Overthinking is where I shine!
Do you know how old was two blade? How big was boat?
I think that a 3-blade would be overdoing it on a 25' boat, but if you enjoy sailing at all a change to a folding one would be well worthwhile. My 34' boat came with the choice of 2 or 3 blades and the agent advised 2 for what he thought was my kind of sailing. In the end, we sailed much further and did more motoring than we anticipated and a 3-bladed one would have served us better. That is not to say that the 2-blde is unsatisfactory. I can achieve a full 7 knots under power (when clean!) which is probably not much different from what I would get with three blades, but as I understand it my revs are up to 400 rpm more at higher speeds. Also, when push come to shove when battling a head sea I have no doubt that 3 blades would be better. I would say that unless you are proposing to regularly motor considerable distances you would probably be quite happy with 2 blades. If PCUK's boat was so transformed it only indicated that the original prop was not up to the job, which doesn't have to be the case. I would save some cash and spend it on Zubrowka.
So the entire story is that I am preparing my boat for 4 weeks cruising down to Scillies, with occasional East Coast 3-4 days trips. The heavy or rather heavyish (up to 25 knots) wind motoring is my main argument regarding 3 bladed fixed prop - but I have doubts that I will get a lot of difference as I have a tiny, 9HP engine. Obviously, thats something that no one can help me with clear data and thats why I am asking so many question - to get as many examples as possible to make up my mind.
I’ve not sailed your Sadler but I had a 29 once and sailed in company with a 25 for many years when I had a Mystere with a 12hp petrol engine. The Sadler with its 10 hp Petter motored much better than us. As far as I remember we generally motored at 4.7 knots while they were more like 5. I think that for the size of boat you are not going to get a great difference whatever prop you have and are not going to be able to punch into a F5 in open seas. I think a folding prop to get the best of your already excellent sailing performance is well worthwhile. Your 9hp is adequate, and I think that whatever prop you have you will be limited to sailing, motor-sailing, or motoring in good weather. Indeed, it is the weather and not your prop that decides whether you get to the Scillies, which I very much hope you do because they are beautiful.
Couple of years old. 40 foot steel cruiser.
