Captain/Owner Sleeping at the Helm

[StuM]

I think you meant to say:

Originally Posted by wingssail

So you actually have some experience of similar identical yachts racing with identically skilled crew, one with a locked off propeller and one with it free wheeling, and you actually measured the difference?
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[StuM]

Originally Posted by Dalestr

Only on saildrives and outboards do you have true free-wheeling and otherwise you get much noise, wear on the shaft bearing, greater debris snag potential and a spinning folding or feathering prop will wear out much faster so this really should be avoided.

Just to get a bit of perspective back:
This whole discussion originated from Post #1 where the vessel was identified as a 2006 Lagoon 45 i.e saildrives and the OP unilaterally put them in reverse when the Captain didn't listen to his bad advise.

[Dalestr]

Not sure the the cat's drive configuration was stated though with a search I found a Sail magazine article that suggests for 2017 at least it uses 45hp (or greater) Yanmar saildrives and folding props were standard. If that's the case here I think Yanmar allows locking of these props.
https://www.sailmagazine.com/boats/b...ew-lagoon-450s
Maybe the OP actually was on the right track then. I don't think we know what type props she actually had. Some may assume these were fixed blade props because they were spinning but I don't think that is evidence.

I wonder why these sail legs were noisy though. I think some bevel gears remain engaged on these sail-drives, the shifting and the dog clutch, unlike an outboard motor, is located high in the leg, so that could equate with the noise -- but a spinning folding prop will 'work' slightly on each rotation against their mating gears, the bottom blade trying to droop and that could explain greater noise/vibration. Just a guess.

[PineyWoodsPete]

Originally Posted by Dalestr

Not sure the the cat's drive configuration was stated though with a search I found a Sail magazine article that suggests for 2017 at least it uses 45hp (or greater) Yanmar saildrives and folding props were standard. If that's the case here I think Yanmar allows locking of these props.
https://www.sailmagazine.com/boats/b...ew-lagoon-450s
Maybe the OP actually was on the right track then. I don't think we know what type props she actually had. Some may assume these were fixed blade props because they were spinning but I don't think that is evidence.

I wonder why these sail legs were noisy though. I think some bevel gears remain engaged on these sail-drives, the shifting and the dog clutch, unlike an outboard motor, is located high in the leg, so that could equate with the noise -- but a spinning folding prop will 'work' slightly on each rotation against their mating gears, the bottom blade trying to droop and that could explain greater noise/vibration. Just a guess.

Our smaller Yanmar saildrives on the F-P 37 made an unearthly whine with the fixed 2-bladers free-wheeling at high speeds, such as in the "gale on the tail" running down N. Cal. coast S. of Cape Mendocino, under the little Solent jib only. Boat speeds of ~10kt in the troughs of the 10-12' long period seas, and 15-18 surfing down the faces, with the bow waves fire-hosing the bridge deck underside to add to the cacaphony. Rarely saw apparent wind less than 25kt over the half-day it lasted. No vibrations at all.