Gear position under sail

[jblue2]

Hi all....a new Catalina owner here.

Question may seem basic for y'all but what is the recommended position of the gear shift when sailing? (2 blade fixed prop...if that matters)

 

[Lee Coller]

I see you are a new member here. This is one of those questions that gets asked over and over.

Do a search on the forums here for "gear position", then call your local rep for the engine in your boat and ask them. Only believe the later. Some engines require that the transmission be in reverse, others will require that they be in neutral.

This thread will go on and on with different members giving contradictory advice. Same with questions about which anchor is best.

Which engine/transmission do you have?

 

[Stu Jackson]

search on "transmission position"

 

[Big Windy]

My Yanmar guru says reverse or neutral, NOT forward. I just leave it in neutral.

 

[Lee Coller]

Yanmar Gear Position under Sail

My Yanmar guru says reverse or neutral, NOT forward. I just leave it in neutral.

You might want to show your Yanmar "guru" this: http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=116625&#post700362

 

[jblue2]

Thanks for the leads on this....I got some good answers by delving into all the posts on this subject both here and in other forums (fora?)

Seems Universal recommends either neutral or reverse (never forward) and further research shows that a 2 blade prop (like mine) actually produces LESS drag when in reverse....who woulda guessed!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Glad you found your answer. Congrats on your new boat, too.

Lots of information about your boat at www.c36ia.org. Since our boat systems are so much alike, many of our C34 and C36 folks use each others websites. Ours is at www.c34ia.org, try the Forums and look at the Tech wiki for important systems information.

 

[LuzSD]

For what it's worth:

We have a Catalina 30, and always put ours in reverse and feel the difference. No problems ever getting it out and ready to start up....

HOWEVER... a year ago we went out with a fellow with a new to him Cat38, newish around 2003 . While out this question came up and he decided to put it in reverse. Another fellow on board (owns a 911S Olson) and he said "whooo, don't do that you could have some trouble getting it out of reverse." and guess what?.. when we were getting ready to head in, it was stuck in reverse. They did something wonderful and it was back into neutral but I think about that each time we go out.

Don't know what he had in that boat but we have a Universal M25XP.