My 356 had a 2 blade fixed prop. Wimpy top speed motoring. In close quarters, it felt like I was trying to move my vessel with a handheld mixer. Prop walk, but not horrible. Motoring into a headwind was not happening.
Put a 3 blade on her. Huge difference. Nice top speed motoring. No problem pushing to windward. In close quarters, feels like I have tires on the road. Sails a hair slower- not a big deal. A little less prop walk.
I wont go back. Its a 16x12 3 blade. Basic low speed prop. But we had to adjust the pitch down to a little less than 11”.
If I chose to cross an ocean, I might buy a folding prop as it can be helpful in the miles per day reached over a long haul. But I’d put the 3 blade back on right away. Or maybe I’d use the 2 blade for a passage...
From the engineering side, in my opinion, there’s not enough gain in a folding prop to outweigh the risk. Unless you have some important value to warrant it. Like racing. Or crossing an ocean.