I have an 03 Elite V and Im getting my stock 3 blade (13 x 12 1 1/8)repaired and Im keeping it for a spare. Would a 4 blade be a better choice? I put on a 4 blade (13 x 13 1 1/8) per there recommendation but havent got a chance to check it out. They said it would provide more power out of the whole. The shop also said most wb boats are coming with 4 blades now and its a better way to go. What do you guys think?

Centurions ship with the 3 blad acme standard. <BR>I would recomend it over any 4 blad prop. <BR>My beat is you will lose top end and gain nothing on the bottom. <BR> <BR>Let us know what you think when you try it

Hey guys while we're at it, wake plate up or down, how are you running?

I noticed on my buddie's Avalanche that his stock ACME 3-blade CNC Nibral is a 13x12. He's got the 350 Mag MPI and it does really well. <BR> <BR>Now I just have to figure out why our Epics come with taller props (13x13).

I think that a 4 blade 13 X 13 will not give you enough hole-shot. Acme recommends a 4 blade 13 X 12.5, .080 cup (model 231) for the stock propeller on a Centurion V. If you add 1,000 pounds of ballast, then they recommend a 13 X 12.125, .060 cup (model 579). <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/acme_v_drive_4_blade_propellers_centurion" target="_blank">http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/acme_v_drive_4_blade_propellers_centurion</a> <BR> <BR>Mike <BR><a href="http://www.wakeside.com" target="_blank">http://www.wakeside.com</a>

O2 Hurricane Elite V ACME 231 4 Blade. My boat came stock with an OJ 4 blade. The ACME made a world of difference.

Mine came with a 13x14 4 blade OJ. I have a 4 blade 13x13 ambush on it now. It gives enough hole shot at the elevation I'm at which is about 15' ASL. I tried a 3 on it it and it SUCKED hard core. Maybe the prop was out of balance but it cavitated and wouldn't pull out of the hole worth a crap. Top end was good but who needs that when you're wakeboarding.... <BR> <BR>This is a Centurion Hurricane 2002 like Lance. <BR> <BR>BTW, the 3blade was an ACME. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by oshensurfer on June 16, 2004)

Acme recommends a four blade for V-drive applications. Their three blade is the best you can buy, but they are not quite at the point of recommending three blade for V-drive boats. For direct drive boats they only recommend three blade at this point.

I have an 01 (w/350 mag) that came with an OJ 13X14 4 blade. After I dinged that prop, I tried an OJ 13X14 4 blade stainless. I was really happy with that prop. Good overall performance through the range. I am running more weight in the boat now so I decided to try the Acme 231 4 blade. Great prop out of the hole and better mid-range performance.

Call Acme and talk to them I have found they almost always <BR>Recommend the 3 blade prop V drive or DD <BR> <BR>Kevin <BR>

Ask for Bill Weeks at Acme. He is the one that didn't recommend 3 blade for V Drive applications (this was last week). In general they always prefer 3 blade over 4 blade because of better performance. However, they still recommend 4 blade for V Drives at this time. Bill thinks that may eventually change their recommendation as their technology continues to improve. <BR> <BR>If you have roughly 1,000 pounds or more of ballast, then I would switch the Acme 231 to the Acme 579. It will improve the hole shot considerably. It will also increase the RPMs by 400-500. <BR> <BR>Mike

Interesting Bill was the one that recommended to Centurion to use 3 blades for V drives

Let's see what he says. Bill helped to create the application guide that just went live at Wakeside.com last week. Maybe he missed Centurion in particular? <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/wakeboard_boat_propellers" target="_blank">http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/wakeboard_boat_propellers</a> <BR> <BR>Nelly, if you could post Acme's reply here that would be great.

Interesting thing is the wakeside.com page for centurions has some contradictory info <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/acme_v_drive_4_blade_propellers_centurion" target="_blank">http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/acme_v_drive_4_blade_propellers_centurion</a> <BR> <BR>The title says <BR>ACME V-DRIVE 3 BLADE PROPELLERS (FOR CENTURION) <BR> <BR>Then the application guide says four blade?? <BR> <BR>Those are the 4 blade props that are recommended on the acme site <BR><a href="http://www.acmemarine.com/html/list.html" target="_blank">http://www.acmemarine.com/html/list.html</a> <BR> <BR>Interesting Bill always recommended to me the 3 blade when I talked to him. <BR> <BR>Could be they have retooled the 4 blade to make it better or just changed there minds??

