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I went to the Mercury site and checked out exactly what they say about 3blade vs 4 blade props. Here is what I found:

http://www.mercurymarine.com/propelle...of-blades/

The number of blades a prop manufacturer recommends is determined by what the customer requires of the boat it is being used on, I am unable to find any documentation in writing that ANY prop manufacturer actually says a 4 blade prop is better than a three blade prop, they all just say that if the motor is being run higher in the water it may need a 4 blade to reduce the added vibration. It appears that all the manufacturers seem to agree that a 3 blade prop is more efficient overall than a 4 blade prop, and some sacrifice in top end speed may result when using a 4 blade which could improve the hole shot.

I am certainly no prop expert, but I continue to study this currently for my own education.