Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.