<div>I know that M-382s with the Yanmar engine had two-bladed props
and that M-383s and M-384s with the Perkins came with power-boat
(wide-bladed) three-blade props. (I'm not sure about the Perkins
M-382s.) My M-383 is great under power -- smooth, lots of
thrust. But that big, fat prop is a real sea anchor under sail,
and it causes lots of turbulance over the center of the rudder.
The former condition is a poblem in light air and the latter in a
breeze, especially hard on the wind.So.... I wanna get rid of it. The cheapest and most reliable way
to do it would be to go to a fixed two-bladed prop (with more
pitch than the original). My question to those who have two-
bladed props is how smooth the two bladers are behind that
skeg... Do you get a thump, thump, thump as the blades pass
outside the skeg shadow each half rev? What diameter and pitch
are they? Do you know what the reduction ratio is in your
transmission and what RPMs give you, say six knots in flat water?
Has anyone already changed over from a three-bladed prop to a
two-bladed one? Does this seem like a bad idea? Thanks!
</div>
and that M-383s and M-384s with the Perkins came with power-boat
(wide-bladed) three-blade props. (I'm not sure about the Perkins
M-382s.) My M-383 is great under power -- smooth, lots of
thrust. But that big, fat prop is a real sea anchor under sail,
and it causes lots of turbulance over the center of the rudder.
The former condition is a poblem in light air and the latter in a
breeze, especially hard on the wind.So.... I wanna get rid of it. The cheapest and most reliable way
to do it would be to go to a fixed two-bladed prop (with more
pitch than the original). My question to those who have two-
bladed props is how smooth the two bladers are behind that
skeg... Do you get a thump, thump, thump as the blades pass
outside the skeg shadow each half rev? What diameter and pitch
are they? Do you know what the reduction ratio is in your
transmission and what RPMs give you, say six knots in flat water?
Has anyone already changed over from a three-bladed prop to a
two-bladed one? Does this seem like a bad idea? Thanks!
</div>