4 blade props on bravo 3

alk

alk

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I believe we have a few Bravo 3 owners here - anyone ever go with the 4 bladed props, from one of the aftermarket companies - like the Hill Marine four by four? My props are a bit dinged up, was thinking about sending them out for a tune, but then thought about replacing them with four blades. Boat is a 23', about 3,200lbs, with 454 mpi. Supposedly able to plane at lower speed, and overall better performance. Wondering if anyone has any real world experience with these?
 
My 23" CC w/225 OB had a 4 blade prop. Better hole shot, quicker on plane, and still did 40+..

I've read that a 3 blade will yield a higher top end, but do you really need that?
 
I have a buddy that has a cruiser that was a real pig. He worked with Hill Marine and the 4 blade props made a HUGE difference. Planes quicker and he can cruise at a lower RPM... Give them a call. He said they were great to work with!!
 
I like the idea of the four bladed hill marine props - but a little worried about two more blades of stainless steel in the water. Wonder if I’ll need a second mercathode?
 
I've been thinking the same thing about upgrading to 4 X 4 props. I spoke with Hill last year when I first ran my new to me boat and felt it has more push than it's giving. Hill said to drop to a 20 inch 4 X 4 currently 22 inch 3 X 3. I've read a few posts on other forums and for heavy boats (mine is 12,000lbs) they seem to be the answer. When my boat was new 2010 they offered an optional 4 X 3 but only on the Gen II Bravo III which I didn't know existed? Anyway as far as your concern about more stainless in the water I doubt it'll make a difference. I always paint my stainless props with Pettit Prop Coat and have had great results with protection.
I've had this discussion with my mechanic and he says that heavy boats should have Bravo II drives not Bravo III's.
 
My boat isn’t of the heavy cruiser variety - it’s a ‘performance’ bow rider - barely over 3k pounds. It does fine with the six blades, but I’m wondering if i can do a little better. My same boat, with same motor, with bravo 1 has a top end in the mid fifties. I barely break 50 - but i don’t care if I even lose a couple off the top. If I could plane at like 4 miles an hour, I’d be in heaven. Exaggerating of course, but that’s what I’m after - lower planing speed. I could also use a little more hole shot, for pulling skiers with two x‘s in front on their L - takes some power to get an old guy who weighs 260 up on skis.

I have my spares on the boat now ( a bit under pitched at 22). I was going to get my dinged up 26 prop fixed. They said they were going to fix it in a week, they’ve had it for four. So if it’s not done tomorrow, probably just finish out the summer on the 22’s, and try the 4 blades next year.

im not worried about the props corroding - I’m worried about the drive becoming unprotected due to the raised potential of so much more stainless in the water. I’ve had some corrosion issues on this boat in the past.
 
Painting the props creates a barrier between the stainless prop and the water it can react to. If your Mercathode is working you should be fin as far as corrosion protection is concerned. I have never heard of anyone saying that switching to four blades wasn't worth it.
 
I think next year I‘m going to do it. This summer just flew by too fast.
 
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