Gear selection while sailing?

[Ctskip]

I've looked in the archives and couldn't find a definitive answer to my question. While sailing should my transmission be in gear so the prop doesn't turn? Or in neutral so it turns freely(there by wearing out any parts prematurly).I've been sailing in neutral all my life and now I'm starting to wonder if what I'm doing is correct. I'm not looking for speed just longitivity of my parts. How about the speed aspect of it being in gear as opposed to turning freely? Thanks. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[Jack2438]

my manual says

My manual states, "neutral". I have the universel m-18 with a hurth tranny. I don't know if thats correct but thats what it says. good luck, Jack

 

[Capt Lee ;-)]

Reverse!

Skip, There are folks who keep it in neutral, and there are even, belts, pulleys, and generators that will generate some juice while sailing.Listen when you are sailing, you will undoubtably hear a tic, tic, ticking from the shaft spinning. This is wearing the reduction gear/transmission, bolts on the flange, but your bearing as well.I like it in reverse, why wear on, no need.

 

[Dick Dixon]

Free Spinning Propeller

Most mechanics suggest placing the transmission in gear to prevent the shaft from turning. On my 37' which has a feathering prop I have to place the transmission in reverse so that the blades 'feather' properly. On a previous boat that had a two blade fixed prop, which I raced frequently, I had the shaft marked so that when racing I would place the prop in the verticle position and place the transmission in reverse to reduce drag...

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

Dangerous Dick!

I have been reading this 'dixon' characters posts.This guy is an obvious egoist, braggert, and many of his posts are off base and wrong.I would not trust this guy in the kitchen with my wife...

 

[higgs]

In Gear

I can see no possible way that being in gear could hurt, but I can see several ways being in nuetral could be bad. A spinning prop has to cause wear on transmission bearing and on the cutlass. How can it be any other way?Also, shoud a line go over, a free wheeling prop can become fouled - an additional reason to go in gear.

 

[abe]

Yanmar rec in gear in reverse

check a little better, there are posts on the subject.

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

It all depends on your trani

Per MER (local Yanmar dealer) here in Seattle, when under sail:If you have a mechnical gear trani, it can be in reverse or neutral. when it is in neutralthe lower shaft is physically disconnected from the engine, the shaft just rotates in the gear box. Also since it is sitting in oil, so no problem. Our Yanmar 3HM35F on our h37.5 has a mechnical gear.If you have hydraulic gear, then you should always put it in reverse.

 

[Ken Palmer]

Answer at this link

This subject comes up all the time in this forum. Follow the link below for some good reading.

 

[Ctskip Allmand 31]

hanks for all your responces

I'll have to do some investigation as to what is happenning below as I travel along under sail.Thanks all. And by all means ,Keep it up. Ctskip

 

[Big Windy]

Yanmar

I have a Yanmar, and my diesel guru told me the same thing JC said...neutral or reverse. But never forward. All depends on the eng/xmsn you have.

 

[Jon W.]

May depend on what transmission.

My Hurth H50 manual says to use neutral or reverse. What they are getting at is -neutral or SHAFT LOCKED. With my Autoprop, the shaft spins in reverse! I have to use forward gear to lock it. We don't want a feathering propeller spinning anyway, so neutral is out for me. Spinning in gear is where you encounter wear. Other tranny’s may be a different issue.