one
less blade.

Barry

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:eJDob.72698$HS4.632907@attbi_s01...
The most economical cruise is going to be at the lowest rpms and
maintaining
plane. A 4 blade will allow for a lower rpm than the 3 blade at minimal
plane speed. It will also give you better throttle response and quicker
planing.


Nope! Not 100% correct.
The most economical cruise is going to be near the most effective RPM of the
motor. It is going to be a bit higher than the max torque RPM, but still a
bit under max HP RPM.
To find what RPM gives the most economical cruise, you just have to do som
testing.
As speed increases, the drag increases. This will offset the economy RPM. A
4 blade prop has more drag due to one more blade to push through the water,
so the 3 blade may be better for economy. This again depends on propeller
design. A good 3 blade SS prop is probably best for economy. A good 4 blade
prop gives better accelration and less vibration, but lower top speed.

Trond

In the lower rpm range, while traveling in displacement mode, (I do a
lot of that) will a 4 blade "push" more water at a lower rpm? That is to
say will a 4 blade 21"x18" stainless perform as well as a 3 blade
21"x21" or would I simply be overloading the motor?

Capt. Frank

Trond Solem wrote:
"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:eJDob.72698$HS4.632907@attbi_s01...

The most economical cruise is going to be at the lowest rpms and

maintaining

plane. A 4 blade will allow for a lower rpm than the 3 blade at minimal
plane speed. It will also give you better throttle response and quicker
planing.



Nope! Not 100% correct.
The most economical cruise is going to be near the most effective RPM of the
motor. It is going to be a bit higher than the max torque RPM, but still a
bit under max HP RPM.
To find what RPM gives the most economical cruise, you just have to do som
testing.
As speed increases, the drag increases. This will offset the economy RPM. A
4 blade prop has more drag due to one more blade to push through the water,
so the 3 blade may be better for economy. This again depends on propeller
design. A good 3 blade SS prop is probably best for economy. A good 4 blade
prop gives better accelration and less vibration, but lower top speed.

Trond

First of all, normally a 4 blade prop will have a smaller diameter than the
3 blade to compensate for the extra blade surface.
You want to go with the same pitch prop. The 18 will be way too small a
prop and will travel less and be less efficient than the 21. Stay with same
pitch which is inches of travel forward per revolution (in theory not
compensating for slip). A 4 blade will have less slip at lower rpms than a
3 blade which is why it will be more efficient at cruise.

--
Tony
my boats and autos - http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com


"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
.net...
In the lower rpm range, while traveling in displacement mode, (I do a
lot of that) will a 4 blade "push" more water at a lower rpm? That is to
say will a 4 blade 21"x18" stainless perform as well as a 3 blade
21"x21" or would I simply be overloading the motor?

Capt. Frank

Trond Solem wrote:
"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:eJDob.72698$HS4.632907@attbi_s01...

The most economical cruise is going to be at the lowest rpms and

maintaining

plane. A 4 blade will allow for a lower rpm than the 3 blade at minimal
plane speed. It will also give you better throttle response and quicker
planing.



Nope! Not 100% correct.
The most economical cruise is going to be near the most effective RPM of
the
motor. It is going to be a bit higher than the max torque RPM, but still
a
bit under max HP RPM.
To find what RPM gives the most economical cruise, you just have to do
som
testing.
As speed increases, the drag increases. This will offset the economy
RPM. A
4 blade prop has more drag due to one more blade to push through the
water,
so the 3 blade may be better for economy. This again depends on
propeller
design. A good 3 blade SS prop is probably best for economy. A good 4
blade
prop gives better accelration and less vibration, but lower top speed.

Trond

Ok, Tony,

That makes sense. Is there a formula for calculating a prop's thrust?
rpm vs hp? Given 21" pitch and the current 3 blade a 21" diameter
(stainless steel)

21?R²(0.66)=19.0250?R²(0.80) it doesn't work out exactly.

If the formula doesn't display in the newsgroup, I will try a different
venue.

Thanks,

Capt Frank



Tony Thomas wrote:
First of all, normally a 4 blade prop will have a smaller diameter than the
3 blade to compensate for the extra blade surface.
You want to go with the same pitch prop. The 18 will be way too small a
prop and will travel less and be less efficient than the 21. Stay with same
pitch which is inches of travel forward per revolution (in theory not
compensating for slip). A 4 blade will have less slip at lower rpms than a
3 blade which is why it will be more efficient at cruise.

Tony,

I don't disagree with the response as far as the qualities of 4 blades but he
was asking for the most economical cruise. I can't imagine a 4 blade being
more
economical than a 3. Common sense tells me there would be less drag with one
less blade.

Barry

Hey Barry

I am basically am looking to be able to plain at a slower speed than I am
currently achieving. My boat doesnt like to hold a plain at under 25mph, and
when it gets rough, I'd like to go slower than bouncing from one wave to
another. And yes I am also looking to maximize my range.

Thank you all, I appreciate your inputs...

Rick

Hey Barry

I am basically am looking to be able to plain at a slower speed than I am
currently achieving. My boat doesnt like to hold a plain at under 25mph,
and
when it gets rough, I'd like to go slower than bouncing from one wave to
another. And yes I am also looking to maximize my range.

Thank you all, I appreciate your inputs...

Rick

You need trim tabs, not a prop change.
http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/

Hey Barry

I am basically am looking to be able to plain at a slower speed than I am
currently achieving. My boat doesnt like to hold a plain at under 25mph, and
when it gets rough, I'd like to go slower than bouncing from one wave to
another. And yes I am also looking to maximize my range.

Thank you all, I appreciate your inputs...

Rick








Rick,

Sounds like trim tabs would do more for you than changing props. Their is
probably no better way to achieve slower planing speed than good trim tabs. Of
course, that certainly won't be the most economical speed. Most new outboards
are most economical in the 3500 to 4000 rpm range.

At certain rpm ranges, I imagine a 4 blade could be more economical than a 3
blade but I'd still be real surprised if you took an outboard motor on a
typical v-hull boat and tried just to maximize the most mileage per gallon
possible that could be gotten out of that engine, a 3 blade prop would be the
winner.

What do you think, Tony?

Barry