Engine in reverse while sailing?

[Thijs]

Dear all,

My C30 1989 has a Universal 23 hp (M25 X I believe) and a hurth gearbox. Do you put it into reverse while sailing?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Do a search on "transmission position" reverse or neutral, never forward.

Like this one: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=678220&highlight=transmission position

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Thijs,

Stu is one of the best sources on this site. His accurate knowledge is always from experience, & not from guessing.

I checked out his link and discovered that most of the threads were about prop drag etc. By your thread, you wanted to know about which gear to sail with, not about prop drag.

If you were racing, prop drag would be an issue, but I assume this was not the case. I've had universal engines/Hirsh trannys & always keep them in reverse under sail. Nothing in the tranny moves. I've never experienced any trans problems with this method.

I once checked with RB Groves in Miami (universal distributers) and was told to leave in reverse while sailing.

Besides if you were concerned about speed (of which you were not asking) you would probably have a power boat. If you just like cruising, then a loss of 1/10kt approx. isn't an issue.

CR

 

[Maine Sail]

Thijs,

Stu is one of the best sources on this site. His accurate knowledge is always from experience, & not from guessing.

I checked out his link and discovered that most of the threads were about prop drag etc. By your thread, you wanted to know about which gear to sail with, not about prop drag.

If you were racing, prop drag would be an issue, but I assume this was not the case. I've had universal engines/Hirsh trannys & always keep them in reverse under sail. Nothing in the tranny moves. I've never experienced any trans problems with this method.

I once checked with RB Groves in Miami (universal distributers) and was told to leave in reverse while sailing.

Besides if you were concerned about speed (of which you were not asking) you would probably have a power boat. If you just like cruising, then a loss of 1/10kt approx. isn't an issue.

CR

As Stu said reverse OR neutral..

 

[Bob4203]

I raised the same question many months ago! I left my tranny in neutral as I have always done and on a windy day was sailing so fast we suddenly heard the prop rotating under our feet, which became abit noisey. Weird sound by the way. I came onboard here to share the experience even raising the possibility of harming the tranny if kept in reverse while sailing at hull speed. As it turned out the first time we placed the tranny in reverse and sailed all day. The engine would not start! It was not fully engauged in neutral. I went below and played with the linkage until the gear was free in neutral and was then started successfully. Soooooo, do I need an adjustment on my linkage or can this be expected on occassion where a tranny in reverse with flow forces upon the prop might jam the gear? My Universal M-18 with Hurth transmission has less than 500 hours in fresh water and has always had great maintenance. I will take a good look at the linkage, but for now, I am back to sailing in neutral.........

Bob
Mark II
Georgia

 

[Stu Jackson]

Soooooo, do I need an adjustment on my linkage or can this be expected on occassion where a tranny in reverse with flow forces upon the prop might jam the gear? My Universal M-18 with Hurth transmission has less than 500 hours in fresh water and has always had great maintenance. I will take a good look at the linkage, but for now, I am back to sailing in neutral.........

Bob, I have 13 years and over 1200 hours on our M25 with a Hurth always in reverse, never in neutral when sailing; the noise gets to me, too. Who does your "maintenance?" You or someone else? Check the linkage and the cable and inside the pedestal, too.

 

[Bob4203]

Well Stu, I used to sail the bay in my uncles H-28 back in the 60's and loved it, but Lake Lanier is a far cry from San Francisco bay! Of the dozens if not hundred times I have taken my 30 out on the lake, only once have I experienced a free wheeling prop rotation while in neutral. Our winds are not consistent like yours, so our speeds are slower. I do need to check my shift linkage as suggested, but I still have wonder if force on that prop could'nt in-turn add additional stresses on the gearing in the Hurth? Thats not to say a rotating shaft (in-neutral) would not shorten the life of that stuffing in your stuffing box either.........

Bob

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bob, I agree, but, but, but: that's why Maine Sail posted that instruction manual from Hurth. Your question about the internals of the transmission is best asked of the manufacturer. All we can go on is what that sticker says, which is pretty clear - most folks lock it in reverse to avoid the noise. And most people never got that sticker with their used boats 'cuz maybe the PO didn't bother keeping it. Maine Sail and I copied it, we have it up on our C34 website, 'cuz this question gets asked regularly, which is why I suggested a search "transmission position" earlier, 'cuz these questions keep getting raised and I keep using that phrase for future searches.

 

[wonkodsane]

89, C30, M25, Hurth... Reverse reverse reverse reverse.

 

[mortyd]

i spoke with hurth and they said that both forward and neutral engage clutch plates, which a spinning prop will eventually polish and make useless, but reverse is a positive gear and the stopped engine will not allow the prop to spin and polish the clutch plates, so hurth said SAIL IN REVERSE. the placard printed here is clearly for being towed and says so.