Mahe 36: Transmission position while sailing???

[Jerry Woodward]

I know this has been discussed at length on different threads, and I thought I finally had an understanding that most modern saildrives should be left in neutral while sailing. However, I am chartering a 2015 Mahe 36 Evolution next week and the charter outfit emailed me instructions with big bold red letters: Whilst under sail, put the throttle controls in reverse. Be careful not to force the controls into gear. If the gears are hard, please restart the engines until the controls go into gear smoothly to avoid breaking the throttle cables.


This doesn't make sense to me. Is this what other Mahe owners do?


Jerry

[DtM]

No is the simple answer but this debate never ends.

[Jerry Woodward]

I may have answered my own question. This is from the Volvo Penta owners manual states that with a Volvo Penta S-drive, the transmission should be put in reverse when sailing IF it has folding props.

I believe the new Mahe 36 Evo has the S-drive, and I assume it has folding props which would mandate that the transmission be placed in reverse when sailing.

[Seastream]

Correct. I also have folding props. Keeping the engine in gear (F/R doesn't matter) ensures that the props will fold. Decreases their drag, increases boat speed. I think that with fixed props you'd want to be in neutral so they'd spin, giving similar drag/speed benefits. Some say that sailing in neutral with fixed props puts more wear on bearings, propshaft, etc. in the form of runtime hours.

[rabbi]

Originally Posted by Seastream

Correct. I also have folding props. Keeping the engine in gear (F/R doesn't matter) ensures that the props will fold. Decreases their drag, increases boat speed. I think that with fixed props you'd want to be in neutral so they'd spin, giving similar drag/speed benefits. Some say that sailing in neutral with fixed props puts more wear on bearings, propshaft, etc. in the form of runtime hours.

I think i read the same in the VP user manual: Reverse gear for foding props, neutral for fixed props.

The point about wear is certainly valid but in a test about folding props some magazine included drag figures of 2blade fixed props. Putting them in reverse mlre than doubled the drag compared to neutral