We have had much discussion about the proper placement of the gear shift when under sail. Some say forward, some say neutral and some say reverse. Can anyone clarify this and include the reason why. Much thanks.
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transmission
Assuming you have a Hurth transmission, it should be left in neutral or reverse. Leaving it in forward will damage the transmission. Here's a link to the owners manual for a Universal M25 with Hurth transmission. http://www.marinedieseldirect.com/universal/200157/universal-owners-hurth-transmission.html
Assuming you have a Hurth transmission, it should be left in neutral or reverse. Leaving it in forward will damage the transmission. Here's a link to the owners manual for a Universal M25 with Hurth transmission. http://www.marinedieseldirect.com/universal/200157/universal-owners-hurth-transmission.html
Put It in Reverse
I e-mailed Westerbeke/Universal and was told to put the transmission in reverse when under sail.
I e-mailed Westerbeke/Universal and was told to put the transmission in reverse when under sail.
As noted...
Many manufacturers actually recommend reverse. Someone, with far more apparent knowledge of physics and hydrodynamics, made a very cogent argument that a stopped propeller generated less drag than a turning one. I, personally, found his arguments very convincing. Lastly, when my tranny is left in neutral or forward, it makes a very unpleasant noise. Years, and years, of behavioral modification have left me with an irrepressible association between bad noises and bad things happening and an irresistible compulsion to stop such noises. Hence my tranny seems to inevitably find its way into reverse. At some 16,000+ pounds of displacement, starting a diesel inadvertently in gear gives me little concern...it takes a while for the prop to have any effect on her motion. Decades of water skiing makes me instinctively check the water around the boat before ever starting the engine.
Many manufacturers actually recommend reverse. Someone, with far more apparent knowledge of physics and hydrodynamics, made a very cogent argument that a stopped propeller generated less drag than a turning one. I, personally, found his arguments very convincing. Lastly, when my tranny is left in neutral or forward, it makes a very unpleasant noise. Years, and years, of behavioral modification have left me with an irrepressible association between bad noises and bad things happening and an irresistible compulsion to stop such noises. Hence my tranny seems to inevitably find its way into reverse. At some 16,000+ pounds of displacement, starting a diesel inadvertently in gear gives me little concern...it takes a while for the prop to have any effect on her motion. Decades of water skiing makes me instinctively check the water around the boat before ever starting the engine.
does it matter when you shift?
Given that reverse is the proper shifter position while sailing, the next question is whether it is better to shift into reverse just before or just after shutting down the engine? (or does it matter?)
Given that reverse is the proper shifter position while sailing, the next question is whether it is better to shift into reverse just before or just after shutting down the engine? (or does it matter?)
After is just fine because
if you read the link I posted above, which has the original instructions, it says either neutral or reverse but NOT forward. Stu
if you read the link I posted above, which has the original instructions, it says either neutral or reverse but NOT forward. Stu
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