New prop time-gurus needed

[tuned]

Yep, I'm ready to take the plunge, have the cash, and need advice. I know this topic has been beat to death, but I patiently waited my turn
Running a 15-1/4x 21P Mercury Mirage Plus stainless 3 blade on the big Merc 454 Bravo1 I/O. Of course Al is heavy with the motor and wheelhouse (and stereo ) . Its a South Bay triple tube hull (think 925).
Getting fairly poor mileage which is to be expected. Top end of about 30 which seems a bit low, but that may be what I get for having my tent and bed with me at all times.
Turning about 4200 rpms at best which is 400 low. Not concerned with top end speed, but I would like to plane better at low speed. In fact I rarely plan on digging into the 4 barrel much. I also definitely want to go with the FloTorque hub system.
Although I am no stranger to propping, this one is a bit new to me.

This brings me to options and opinions:

I am considering a 14-5/8x19P 4 blade Mercury Revolution4 stainless 4 blade. Problem is that the extra blade throws my pitch calculations all to crap. The 19 might still be too high. Aaaand the 17 might be too low. There is no 18P in this line. The extra blade should give me better midrange and possibly better mileage at cruise. I realize I will likely lose a bit of top end speed.

Another option is Bryden's favorite line--a 14x19P Enertia 3 blade stainless. In my mind, pitch selection here is a no brainer.

So waddya guys think? Prices on the two are similar. Both have FloTorque hubs. The smaller diameter comes into play here as well.

Final option would be to make baby steps and pick up a used 19P Mirage. I would then have to turn around and sell it once I know what it will do for me. I hate confusion. Waffling waffling...

[Bryden24shp]

Working on it for you, already! We are going to look for prop to raise the stern, not a high rake bow lifter. I'm really think thinking 4 blade. If you want to drop your throttle box and swap the shift cable to make the outdrive run left hand rotation. I have a Typhoon you could try. LH rotation will get rid of that holeshot dig to the side, too. You are running a Bravo One, right?
PropDoc is on it!

[Bamby]

Can't help you out with prop selection, but you made me feel one a heck of a lot better about my boat! All that extra fuel burn for feeding yours for an extra ten mph over mine kinda fills my cooler with fills my cooler with free refreshments. Sure you'll beat me to a ten mile destination point by a whole ten minutes which with your fuel burn makes them out to be some pretty expensive minutes.

[tuned]

Working on it for you, already! We are going to look for prop to raise the stern, not a high rake bow lifter. I'm really think thinking 4 blade. If you want to drop your throttle box and swap the shift cable to make the outdrive run left hand rotation. I have a Typhoon you could try. LH rotation will get rid of that holeshot dig to the side, too. You are running a Bravo One, right?
PropDoc is on it!

I agree on stern lift. By coincidence, I just ran Merc Prop Selector tool several times using different parameters and the 4 blade Revolution kept popping up. I'd rather not change rotation if possible. It just limits future choosings. Not too concerned about holeshots. I just want to low cruise this beast. Now that I'm ready to do this thing, I'm prepared to buy and sell a couple of props. Thanks for jumping in PropDoc, I certainly value your opinion

Can't help you out with prop selection, but you made me feel one a heck of a lot better about my boat! All that extra fuel burn for feeding yours for an extra ten mph over mine kinda fills my cooler with fills my cooler with free refreshments. Sure you'll beat me to a ten mile destination point by a whole ten minutes which with your fuel burn makes them out to be some pretty expensive minutes.

Now you're just making me feel bad
First of all, I didn't tell you how bad my mileage was. Not gonna either. Fact is I don't really care....ummm too much
Secondly, my passengers usually buy my refreshments for me
Thirdly, I put that big ass motor in for the sound, not the speed
Fourthly, this boat should in theory do well over thirty.
I'm simply trying to put the right wheel on for the application. I've been running around all summer with definitely the wrong one. Too busy finishing the build to focus on this issue. I'm ready to fix it now tho.
No worries, Bamby. Ur still my favorite turd. Well, one of 'em

[tuned]

So I took the cowards way out. Subscribing to the KISS theory, I just bought a used Mirage Plus (same as my existing prop).
It is a 19P as opposed to 21P. It will get me some better numbers much closer to the sweet spot, rather than changing a bunch of parameters all at once. It'll be several days to recieve it. After that it likely will be time to look at four blades.

Hopefully I will shortly have my electrical problems sorted out before the new wheel gets here. I put that sob story in another thread.