adding 4 blade prop and hydrofoil

sooner dud · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 47

was planning on adding a 4 blade prop but the few websites i go to it recommends just the 3 blade prop. am i wrong about putting a four blade prop on? i/o mercrusier 135 hp.
also a buddy said i need to add a hydrofoil. what good will these upgrades do for my boat? do i even need them?

vette74 · Posted: Aug 16, 2007 12:29 pm Post subject:

A 4 blade prop and a hydrofoil is a great upgrade with an I/O. On my old boat when I installed the 4 blade the hole shot was a lot better and it held speed a lot better. As for the hydrofoil it makes plane time faster and the trim more effective so you can adjust the wake easier.

sabastianunf · Posted: Aug 17, 2007 12:49 pm Post subject:

Just put a 4- blade on my boat and I love it. beter speed control, better hole shot and more bow lift. Just remember that the 4 th blade means you need to go with a smaller pitch prop. I was running a 17" pitch 3 - blade but had to go with a 15" pitch 4 blade to keep my RPM's in the right range.

QNev · Posted: Aug 26, 2007 9:54 am Post subject:

You will lose a lot of top end speed with the 4 blade, but as said, your holeshot is way faster and consistent speeds are a little more reachable. Saves you a bit of time on lower horse boats.

A hydrofoil will work well when you trim up just slightly. It will bring the back of the boat down a little kind of like a wakeplate. Depending on the boat it could help clean up the wake a little bit too.

Brit Rider · Posted: Sep 17, 2007 1:37 am Post subject:

QNev, You won't lose top end necessarily.. that all depends on pitch and diameter.
You could go 5 blade and gain speed depending on the pitch.