4 Blade Prop on 222

[Flightpipe]

Anyone running a 4 blade prop on a fisherman 222 with a F225? Looking for some real world performance numbers.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

I'm not sure what year your boat is, or exactly what sort of performance numbers you're looking for, but here's a review from someone that owned a similar boat with a few performance numbers on it. That was about all that I could find in a quick 5 minute Google search, if you want some more numbers I'd reach out to Grady White and see if they have the performance data sheet on your boat that they can email you. I did this for my boat as mine has since been discontinued and they emailed it to me within an hour or so. Are you questioning whether to go with a 3 or 4 blade prop and if your numbers will be better or worse, or what are you trying to figure out? I know that Ken at Prop Gods seems to be one of the best resources to call and pick his brain over which propeller to go with for your certain make/model of boat. Good luck!

From The Helm: 2005 Grady White Fisherman 222 - On The Water

bought a 2005 Grady White Fisherman 222 four years ago as my first motorized boat.

www.onthewater.com

 

[Flightpipe]

It is a 2002 the 222 model did not have many changes during to it during the last half of its production run. Its running the standard 225 Yamaha and stock 3 blade SS prop. Runs well but I would not mind a better hole shot or lift. She is a fat girl when loaded down for fishing. I am not worried about top end I top out about 40mph now but I rarely cruise over 32 mph. So I was hoping someone had made the swap on here and had some experience with fuel economy and cruise RPM vs mph ect. My next step is calling around Prop gods is on the list to call. that is a good article, and was one of the reasons I bought this model.

 

[DennisG01]

Put trim tabs on - or even something as simple as Smart Tabs - you'll be light years ahead of what any prop can do for you.

 

[Hookup1]

It is a 2002 the 222 model did not have many changes during to it during the last half of its production run. Its running the standard 225 Yamaha and stock 3 blade SS prop. Runs well but I would not mind a better hole shot or lift. She is a fat girl when loaded down for fishing. I am not worried about top end I top out about 40mph now but I rarely cruise over 32 mph. So I was hoping someone had made the swap on here and had some experience with fuel economy and cruise RPM vs mph ect. My next step is calling around Prop gods is on the list to call. that is a good article, and was one of the reasons I bought this model.

Get your performance numbers together loaded up. Call PropGods.com On my Islander with twin F150's they recommended dropping 2" of pitch, 4-blade props and a different style. They said boat was "slipping". Didn't think I would loose any speed. Dramatically improve low and mid-range performance. RESULT: they were right on all points.

I now have a mid-range that I never had. I can run in with a following sea and hold on to planing without bogging down. Able to higher speed displacement and lower speed planing in various sea conditions. Never had problems with hole shot but that improved too. Game changer!

No idea how a single engine would affect results. But Ken would know.

 

[family affair]

I had at least 3 "experts" tell me Ken's suggestion for my boat was wrong. Turns out Ken was right. He knows his stuff!

 

[Ky Grady]

Agree with the others. Ken was spot on for what I wanted out of my setup. I had a F225 on my 228 and he nailed it with his recommendation of the PowerTech 4 blade prop. Gained some low end performance and hit 41 @ 6000 rpm with a light load.

Before you talk with him, definitely know your numbers with current setup and have an idea of what you want out of it.

 

[Ekea]

its funny, everyone says Ken at Prop Gods recommends 4 blade props, but he suggested 3 blade props for me. he even said most Grady's are well balanced and dont really need the additional stern lift

 

[family affair]

It depends on the boat and your needs. He has once advised a 4 blade for a different boat, but I couldn't get the engine high enough to make it work to its potential.
Current boat he advised 3 blades and was spot on.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

Agree with the others. Ken was spot on for what I wanted out of my setup. I had a F225 on my 228 and he nailed it with his recommendation of the PowerTech 4 blade prop. Gained some low end performance and hit 41 @ 6000 rpm with a light load.

Before you talk with him, definitely know your numbers with current setup and have an idea of what you want out of it.

