Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I don't think you are wrong in your thinking at all. Much of what somebody desires out of their rig is really dependent on how they plan to use the rig. Some people are out for the flat out max speed, while others prefer to have a boat that handles really well in rough conditions. Other people might want their rig to work as a family fish/ski as well.
It all comes down to how you want your rig to perform for you.
Efficiency-wise, you can reach a maximum efficiency with a 4 blade, or a 3 blade. There will be differences in that efficiency, though. With a 4 blade, efficiency comes with handling and mid-range cruising speed. In rougher conditions, the 4 blade will stay hooked up better as there is more blade surface area in contact with the water. Given the rig is not over propped, it will most often result in better fuel mileage at midrange, have wonderful accelleration...but the sacrifice is top speed.
With a 3 blade, efficiency is better at the top end because the boat may be faster for the same RPM as the 4 blade. Handling will go down a touch because of the reduced surface area, and in most cases, an increase in prop slip. Holeshot and midrange might be a bit different as it most likely will take more rpm to keep the boat on plane as compared to the 4 blade.
All in all, setting up a boat with the best prop possible is literally a compromise between handling and speed. Find the balance that suits your needs the best and you will have a rig that performs efficiently in the way you want it to perform.
At this point, if you reached that 5700 with just you in the boat, your gear, and a full tank of gas, the only way to make it reach that 6000 now is to repitch... I'd go 1 inch in pitch up if you can, (either have the prop re-pitched or buy a different one, keeping the current as a spare). Then, when you get another body in the boat, you will still have the ability to get the boat out of the hole and have solid midrange cruising speed.
Steve |
