Rotating prop while sailing

Maine Sail · Jul 13, 2013

Akapeterc said:
Several times I have noticed when stopping the motor and start sailing that the prop will be rotating making a whining sound. If I put it into & out of gear a couple of times it seems to stop and it's doesn't spin any more. I think it may have happened because I didn't select neutral before stopping the motor. Is it okay to have the prop spinning while sailing. It makes a bit of noise but would there be less drag?

If you have a Yanmar they want the gear/prop to be in neutral. Locking it in reverse or leaving it in forward will void the warranty. If you desire to lock the shaft they suggest a shaft lock.

Benny17441 · Jul 13, 2013

Yes and Yes. Check the archives, as that horse has been beaten to death.

heritage · Jul 13, 2013

Video

Maine Sail made a video a few years ago that showed that a locked/fixed prop does cause more drag. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI-UG9RSlJo.

On our Oday, the noise of the spinning prop while under sail is only noticeable above 6 knots. At 7 knots it would be considered irritating if not for the fact that it is such a rush to be going that fast.

artboas · Jul 15, 2013

Simple answer

Akapeterc said:
Several times I have noticed when stopping the motor and start sailing that the prop will be rotating making a whining sound. If I put it into & out of gear a couple of times it seems to stop and it's doesn't spin any more. I think it may have happened because I didn't select neutral before stopping the motor. Is it okay to have the prop spinning while sailing. It makes a bit of noise but would there be less drag?

Buy a feathering prop.
The advantages are too numerous to list.
Either max or vari. Both excellent.

H45DS · Jul 15, 2013

artboas said:
Buy a feathering prop.
The advantages are too numerous to list.
Either max or vari. Both excellent.

I have a MaxProp (3 blade) which will spin the shaft while sailing (in neutral). I spoke with MaxProp, and they indicated this is normal given that prop won't always completely feather. Thoughts?

Hannah Quinn · Jul 15, 2013

I also have a three blade max prop. After the engine is off I place the transmission in reverse and than back to neutral and takes the "spin" out of it. Works awesome, won't own a boat now without a max prop

quadrille38 · Jul 17, 2013

I too have a 3 blade Max and love it.

Instructions that cam with said to turn engine off while still in forward. This will provide just enough pressure to make the blades feather. Then shift to neutral after just a few seconds.

No whirling.

It is important that the Max had grease fitting and it needs to be greased periodically (here it is at winter haul out) to insure smooth operation and to make sure the grease forces any water out of the gears before winter freeze occurs

PKFK · Jul 18, 2013

I have the vari-prop and also love it - boat backs straight, and when you want to stop - whoh ! its like having car brakes.....really stops the boat.

One interesting point though - Maine mentioned that yanmar voids the warranty if sailing in Reverse - but the Variprop manual states that they are Yanmar "approved", AND to put the engine in REVERSE before shutting down in order to feather the prop !

So what I do is a short spin of reverse, kill the engine, and then shift to neutral. The shaft does not spin at all once I do this.

Oh - and BTW - get out your check-book.....a Variprop is several (3 to 4) "boat-units" of cash (1 BU = $1K)

Paul