I've got a 3 blade stainless steel prop on my boat, though the numbers aren't stamped on it or anything stamped on it, so I don't know the pitch, etc. But I'm able to get up to just under 45 mph, or at least that's what it says on the GPS, with about a half tank of fuel and like you a relatively light load. The hull shot probably "could" benefit some on my boat from going with a 4 blade prop, though it definitely doesn't struggle at all. Though, I'm not all that concerned with how quickly I get up on a plane enough to justify spending the extra money for another prop as I'm not towing anyone or anything behind me and if it takes me an extra second or two to get up on plane, then so be it. I mostly just troll for salmon and check the crab pots, with the occasional cruise, though that's rarely above 25 mph or so since the gallons per hour of fuel burned goes up quite a bit after that.

 

[Ky Grady]

My reasons where when loaded with 148 gallons of fuel and gear and 3 guys to fish the Keys,,, she would flounder trying to get up on plane. It would take awhile with the 3 blade. With the 4 blade, it helped counter the lack of midrange grunt and overcome most of the floundering. When lightly loaded, she would pop right up and go.

 

[loubeer]

I've got a 3 blade stainless steel prop on my boat, though the numbers aren't stamped on it or anything stamped on it, so I don't know the pitch, etc. But I'm able to get up to just under 45 mph, or at least that's what it says on the GPS, with about a half tank of fuel and like you a relatively light load. The hull shot probably "could" benefit some on my boat from going with a 4 blade prop, though it definitely doesn't struggle at all. Though, I'm not all that concerned with how quickly I get up on a plane enough to justify spending the extra money for another prop as I'm not towing anyone or anything behind me and if it takes me an extra second or two to get up on plane, then so be it. I mostly just troll for salmon and check the crab pots, with the occasional cruise, though that's rarely above 25 mph or so since the gallons per hour of fuel burned goes up quite a bit after that.

It would be very odd not to have any prop data stamped on the prop itself. Have you taken the nut and washer off the shaft - sometimes info stamped on the prop collar.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

It would be very odd not to have any prop data stamped on the prop itself. Have you taken the nut and washer off the shaft - sometimes info stamped on the prop collar.

I've honestly not looked too much at it, especially after not seeing anything on the outside of the prop, which is actually where the size and pitch of the prop on the last boat that I had was. If my boat struggled to get up on a plane or it wasn't able to reach top speed at WOT then it might be a little bit different and I might look into a better sized/pitch of propeller but for the time being, it works just fine. The boat is also up at my summer beach cabin on Whidbey Island and I live in town, of which there's a ferry required to get up there. But next time I'm up there I might try and look a bit harder to see if I can find out some more information on it. I did reach out to Grady White after purchasing my boat in October of 2021 and asked if they had the performance data on it with a Yamaha F225 on it and they did email me back this brochure.

 

[Hookup1]

It depends on the boat and your needs. He has once advised a 4 blade for a different boat, but I couldn't get the engine high enough to make it work to its potential.
Current boat he advised 3 blades and was spot on.

Why don't we let the expert at PropGods have a say? All this speculation is a waste of time.

 

[family affair]

Why don't we let the expert at PropGods have a say? All this speculation is a waste of time.

That isn't nearly as entertaining! We will get there eventually.

 

[Ekea]

My reasons where when loaded with 148 gallons of fuel and gear and 3 guys to fish the Keys,,, she would flounder trying to get up on plane. It would take awhile with the 3 blade. With the 4 blade, it helped counter the lack of midrange grunt and overcome most of the floundering. When lightly loaded, she would pop right up and go.

now that i think of it, it may be that twin 250s on my chase is a lot of power and the cc is lighter than a walk around and may not need the help that 4 blades offer

 

[Ryhlick]

I put a 4 blade powertech 15.25 x 16 on my seafarer 228 that has an ox66 225 on it. I went with Ken's recommendation and he was spot on. It gives more lift in the stern and the ability to stay on step at slower speeds was greatly improved. I'm in Oregon and I wanted more mid and low end punch, as I am crossing bars and wanted this for added safety. I do not care about top end, as we all have grady's and they are not speed demons. I do not think it is any more or less efficient than the factory 3 blade, but what you gain in control is well worth the investment. You will not be disappointed if you go that direction, and unless you give it a shot you will never know. Good luck