Do you sail with your transmission in gear?

[Whomda]

For those locking their propellers, I have seen more than one engine manufacturer clearly state you should NEVER leave your transmission in Forward under sail with the engine off. If you are locking your shaft, say for folding props, always use reverse.

From the Yanmar SD60 Saildrive Manual:

CAUTION
When the boat sails with engine is off,
the shift position of the sail drive can
be:
• In neutral position and in this case
the propeller is free to rotate.
• In reverse position:

• To lock the fixed propeller.
• To fold the folding propeller.
• To feather the feathering propeller.

CAUTION
Do not put the shifting lever of the sail
drive in forward position, otherwise the
sail drive could be damaged!

[landonshaw]

Volvo Penta recommends for the MD2040 and my sail drive to leave it in neutral.


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[Wanderlust]

I have SD20 saildrives and used to dutifully leave them in neutral as advised by the Yanmar manual. The vibration can be annoying.

Then after reading many comments about having no problems with leaving them in gear, I decided to do so. After more than 3,000 miles I have not experienced any problems. Somehere I read about about the possibility of jamming in gear, but there has been no symptom anything like that on mine.

With dog clutches as in the SD20, I can't see the pressure being enough to rotate the engine. So if it doesn't jam I can't see where the risk is.

I can imagine manufacturers being worried about liability claims if someone starts an engine while still in gear and causes an injury. So I'm wondering if that has something to do with their warnings. Mine will start while in gear ...... not sure if later models do.

[JTHAW]

The bottom line for all....read your manufacturers recommendation, for Your engine/tranny
I have done so with my '90's hurth 100 transmission...
which says to keep it in reverse, when not running the engine...never in forward or neutral ....
read your manual...if you don't have one...get it

[zeehag]

more than one reason to leave in neutral. one is my transmission mfg says to leave in neutral. second, in emergent engine need you have to remember to disengage the tranny before starting engine. that is screwed., sorry.
makes no sense to leave in gear when sailing. drag is nothing.
unless racing then donot have engine. if you worry about the prop spin slowing ye down., get over it.

[Tropic Cat]

I just finished a boat delivery of a Morgan Out Island 36 repowered with a Yanmar 3YM30. Of course this topic came up last week when we were sailing in the Florida Straights, and I had to listen to yet another version of 'lock the prop' is faster from my delivery buddy, who had locked the prop against my recommendation.

Finally I said, "there's the lever" shift to neutral and see what happens. He did, and boat speed increased instantly by 1 Knot and maintained it. He was still unconvinced!! He then proceeded to shift in and out of neutral 3 or 4 times before grudgingly conceding the point.

Unfortunately, that's what it takes with the disbelievers. Once they swallow the 'lock the prop' wive's tale you have to literally make thems sail with the transmission in neutral, and still they try and rationalize the results.

[zeehag]

the only faster you get from lock the prop is repairing trannsmission.
you WILL need untimely repairs from running with a locked prop.
just ask those who do it..lol
(as i knock wood hard many times, as this is only repair i have yet needed to do!)
the manufacturer and his reps ALLLL say do not, yet yottee logik says.... and so now you know why i do not use the help of so many greengoes in pair a dice.

[model 10]

This post never stops. It's not an "old wives tale" to stop the prop to go faster, it's just not true for boat propellers. The operating manual for my Paragon transmission says clearly, "leave the transmission in gear to reduce clutch plate wear". Guess I am doomed to loose that knot of speed because I'm choosing to follow the manuals instructions.

[Slamjunk]

My background is in aviation and I'm new to boats. If the aircraft engine were to stop, they say you get better glide range with the prop stopped. I would say go with what the manufacturer advises.


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[svlamorocha]

Originally Posted by Slamjunk

My background is in aviation and I'm new to boats. If the aircraft engine were to stop, they say you get better glide range with the prop stopped. I would say go with what the manufacturer advises.


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The variables are way different in plans and boats. I remember reading a research paper in which some fluid dynamics nerd worked out the equations that determine what is best as a function of propeller pitch, diameter, disk factor and properties of the fluid. Bottom line is that in most planes it pays to lock the prop and in most boats it pays to let it spin. This has been confirmed by tank testing ad nauseam.

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[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by CCR2580

What is the recommend method of sailing...keep your transmission in gear either forward or reverse to stop the prop from turning or just leave in neutral and let prop turn?

This is hilarious.

An excellent and valid question.

RTFM (Read the friggin manual) for the transmission.

If the manufacturer doesn't care, do what makes the boat work better.
.
(Love your boat BTW.)