Bravo III props

aero3113

My co-worker just put a deposit down on a 2002 270 pending sea trial in a few weeks. The drive has an inner 4 blade prop and an outer 3 blade prop. I'm not used to dual props on one drive, is this normal to do or should they be matched? The owner says the boat pops up out of the water with this set up.

Handymans342

Its a Bravo 3 drive which normally has a 3 and a 3 blade prop

Stodge

Some folks on here were playing with the 3/4 combination.  Might look for those threads and see what they say.  But I think the idea was to help performance.

JonnyM

Should have better performance with getting up on plane (holeshot) with this set up.  Props are not original to the boat but are probably an upgrade.

Cableguy Greg

Mercury now offers the B3 drive with a 3/3 prop setup and a 4/3 prop setup. Like @JonnyM stated, she should have much better performance at hole shot. If I could get my hands on a set of 21 pitch 4/3's, I would buy them in a heartbeat.

LaRea

My '03 342 came new with 4/3 props, and my '07 370 has them.  I've been more than happy with the performance.  

Liberty44140

I’ve read that the front prop does 70% of the work. I’d take a 4/3 set up over my current 3/3

reneechris14

Most all newer application on bigger boats with B3 use the 4/3 set up. More surfuse to water to push more weight, not best for high speed. You did say it's a 270 not a rocket ship.

pault1216

I thought the prop anode and dual anodes on the anti-cavitation/ventilation plate was 2004 and later...?
-Paul

Liberty44140

So this brings up a question- can those of us that still have 3/3 bravo 3 set up buy just one hill 4 blade for the front and keep the rear prop that we already have? 

Cableguy Greg

pault1216 said:

I thought the prop anode and dual anodes on the anti-cavitation/ventilation plate was 2004 and later...?
-Paul

It is. The drive had to have been replaced with a newer bravo 3 or a newer lower half. 

aero3113

Cableguy Greg said:

pault1216 said:

I thought the prop anode and dual anodes on the anti-cavitation/ventilation plate was 2004 and later...?
-Paul

It is. The drive had to have been replaced with a newer bravo 3 or a newer lower half. 

Good to know, he told me that the engine was replaced 2 years ago. I wonder if the drive was replaced also. Would the transom assembly have been replaced for this drive or it's interchangeable between the years?

rasbury

probably the same...not sure though 100%

reneechris14

Transom assembly is the same. The top of that drive is 2002 (square back) but bottom is newer. My 02 has one anodes on the cavitation plate but did have the one on the prop. 

reneechris14

@Liberty44140 can't see why not but I think you want to stay with a merc prop the hills are different  (cup, pitch,rake) plus I think hill marine only sells sets?

Robs_232

Just bought new Hill 4x4 24 pitch for my 232. If anyone is interested I have original B3 26 pitch that have 100 hrs. plus 24 pitch set I bought from Al two years ago with 40 hrs. Nothing wrong with either set just experimenting. PM if interested in either the 24 or 26 pitch originals. Make a deal!

Cableguy Greg

Liberty44140 said:

So this brings up a question- can those of us that still have 3/3 bravo 3 set up buy just one hill 4 blade for the front and keep the rear prop that we already have? 

Merc suggests to purchase the props in sets.

Liberty44140

Got it, no plans to buy at this point but good to know. Thx 

randy56

I have the 4x3 and recommend it, a 4x4 may even be better.