An experimental assessment has been made of the drag reducing efficiency of the outer-layer vertical blades, which were first devised by Hutchins (2003). The drag reduction efficiency of the blades was reported to reach as much as 30%. The assessment of the drag reducing efficiency is mainly restricted to the downstream region of the blades. Indeed, sufficient care has not been taken to such adverse effects as the increase in the wetted surface area and the flow disturbances due to the presence of the blades. In the present study, a series of drag force measurements in towing tank and circulating water channel has been performed toward the assessments of the total drag reduction efficiency of the outer-layer vertical blades.