Outboard - freewheel or in gear

[Manny]

Anybody out there know if an outboard can be left in neutral to freewheel or should it be left in gear to keep it from spinning if left down while sailing? Before I get flamed, some days I just go out for a quick sail and don't feel like hanging over the rail trying to tilt and raise the outboard. More often than not I will raise it but I am concerned about hurting the transmission, not about sailing performance. What do you guys do if your towing a dink with an outboard?Thanks, MannyBTW - If it makes a difference I have a Honda BF8. I looked at my manual but it made no mention of the issue

 

[sailaway78]

Don't think it will hurt anything

All outboards have oil that is circulated by the gears turning, so don't see how it can do any harm. And there are thrust bearings designed to take more load than that.

 

[Duane Beaver]

Outboard freewheeling

If I leave my 1975, 2 cycle, 6 HP, Evenrude outboard in forward gear when sailing it floods the motor and makes it very difficult to start with the pull cord. I don't know about 4 cycles or newer motors but I suspect it the same with them. Try it and see but have new plugs to replace the flooded ones if needed.Duane, "Novelman"

 

[Benny17441]

Preferably with the lower end raised out of the water.

We have a trailerable Starwind 223 with a Nissan two stroke 9.9HP. We found out that with the transmission engaged the engine turns which means the fuel pump is working, and the idle passages in the carburator are delivering fuel to the cylinders which unburned seeps out the exaust port. I guess the old gas engine does not have the compression of a diesel engine which may actually lock the prop. We did find out that it was an easy way of starting the engine when our starter cord once broke. Just get it going and switch on the ignition. So my recommendation would be that if you cannot raise the prop out of the water to keep it in freewheeling. It will not hurt the transmission.

 

[Brian M H23]

Offset?

I've found that, with my outboard being offset, it does bad things when I leave it in the water, such as being dragged sideways during a fast tack or being nearly submerged on a big angle of heel. That being said, my transmission has an overrunning clutch in forward, so that i can turn it off and continue coasting to my slip without having to shift out of gear. In reverse, it does not turn, and it makes the boat pull to port liek dragging a bucket. But, if it is in the middle, I feel that most of these problems would go away. Not that spinning the engine over while sailing is not a good thing, so if that happens, let the prop freewheel!

 

[caguy]

No problem here either way.

I have a Honda BF100 and the prop is 3/4 in the water when bracket is up. Too lazy to raise and tilt. When in gear the prop does not turn. When I think about it I put it in neutral to reduce the drag (more theorectical than practical). Frank

 

[SamLust]

If the prop is turning...

...there is something it is turning on, and therefore subject to wear, regardless how benign it seems. I have a Mercury 15 hp as a back-up engine on the center stern of my Hunter 33 (C) which just tips the water while under way. It's just enough to spin the prop in neutral. I leave it in reverse to imobilize the prop. Makes me feel better. For a quick sail, the minimal drag from the lower unit isn't enough to expend energy to think about.As far as the carb filling with gas; No way. Look to a bad float needle. The fuel pumpp puts out only 1.5 PSI and the needle valve MUST be able to hold that. If the crank is being turned by the prop while under way it might be time to look into a ring job to bring compression back up.As to leaving the engine down for a quick sail I'm with you. I just got a 2004 Hunter 260 which is due to go into the water any week now and I can't figure out exactly how I'm supposed to get my butt tover there to raise the 9.9 Honda. I'm tempted to look into adding hydraulic tilt. Just one more thing to corrode away into another repair project.

 

[bffatcat]

Outboards

I dont think leaving the motor in the water when sailing either in gear or out is going to do the motor any good. What I do is swing the motor up so its out of the water. I find that to be the most sensible solution. Im 70 I weight 165 lbs and I dont have to much trouble swinging the motor up but than again it mostly stays that way. I dont use it much, I sail on and off my mooring. I use it mostly for overnighting.

 

[George]

Outboards

It probably depends on the make/model of the engine. Based on these replies, unless you know for sure otherwise I'd err on the side of caution. Not sure if this applies to outboard engines but I've learned that automotive engines parts are designed to be lubricated by an oil pump when turning under normal conditions. I'd say a freewheeling prop is not a "normal condition"Had this experience with a 4 wheel transmission -in most cases the engine has to be running to properly lubricate all the moving parts. When in doubt, pull it out or risk burning something up.

 

[sailaway78]

No comparison

You cannot compare an automotive tranny to the outboard. The auto does need the engine running to run the oil pump in the trans. ( In most cases.) In an outboard there is no oil pump in the trans. It just runs in an oil bath, and lubricates itself by splash, and what the gears pick up and carry. As far as wear and tear on the outboard trans. it doesn't know the difference whether the engine is running or not. I agree it is better to raise it out of the water, but not because it may wear the gear box. And those who have engines that the prop will spin the engine when in gear, you don't have enough compression. The gear ratio in those things would be equal to an overdrive in a car when the prop is turning the engine. And if you have it in reverse, it will spin engine backwards, which is not a good thing.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

not a problem either way..

The outboard is, as stated, usually not hurt by being in the water in neutral and if the prop is freewheeling it's not all that fast-but then my modest venture doesn't go that fast either. What I did find though, is that the weight of the motor on even a smaller outboard(4hp&up)affects the balance drastically when not lifted up out of the water especially if you have a swing mount that puts the motor away from the transom when in use. this affects my boat quite a bit into the wind until i remember to bring it up and tilt it. Just my .02 cents.

 

[craZy dave condon]

both ways

Gents;I have left the engine in neutral or forward to stop the spinning. I have heard many answers. The best advice is go to the dealer in your area rerpesenting that line and plain blunt ask if free spinning will hurt the engine or not. This is the best way to handle. As for the carb filling up, the gent with the float valve saying it was stuck was on the mark.

 

[Manny]

My prop doesn't spin when left in gear

Thanks all, I appreciate all the replies. I'll check with my local Honda shop to see if they know the answer. I know it adds a lot of drag leaving the engine down, but it is a pain to tilt. Raising it is not so bad but a bit of the prop still hits the water if not tilted and even on a good heel it will still submerge. What I would really like is a mount with more travel. Manny

 

[Brian M H23]

I saw a p-23

with his outboard on a track, and a block+ tackle that raised it up. It was pretty slick - the motor always stayed tight to the stern of the boat, and it had a lot of travel.

 

[Capn Ellis]

Benny is right

My Nissaan 9.9 must freewheel because at 2+kn the pistons are working. I single hand a lot and I'm not about to drop the swim ladder, climb down a rung and hang off the stern to raise the motor and risk falling in.BTW - I checked with my handheld GPS and the motor in, freewheeling knocks a whopping two-tenths of a knot off my speed.