3 or 4 blade for skiing?

[barefooterh2o]

I'm on a water ski team for the last 10 years so I've skied behind many inboards. Wakeboard boats can use either 3 or 4 blade depending on the size of boat. 4 blade generally will give you a better hole shot on a bigger boat. Some slalom course skiers like the 4 blade but most that I ski with, use a 3 blade. There is a difference in prop wash between a 3 and 4 blade props. But seems not to affect slalom course skiing as much as barefooting. Barefoot skiers go with the 3 blade for the top end speed and the prop wash is little nicer especially going backwards. 4 blade props will not have the top end speed as a 3 blade. If you are doing the slalom course fine with a 4 blade prop, than keep it.

[deepcove]

That is old school thinking. With todays modern cnc'd props you can get more blade area out of a 3 blade than previous welded versions as you can balance it perfectly with cnc machining. 4 blades became popular as you could get more surface area than previous 3 blades and keep it balanced, therefore giving you more surface area. ACME's recomended prop for wakeboarding with my LS is a 3 blade. My stock prop was a non cnc'd 4 blade. My 4 blade has more top end and I find I have a softer bump with my 4 blade. Therefore my 4 blade is for skiing and 3 blade for skating and surfing.

As for what works better 3 or 4 blade for skiing.....every boat will react differently so there is no one answer to this question.

[kaneboats]

OK, that's the first time I've heard that. The 4 blade for skiing and the 3 blade for surfing. This just goes to show you it is the nature of the individual prop and the application and there is no set rule for 4 vs. 3 blades.

We ski a bit, board a bit with a little weight on and surf with a lot of weight on. The OJ 3 blade performs nicely for everything we do. No complaints. Maybe the right prop for the boat is more important than trying to match the right prop to the application-- at least with certain boats with certain activities (DD across the board???).

[Laz]

Laz,
Is that a 4 blade or three you purchased?
thanx

It's a 3-blade. We use our boat almost exclusively for skiing. Even my skeptical wife has noticed an improvement.

[Laz]

We were not actually having any problems with our old 13x13 3-blade OJ. It worked very well. However, I bought the ACME prop as a backup and decided to try it out since it was very easy to change props.

I was quite surprised with the performance improvement as I expected no real difference.

We are very sensitive to (and impressed with) the skiing characteristics of our boat but our wakeboarding skills are pathetic, so I can't really comment about that.

Also, any wakesurfing we do is entirely unintentional.

[moomba wannabe]

We were not actually having any problems with our old 13x13 3-blade OJ. It worked very well. However, I bought the ACME prop as a backup and decided to try it out since it was very easy to change props.

I was quite surprised with the performance improvement as I expected no real difference.

We are very sensitive to (and impressed with) the skiing characteristics of our boat but our wakeboarding skills are pathetic, so I can't really comment about that.

Also, any wakesurfing we do is entirely unintentional.

Ditto here, my wakeboarding skills are rather weak too. I would prefer to have the boat set up for skiing as I enjoy that more, as whats pulling me on a board will really have minimal effect on my ability! I will have to consider your Acme set-up. Can you confirm the wake is nice, I have a decent though fairly small bump behind my 4 blade.

[viking]

Laz,
Whats the altitude of Toronto? Want to compare with Billings, MT because if it's in the neighborhood I might consider the same ACME as a 2nd (or primary) prop. as well. I posted a question in another thread about a second prop. as I have another RH 4blade to trade in with an ACME dealer

Sorry.......guess I could just google it! What was I thinking? I guess I just like to talk to you guys and gals

[BensonWdby]

I have a 99 Mobius that came with an OJ 4 blade. Seemed to work fine for slalom. I hit something with it and was recommended to an ACME 3 blade by multiple sources. Called ACME and there was only one prop they would sell me for the specific boat/motor combo. I bought it and have used both. I have not really noticed much of a difference. I could not even tell you which I hae on the boat at the moment. Just depends on which has had the most dings recently. We do have a bit of a 22 off bump. My solution is just to go faster and go to 28-38 off depending on water conditions. Pretty much alwasy at 34 mph these days, vs. 30 for many-many years prior.

[Sled491]

I run a 4 blade 13 x13 but think the stock 3 blade CNC prop was smoother. The big difference between a 3 blade and 4 blade on a ski boat for skiers is the bump, or rooster directly behind the boat. Then new props that are being recommended can eliminate most of this. All depends on how you use your boat. We ski every morning, 34 - 36 mph depending on whos up. But come late afternoons or evenings or weekends its the kids time and speed get reduced and the great slalom wake I enjoy every morning now gets to look a little nasty.

I'm not sure there is a perfect prop for all aspects, but there might be one that suits your needs best as long as your requirments don't go to wide.

[Laz]

I don't know what the altitude is in Toronto, but we are pretty close to sea level. I haven't noticed any difference in the wake between the 3 blade 13x13 OJ and new ACME prop. I've only noticed a better hole shot and more efficiency. Also the boat seems to slow less turning 180 degrees after a pass through the course.

Laz