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Mortyd - your information is contrary to information in the manufacture's manual. I have attached the section that supports my statement. It is always good to read the manual for one's self so that one can have actuate information.
Thanks for clarifying this with actual written proof, not somebody's here say.
This misinformation about putting your transmission in reverse while sailing has been going around this site for too long. It was disproven last time it came up, but it's good to clarify once again.
Putting the engine in reverse will cause more strain to the gears as they will be fighting the great hydrodynamic counter force of water over the prop.
The whole point of neutral is to not let the gears engage, so why would it cause wear?
But the real problem of sailing in reverse is that if you have to start the engine in an emergency, you may forget to throw the trans. in neutral first, which will cause huge strain to the engine while starting, & will likely cause it to stall out.
As far as the replacement transmission if the cost is not much difference I would buy a new ZF, but it's surprising that its not substantially cheaper to rebuild what you have vs. buying new.