Bill recommended a 3 blade for my V-drive Sanger, I must say I can't imagine a prop being any better, it is the shizzel.

Hey guys thanks for the input. I will call Bill tomorrow and let you know what he says. I went out Sunday but didnt board because of the crowds of people that were out but I did a couple of mock starts and it seemed pretty weak! Not sure if its because of the 3 blade to 4 blade or the increase from 12 to 13 or a combo? I dont run 1000lbs yet so Im thinking my best bet is to stick with the 3 blade 13 x 12 but I'll post up after talking to Bill. Thanks

Kevin, Thanks - I fixed the typo on the title to say <BR>ACME V-DRIVE 4 BLADE PROPELLERS (FOR CENTURION) <BR> <BR>Application guide comes directly from Bill Weeks at Acme. I think that we were just the first to put in writing what Bill and Jim know in their heads. <BR> <BR>Bill and Jim both like 3 blade better than four since they are more efficient. Acme perfected the three blade prop with CNC process and technology. I would be interested to hear if Bill really recommends three over four for a V Drive because that would be a change from what he told me. You might have a point that they have backed down on the three blade props for V Drive applications at this point. Bill seemed to indicate that three blade is still their goal for V Drives but they're not ready yet. <BR> <BR>13 X 12.5 or 13 X 12.125 will perform much better than 13 X 13.

Interesting that is exactly the opposite from what I understood <BR> <BR>"Bill seemed to indicate that three blade is still their goal for V Drives but they're not ready yet." <BR> <BR> <BR>(Message edited by krbaugh on June 17, 2004)

I Spoke with Acme last year. They were pushing the 3 blade on me pretty hard. I called Centurion and they recommended the 4 blade. Now I have seen new centurions coming out with both 3 and 4 blades. I have heard from owners praising both 3 and 4 blade. Still confusing to me. If you buy direct from acme they will let you exchange the prop so perhaps that is the way to go.

OK - I added some confusion and I apologize - we are determined to become propeller experts and it is usually the exceptions that take some time. I spent some time with Bill this morning and I am very clear now. <BR> <BR>Centurion and Sanger are exceptions on the V-Drive application because they are the only two boat manufacturers that use a 1-1 gear ratio. All others are 1.5-1. For the 1-1 gear ratio, Acme has perfected the three blade V-Drive propeller. <BR> <BR>Centurion and Centurion dealerships have used both three blade and four blade propellers so you will see them both ways. They started out with the four blade Amce 231 and the three blade Amce 515 but they had very poor hole shot and decided to switch to the four blade 579 and the three blade 525. We will fix our website to show Stock as the four blade 579 and the three blade 525 since that is what Centurion now offers. Acme recommends the 525 over the 579 since three blade is more efficient. <BR> <BR>For 1,000 pounds of ballast, Acme recommends the three blade Acme 653. <BR> <BR>I will have it fixed very soon and again I apologize for the error that ended up on our site. We will fix Sanger as well. <BR> <BR>Mike

Fixed. <BR> <BR>Here is a link with Acme's (Bill Weeks) official recommendation for Centurion and Sanger V-Drives with 1.1 gear ratio: <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/acme_v_drive_propellers_centurion" target="_blank">http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/acme_v_drive_propellers_centurion</a> <BR> <BR>Mike

Spoke with Bill at Acme today. He recommending going with 525 like wakesides last post. He said I would get knowing more out of a four blade. Thanks for the help.

Go figure <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.acmemarine.com/html/list.html" target="_blank">http://www.acmemarine.com/html/list.html</a>

Good work Mike. <BR> <BR>I have the 3 blade 525 on mine, like I said before, AWESOME.

I have the Acme 3 blade 653 which is a 13 x 11.5 with a cup of .060 . This prop is great with Ballast 1000 pounds + . My boat (elite v) origanaly came with the oj 13 x 14 four blade and at my elevation of 5500 feet was a bit of a dog out of the hole loaded. Not any more. And because the 3 blade is more effiecient at high speed I did not lose any top end speed. I can run at 41mph on the gps. Not bad at a mile high elevation. When I go to powell I switch to the four blade and run at around 45 mph and the hole shot is ok, and I don't want to risk damaging the "good" prop. <BR>btw: powell is about 3700 feet full pool.