Should you engage your transmission while sailing

[Rick Evans]

I keep getting conflicting advice and am hoping to find some consensus here. When under sail and the engine shut off, should you put your transmission in gear to avoid the prop spinning or should you leave it in neutral? If in gear, should it be forward or reverse? I've been told both. Last comment was to engage in forward gear to avoid burning out transmission cones. I don't have a shaft brake and don't really care to install one since it's a pain to get to my shaft and I don't want to have to do it every time. I have a Beneteau 321 with a 27 HP Yanmar.

 

[Peter Burns]

Gear position while under sail

While under sail your transmission should be in reverse gear. The wheel will not spin as it will lock naturaly.

 

[Randy Wallace]

transmission while sailing

I've seen this discussion several times over the years and there are always different answers, sometimes from "experts". I would suggest you check the owner's manual for your engine/transmission and go with what they say. My Westerbeke 30B (27hp) says to always sail in neutral.

 

[danknoxsf]

I agree with Randy.

Hi Rick--I agree with Randy. Check your manual. That's always sound advice. I have heard possible answer to this question.What do I do? When I have a choice I sail in neutral and lock down the shaft. If I can not lock down the shaft I leave it in neutral anyway. But whatever you do I can assure you that someone will say you are doing it wrong. About the only thing you can do to please everyone is to take the engine out of the boat and sail everywhere!Frankly I wouldn't worry much about this unless you are racing. Prop drag is not going to be a big deal non-racers.--Dan