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
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.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.........