you my experience. I had a two blade prop on my cape dory that I ran with for 8 years and it was fine. Then I arrived at the last Panama Canal down lock entering into the Caribbean. The "intensified trades", as they were called during the weather forecast, hit me in the mouth and I lost two knots. By the time I reached Jamaica I was ready to pay anything for a three blade prop. It was a huge difference. That and the fact that the deadwood on a keel boat just kills the performance of a two blade prop as you have both blades covered up at the same time. A three bladed prop always has a blade exposed. This also reduces the amount that the prop jumps up and down in the cutlass bearing. If you've ever replaced the cutlass bearing from a two blade prop you might have noticed that the wear is at the top and the bottom of the bearing. That's because when the blades are covered up the shaft looses it grip on the water and jumps. It's not so important on an exposed shaft and strut situation as you can see. I kept the two blade around for a back up but if I ever had to replace the prop where I had the option I wouldn't have ever put it back on. I have no experience with a Max Prop but I'm sure others do. Also, I'm not a racer anymore so performance under power is important and I willing to give up some performance under sail. I'll admit it, I motor sail a lot. More as I get older and I expect that won't change anytime soon. Hell, it hasn't changed any in 20 years. I never was a purest.