When sailing my Hunter legend 37 I usually shift into reverse to stop the prop from moving. Is this the correct thing to do? Will it harm my engine if the prop is free wheeling or not free wheeling? I seem to sail a bit faster if it is free wheeling but I can feel the prop's vibration as the boat moves through the water. What does everyone think? Thanks, Barrie
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around and around.
Barrie: This issue has been BASHED around over and over. You should check out the archives and search for what you think is the answer. We put ours in reverse when we hear the prop turning. Otherwise we leave it in neutral. I would say that your are probably going to decide that putting it in reverse is the PROPer thing to do.
Barrie: This issue has been BASHED around over and over. You should check out the archives and search for what you think is the answer. We put ours in reverse when we hear the prop turning. Otherwise we leave it in neutral. I would say that your are probably going to decide that putting it in reverse is the PROPer thing to do.
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Daniel Jonas
Phil.....Forum Archives
I've noticed that often new users of the forum ask questions that seem to go around pretty often. Often they are directed to the Archives to find this information as it has already been discussed. The Forum archives are pretty well hidden in with the other choices on the home screen, particularly to someone visiting the first few times. Perhaps there is a way to make the archives more noticeable to a new user and offer them that alternative as a starting place. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije)
I've noticed that often new users of the forum ask questions that seem to go around pretty often. Often they are directed to the Archives to find this information as it has already been discussed. The Forum archives are pretty well hidden in with the other choices on the home screen, particularly to someone visiting the first few times. Perhaps there is a way to make the archives more noticeable to a new user and offer them that alternative as a starting place. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije)
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Bob
Check your xmission mfg's recommendations...
...some xmissions are required to remain in neutral while sailing to prevent damage of some kind or another. Mine is to be left in neutral or reverse while a frined of mine has to keep his in neutral per owner's manual. Cheers, Bob
...some xmissions are required to remain in neutral while sailing to prevent damage of some kind or another. Mine is to be left in neutral or reverse while a frined of mine has to keep his in neutral per owner's manual. Cheers, Bob
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Alex
depends which engine..
..Yanmar ,don't mind you doing this , but if you have a fix 3 blade prop, you might find it difficuld to disangage from reverse to neutral(in order to start the engine) while sailing above 5 knots or so..(Yanmar20hp shaft). Volvo(30hp Sdrive) manual advice leaving it in neutral only..( It might be interesting to have a Volvo person address this issue),but many owners engage in reverse , as in both cases , noise or vibrations in neutral are quite annoying. On both occasions ,a folding/feathering props might be an answer.It was for me , on my last 2 boats/engines..
..Yanmar ,don't mind you doing this , but if you have a fix 3 blade prop, you might find it difficuld to disangage from reverse to neutral(in order to start the engine) while sailing above 5 knots or so..(Yanmar20hp shaft). Volvo(30hp Sdrive) manual advice leaving it in neutral only..( It might be interesting to have a Volvo person address this issue),but many owners engage in reverse , as in both cases , noise or vibrations in neutral are quite annoying. On both occasions ,a folding/feathering props might be an answer.It was for me , on my last 2 boats/engines..
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Josh
Possible damage
If you can't find any manufacturer information on it, I'd leave it spin free. The reason being that if something either hits that prop and causes it to rotate while engaged or if you actually moved fast enough for the water to do so it could cause damage to the engine, depending on the engine type. Basically, with it in reverse, if the prop spins from water pressure or something hitting it, this would cause the drive shaft and the crank shaft to spin in the wrong direction. This brings the pistons up at the wrong time, smacking into things like open valves, etc. It would be like taking your car, putting it in reverse, then dragging it forward. This would be the fact with four stroke and probably diesel engines. I'm not so certain about the inner workings of a two stroke. Of course most two strokes are on transome mount swing arms, like mine, and come up out of the water. Just something to concider. Best bet, call the manufacturer and see what they say is best. Josh
If you can't find any manufacturer information on it, I'd leave it spin free. The reason being that if something either hits that prop and causes it to rotate while engaged or if you actually moved fast enough for the water to do so it could cause damage to the engine, depending on the engine type. Basically, with it in reverse, if the prop spins from water pressure or something hitting it, this would cause the drive shaft and the crank shaft to spin in the wrong direction. This brings the pistons up at the wrong time, smacking into things like open valves, etc. It would be like taking your car, putting it in reverse, then dragging it forward. This would be the fact with four stroke and probably diesel engines. I'm not so certain about the inner workings of a two stroke. Of course most two strokes are on transome mount swing arms, like mine, and come up out of the water. Just something to concider. Best bet, call the manufacturer and see what they say is best. Josh
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Michael
Free Wheeling
It's not the engine that would be the problem from the free wheeling prop, it is the transmission. What does the manual for this transmission say to do. In neutral the engine is not turning, just the last half of the tranny. Most transmissions have a different ratio in reverse, than in forward, making it less likely that the engine will turn. So freewheeling the prop "might" burn up your tranny, I would find out what the manufacturer recommends.
It's not the engine that would be the problem from the free wheeling prop, it is the transmission. What does the manual for this transmission say to do. In neutral the engine is not turning, just the last half of the tranny. Most transmissions have a different ratio in reverse, than in forward, making it less likely that the engine will turn. So freewheeling the prop "might" burn up your tranny, I would find out what the manufacturer recommends.
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