4 Blade vs. 3

King of the Tigers · Posted: Mar 03, 2003 9:59 am Post subject: 4 Blade vs. 3

Could anyone please explain to me the advantages of a 4 blade prop over a 3? I have a 3 on my boat but it seems that most boats now have 4 blades. Will it increase my wake size? Thanks.

Richie Martin · Posted: Mar 03, 2003 10:09 am Post subject:

indirectly it will.
generally a 4 blade will pull stronger and smoother than a 3 blade. Therefore you can add weight. Which will make the wake bigger.

Acme claims that their 3 blade will pull more and is smoother, than a competitors 4 blade.

I had one on my last boat, they are awesome.

Tim Krasin · Outlaw Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 104 City: Houston, TX

I understand the 4-blade will make the wakes a bit softer at slalom speeds, but don't know if this affects the 19-23mph area. I know a drawback of the 4 is it'll slow you down on top end by about 1-2mph. The 4-blade makes speed holding a bit better and is typically smoother, but like Richie said, ACME's been claiming their 3's will do the trick and give you that 1-2mph top addition.
-Tim

Sbt3 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 279 City: Okauchee

a four blade vs three blade with the same pitch is going to give you a better hole shot. My boat basically won't get on plane with a 3 blade and the amount of wieght that I run in it. I put on the four blade and it gets on plane much better. I don't know what you would need the extra 1-2 mph for. I can still barefoot with my 4 blade.

wkbrdr127 · Newbie Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 38 City: Philly

stan...thats a tri-star right......if it is we have the same boat.....how much weight do u have in it....n are the one wake pic in there recent?

Magic · Outlaw Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 240 City: Seattle

I have an Acme 3 blade on my Cal-Air (direct drive). Love it, the stock OJ 4 blade that came with is now my spare.

I run about 1500# of ballast, and 3 to 4 people. The boat has a better hole shot, holds speed better and retained it's top end. I went from a 4b 13x13 to a 3b 13x11.5

You are not going to see an increase in wake size, you may see a difference in prop wash. My wake is a bit cleaner with the 3 blade Acme.

I would call Acme, OJ, Cutter and see what they recommend for your boat. Acme's website says I should use the 13x12 3b, I called them and they recommended 13x11.5 based on my use and ballast.

r3612 · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 346 City: Chicago IL

Have an Acme 3 blade on my boat(03 hurricane w/ 350 mag). Pulls great with 1300lbs. Holds speed awesome. Ive heard the same thing that acme 3 blades pull just as good as most of the 4-blades. I have no complaints about mine. The wakeboard boats in the boat guide review that had an acme three blade(for what it's worth) tended to get great reviews on holding their speed with weight. (Not sure how reliable most of the reviews in there are).

Now I'm going to contradict my statement, My buddy however who rides with like 2100 lbs tends to have a long drawn out whole shot with his 3 blade but picked up a 4 blade an it is much improved. I guess IMO it would depend how much weight you are riding with.

This statement probably won't help you out much eh? Just giving ya my experiences.

Kris

Magic · Outlaw Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 240 City: Seattle

r3612, do you know if your buddies new 4 blade prop was the same pitch as the 3 blade one? Makes quite a difference, so do some other factors like the amount of cup in the blades.

Partyb · Posted: Mar 03, 2003 6:40 pm Post subject:

I have a 1997 Mc prostar d drive and put on a acme 3b prop. I do not know what pitch etc. but it is whatever they told me to put on for wakeboarding. My boat is stock with 275 horse and i swear that the hole shot is better then my friends newer xstar and malibu which both have around 310 hp i believe. No complaints with acme 3 blade. They know what they are doing at acme.

Sbt3 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 279 City: Okauchee

wkbrdr127, yeah that is a tristar. I run around somewhere around 1600lbs in the back with sacs, lead, and sand. I only run two sand bags 140 in the front because the gas tank as you know is in the front on the tristars. I am very happy with the wake the boat is a bit hard to drive with that much wieght in it cause the water wants to come over the back and the nose if you stop fast. I am actually proably going to add around 400 more in sand this year. let me know if you want any picture of the boats wake. I have a titan tower that I put on as well.

Swass · Guest

The only reason 4-blades used to be favored over 3-blades is because it was easier to balance a 4 vs a 3.

Today's CNC-machined 3-blades out perform 4s in every category, INCLUDING HOLE SHOT. The wake has less turbulence, the pull is smoother, speed holds better and you don't lose as much top end.

Most manufacturers now put a stock 3-blade on wakeboard-specific boats. Technology has made the 4-blade almost absolete.

Acme also makes a 4-blade, so they don't care which you buy, but if you give them your boat model, engine type and tell them how much weight you run, they'll likely recommend a 3-blade.

r3612 · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 346 City: Chicago IL

MAGIC, I'll have to look into that but I think he did change the pitch to the next lower one. I'll have to check that out.

Kris

bigcut · Newbie Joined: 26 Feb 2003 Posts: 7 City: s.centexas

I had a 3 blade and when we smacked a stump 2 summers back we got a 4 blade. I think that the 3 blade was better because the 4 blade pushes more of the boat out of the water. If i had $300 to blow on a new prop i would buy a 3 blade. Glasses