1983 Catalina 30 (new acquisition) I have heard some sail in neutral, some with the shifter in reverse. What's appropriate for the Universal 5411? thanks Joe
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Ron
Transmission Position
Joe, according to Dick Dickens, author and editor of 'A Compendium of Owners Modifications, Experiences, Maintenance and Care of C-30 Yachts', you should put the transmission in Reverse while sailing. The following was taken from a letter he wrote to an owner who complained about a costly rebuild to his Hurth transmission: 'Sounds to me like glazed cluthes, which result from sailing with the shift lever not locked in the reverse position. The Hurth transmission is always in gear. Its operation is by a clutch engamement system. If in the forward or neutral position, the prop will spin causing the clutch faces that are spinning to become glazed, which causes slipping and eventual failure of the clutches. If you are familiar with a stick-shift auto, the action is the same as riding the clutch. The warning sign of slipping clutches is manifest by the need to rev the engine to shift into gear. An action that aggravates the conditon.' Hope this helps. Ron C-30 Seascape
Joe, according to Dick Dickens, author and editor of 'A Compendium of Owners Modifications, Experiences, Maintenance and Care of C-30 Yachts', you should put the transmission in Reverse while sailing. The following was taken from a letter he wrote to an owner who complained about a costly rebuild to his Hurth transmission: 'Sounds to me like glazed cluthes, which result from sailing with the shift lever not locked in the reverse position. The Hurth transmission is always in gear. Its operation is by a clutch engamement system. If in the forward or neutral position, the prop will spin causing the clutch faces that are spinning to become glazed, which causes slipping and eventual failure of the clutches. If you are familiar with a stick-shift auto, the action is the same as riding the clutch. The warning sign of slipping clutches is manifest by the need to rev the engine to shift into gear. An action that aggravates the conditon.' Hope this helps. Ron C-30 Seascape
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Ron
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Ron
Three "Rons" Can't be Wrong
On my Cat 320 I sail with the transmission shifted into Reverse. Forward or Neutral leaves my shaft spinning, and all the experts that I've talked to claim that causes the transmission to run essentially unlubricated. --Ron s/v Lady Jane
On my Cat 320 I sail with the transmission shifted into Reverse. Forward or Neutral leaves my shaft spinning, and all the experts that I've talked to claim that causes the transmission to run essentially unlubricated. --Ron s/v Lady Jane
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Tim Dranttel
M-25 stays in Neutral
The owners manual for my M-25 Universal specifically states that the transmission must be in neutral to prevent damage to the forward or reverse gear in the transmission. Since transmissions are lubricated via spash not pressure, I don't see the harm. I'm just a cave man sailor though. Hate to go agains the Rons but that's what my manual says.
The owners manual for my M-25 Universal specifically states that the transmission must be in neutral to prevent damage to the forward or reverse gear in the transmission. Since transmissions are lubricated via spash not pressure, I don't see the harm. I'm just a cave man sailor though. Hate to go agains the Rons but that's what my manual says.
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Rick
My manual says...
Neutral OR reverse is ok for the HWB-50 transmission on a M25xp. Neutral allows the prop to freewheel but doesn't really start to spin until the boat gets over about 4 kts of speed. Reverse locks the shaft so that nothing spins, but also knocks off about .5 kts of boat speed. Forward allows spinning and drags the clutch plates together. Not recommended. There are no internal oil pumps in this transmission that would be damaged by freewheeling in neutral (as in the case of other transmissions that specifically prohibit freewheeling in neutral). All this assumes that you have a fixed pitch prop. Freewheeling in neutral is faster but makes a slight noise and vibration so I drop it into reverse and enjoy the quiet. If another boat is near and I need to go a little faster then I put it in neutral and gain a half knot.
Neutral OR reverse is ok for the HWB-50 transmission on a M25xp. Neutral allows the prop to freewheel but doesn't really start to spin until the boat gets over about 4 kts of speed. Reverse locks the shaft so that nothing spins, but also knocks off about .5 kts of boat speed. Forward allows spinning and drags the clutch plates together. Not recommended. There are no internal oil pumps in this transmission that would be damaged by freewheeling in neutral (as in the case of other transmissions that specifically prohibit freewheeling in neutral). All this assumes that you have a fixed pitch prop. Freewheeling in neutral is faster but makes a slight noise and vibration so I drop it into reverse and enjoy the quiet. If another boat is near and I need to go a little faster then I put it in neutral and gain a half knot.
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Denny Fegan
Another Opinion
Ron, I talked with Hurth some time ago on this topic. They recommended either neutral or reverse. I have owned by boat over 10 years and normally leave it in neutral to reduce drag. Never have had any problems.
Ron, I talked with Hurth some time ago on this topic. They recommended either neutral or reverse. I have owned by boat over 10 years and normally leave it in neutral to reduce drag. Never have had any problems.
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Joe R., SV Skooky 3 - Cat 30
Ron & Denny
Let me be sure I dont inadvertentlly make a big mistake. You guys are NOT talking about the transmission that goes with the 5211. R-I-G-H-T? And I should leave mine in reverse, not neutral. R-I-G-H-T ps. thanks to the 3 Rons (I'll act on your advise). But 33% of my reason for selling my previous boat and acquiring the Cat 30 was because I hate being passed and would not like to lose half a knot. My previous boat was within half a knot of the cat 30. Oh boy Joe
Let me be sure I dont inadvertentlly make a big mistake. You guys are NOT talking about the transmission that goes with the 5211. R-I-G-H-T? And I should leave mine in reverse, not neutral. R-I-G-H-T ps. thanks to the 3 Rons (I'll act on your advise). But 33% of my reason for selling my previous boat and acquiring the Cat 30 was because I hate being passed and would not like to lose half a knot. My previous boat was within half a knot of the cat 30. Oh boy Joe
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Ron
Get a feathering prop ...
... if a 1/2 knot of speed makes a big difference. My boat (Catalina 320) has a Yanmar engine & whatever stock transmission they put on it. Plus a 3-blade fixed prop. I have a shoal-draft wing keel, too. I don't race (just isn't something I care about), but that combo would certainly work against my boat's performance. For day sailing and coastal cruising, however, the combo works fine. --Ron s/v Lady Jane
... if a 1/2 knot of speed makes a big difference. My boat (Catalina 320) has a Yanmar engine & whatever stock transmission they put on it. Plus a 3-blade fixed prop. I have a shoal-draft wing keel, too. I don't race (just isn't something I care about), but that combo would certainly work against my boat's performance. For day sailing and coastal cruising, however, the combo works fine. --Ron s/v Lady Jane
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