3 to 4 blade....?

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Nashman
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:49 am
Location: Pa.

3 to 4 blade....?

#1 Post by Nashman » Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:49 pm

I want to swap over from a 3 blade Solas D14X11RN to a 4 blade not worried about losing a mph or 2 just looking to lower RPM and get a better bite in turns. Thanks
1999 Active Thunder Tantrum 550HP 502CI
2010 Crestliner 2365 Batata Bay w/115 Honda

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Nashman
Posts: 94
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:49 am
Location: Pa.

Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#2 Post by Nashman » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:54 pm

Just realized that I didn't ask what size 4 blade should I swap too. Any suggestions? Do not have a problem with going to an aluminum prop.
1999 Active Thunder Tantrum 550HP 502CI
2010 Crestliner 2365 Batata Bay w/115 Honda

Bamaman
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Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#3 Post by Bamaman » Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:20 pm

I see 4 blades on a few bass boats that are very overpowered. Pontoons/tritoons do better with 3 blade props, as you can see in all boat tests online.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

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Nashman
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Location: Pa.

Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#4 Post by Nashman » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:10 pm

Thanks for the info. I was just talking to the owner of the place where my Toon was purchased originally and he agrees. # blade is the way to go. Anyone disagree? Willing to try a different prop.
1999 Active Thunder Tantrum 550HP 502CI
2010 Crestliner 2365 Batata Bay w/115 Honda

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rancherlee
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Location: Eveleth MN

Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#5 Post by rancherlee » Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:30 am

personally I like 4 blade IF you have a traction problem. My 70hp likes to aerate 3 blade props with a heavy load when turning, even a good stainless with cupping. A 4 blade fixed that and I pretty much have to trim the prop out of the water before I loose bite with the 4 blade. I may be wrong but I think your 115 honda is capable of running a pretty large diameter prop as it shares the same gear case as the 135/150 engines and you might be able to run a larger diameter 3 blade than you currently have.
1988' Kennedy 20' "Haley's Comet"
Rebuilt 2016 with 25" single strake outer tubes and a 25x23" straked U-tube
2003 Suzuki DF140 - Yamaha 9.9HT kicker - 39.1@6300rpm

Seon
Posts: 266
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Location: Lake Camanche, CA

Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#6 Post by Seon » Thu Jul 30, 2015 6:54 am

I read that the Mercury OEM Spitfire 4 Blade Prop 13.8x13 Propeller 48-8M8026570 Pontoon was the best prop for my Yamaha F115 which I'll probably buy after I re-power my Party Hut.

Company write-up:

The Spitfire is designed specifically for boaters using mid-range 25 - 125 HP outboards â€" including aluminum fishing and pontoon boats.

The Spitfire line also includes three propellers that are designed for the unique demands of pontoon boaters.

Spitfire pontoon propellers provide extra lift and ventilation resistance, to improve both performance and handling.


Customer's review rated it 4.5 stars
1989 28' Tracker Party Hut
115 hp 4 stroke Yamaha
Sacramento, Ca

dodger
Posts: 65
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Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#7 Post by dodger » Sun Aug 02, 2015 5:43 pm

We were having cavitation issues with both our pontoons. We had the motor lowered one more hole which put it in the lowest and it helped, but we still had some issues under load and turning hard. We went from a three blade aluminum to a three blade stainless and that made the difference. Less flex in the stainless keep the prop biting properly. For us, problem solved.
2014 Bennington 24 S tritoon with lifting stakes/25" tubes/ gas tank in center tube/ infloor storage/ vinyl floor/ electric bimini/dual batteries/ upgraded Sony stereo/changing room
Yamaha 150
SeaStar steering

Littlehoe
Posts: 93
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:00 pm
Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#8 Post by Littlehoe » Thu Aug 06, 2015 12:08 am

Seon wrote:I read that the Mercury OEM Spitfire 4 Blade Prop 13.8x13 Propeller 48-8M8026570 Pontoon was the best prop for my Yamaha F115 which I'll probably buy after I re-power my Party Hut.

Company write-up:

The Spitfire is designed specifically for boaters using mid-range 25 - 125 HP outboards â€" including aluminum fishing and pontoon boats.

The Spitfire line also includes three propellers that are designed for the unique demands of pontoon boaters.

Spitfire pontoon propellers provide extra lift and ventilation resistance, to improve both performance and handling.


Customer's review rated it 4.5 stars
That is the prop I am running now and after trying about 8 different props in pitches, brands, stainless or aluminum and 3 - 4 blades it is by far the best prop I have found for my boat, its a 23 foot 2.75 toon xcursion with the yamaha 115, 2 people on the boat perfectly calm I was able to trim to 3/4 trim and hit 29mph at 5900 rpm. Put people on the boat and tube and I am in that 20 range dragging 3 kids on a big tube with little to no cavitation in the corners unless I really over cut... I might even try an 11 pitch cause 90% of my time I have more than 2 people on the boat and I am usually dragging something behind, tubes, wakeboard, out of gas etecs... all kinds of stuff. lol.
2014 xcursion x23rfc tri-toon with 2012 115 Yamaha

brumbyvet
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Location: Cherokee Lake, East Tennessee

Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#9 Post by brumbyvet » Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:26 am

I also went to the mercury spitfire a few years ago. For all around boating, it's the best choice. I lost a few mph on top end but it runs much better when loaded down with people.
2009 Sun Tracker Party Barge, NV Performance Package, 90 HP Merc 4 stroke
36 mph gps...
Cherokee Lake, Tennessee

U.S. Navy 1971-1977

Bamaman
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Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: 3 to 4 blade....?

#10 Post by Bamaman » Thu Aug 06, 2015 10:26 am

dodger wrote:We were having cavitation issues with both our pontoons. We had the motor lowered one more hole which put it in the lowest and it helped, but we still had some issues under load and turning hard. We went from a three blade aluminum to a three blade stainless and that made the difference. Less flex in the stainless keep the prop biting properly. For us, problem solved.
On my old pontoon boat, anytime I'd load the front end heavy with people, it'd raise the rear of my boat. I'd have to adjust riders to the rear to get the boat to quit prop ventilation. The difference between running good and not running good might just be an inch or two.

We ask these boats to be everything to everyone when in reality they're just one big compromise. In the real world, it'd be nice to have a hydraulic jack plate to rise and lower according to the load on the boat.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

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