[C320-list] FW: Re: Neutral or Reverse

Sun Mar 25 16:14:05 PDT 2007

Karl, your right that a FEATHERED prop has less drag than a spinning
(or for that matter, a stationary) fixed pitch, non-folding prop. 
However, it's darned difficult to feather a fixed prop, and if a fixed
prop is free wheeling, it is my experience in several summers of
racing, that freewheeling the prop it will produce less drag (read that
is faster) than when I locked my prop.  

Try the experiment.  I did several times, and I always found that free
wheeling my fixed prop (a 2 blade prop on my Cal 27, and a 3 blade prop
on my Cat-30T) was faster than locking the prop in reverse (even with
the prop blades lined up properly behind the strut).  

At a speed (under sail) of 3 - 6 knots, shift your transmission into
gear (or out as the case may be).  If you allow the prop to freewheel,
your speed should increase, and you should notice an immediate loss of
speed when you shift the trans back into reverse.

This discussion ONLY applies to Fixed props,and I can make no comment
on feathering props.

Steve
Alchemist #909

--- Kirk McCullough <kirk.mccullough at telus.net> wrote:

> I have read in a number of publications over the past 10 or 15 years
> that a 
> stationary prop creates less drag that one that is rotating (
> freewheeling). 
> I have never noticed any difference however, when trying "in gear" vs
> "out 
> of gear" sailing.
> 
> Kirk McCullough
> Boomerang #124
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Karl Mielenhausen _/) " <kmielen at iwon.com>
> To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 5:25 AM
> Subject: [C320-list] FW: Re: Neutral or Reverse
> 
> 
> >
> > Steve,
> >
> >
> >
> > In aviation, we were taught that a windmilling (ie. free-spinning
> prop, 
> > unpowered) creates more drag than a feathered (ie. stopped) prop. I
> had 
> > always assumed the principle to be the same in sailing, even though
> the 
> > speeds and fluids are different!!
> >
> > Do you have data to suggest otherwise?
> >
> >
> >
> > Karl Mielenhausen
> >
> > 2000 C320 Hull#690 "Silver Lining"
> >
> > New Bern, NC
> >
> > http://pages.suddenlink.net/kmielen/
> >
> > From: Steve Magennis [mailto: magenns at yahoo.com]
> >
> > To: c320-list at catalina320.com
> >
> > Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 05:19:40 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Neutral or Reverse
> >
> >
> >
> > My experience is that sailing with the transmission in reverse
> (with 
> > afixed pitch prop) = prop doesn't rotate, resulting in MORE
> drag.Try it if 
> > you don't believe it.  You won't damage your engine or 
> > yourtransmission.Get to sailing with the prop in reverse, and shift
> into 
> > neutral. Unless you are at hull speed, your speed should increase 
> > fairlyrapidly.  Now, shift into reverse.  Your speed should drop. 
> > Repeatseveral times to convince yourself.However, having the prop 
> > free-wheel can be annoying, so I only did itwhen I was racing. 
> Now, I 
> > always lock the prop in reverse as I have afolder.SteveAlchemist
> #909---  
> > Len <aqua5len at gmail.com> wrote:> My understanding is that sailing
> in 
> > reverse = prop doesn't rotate,> resulting> in less drag.> > Len
> Krane> 
> > Aqua5     #1070> > On 3/24/07, alahlm at comcast.net
> <alahlm at comcast.net> 
> > wrote:> >> > Dick> >     what's going to wear out? when it's in
> neutral 
> > none of the> gears are> > engaged, other than the main shaft
> rotating 
> > nothing else should
> > be> moving.> > I've always left mine in neutral an in nine years
> haven't 
> > had any> problems> > yet.> >> >     Al Ahlman> >        #476> >> 
> >  > -------------- Original message --------------> > From: "Richard
> A. 
> > Walker" <dickwalker at att.net>> >> > > Wear on the transmission.> >
> >> > > 
> > Cheers,> > >> > > Dick and Jauhree Walker> > > 740 Olive Ave.> > > 
> > Coronado, CA 92118-2136> > > 619.435.8986> > >> > >> > >> > 
> >  > -----Original Message-----> > > From:
> c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com> 
> >  > > [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
> Robert> 
> > Seastream> > > Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 4:50 PM> > > To:
> C320-List> > 
> >  > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Neutral or Reverse> > >> > > Why not
> neutral?> 
> >  > >> > > Bob Seastream> > > 'Intuition' hull 906> > >> > > On Mar
> 23, 
> > 2007, at 7:11 PM, Richard A. Walker wrote:> > >> > > > Complex
> Answer.> > 
> >  > >> > > > If you have an AUTOPROP - Forward so it will feather.>
> > > >> > 
> >  > > Yanmar 3GM - reverse to cut down on the wear of the>
> transmission.>
> >> > >> > > > Cheers,> > > >> > > > Dick Walker> > > > C-320 (687) 
> >> > >> > > > WindWalker II> > > > 740 Olive Ave.> > > > Coronado, CA
> 
> >> > >> > > > 92118-2136> > > > 619.435.8986> > > >> > > >
> -----Original 
> >> > >> > > > Message-----> > > > From:
> c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com> > 
> >> > >> > > >  > > [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On
> Behalf Of> 
> >> > >> > > > brucestanley> > > > Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 4:07
> PM> > > 
> >> > >> > > >  > To: C320-List> > > > Subject: [C320-list] Neutral or
> 
> >> > >> > > > Reverse> > > >> > > > depends on your Gear Box> > > >
> Check 
> >> > >> > > > your Mechanic> > > > or, better still> > > > Buy a 
> >> > >> > > > Feathering/Folding Prop> > > > FWIW I have a Kiwi
> Feather Prop 
> >> > >> > > > ($US1250)> > > >> > > > Bruce Stanley> > > > C320
> #1084> > > 
> >> > >> > > >  >> > > >> > > > Original Message -----> > > > From:
> "mike 
> >> > >> > > > hunter"> > > > Subject: [C320-list] Neutral or Reverse>
> > > >> 
> >> > >> > > >  > > >> > > >> Is it better to sail with the
> transmission in 
> >> > >> > > > neutral or> reverse?> > > >> I've> > > >> had people
> tell me 
> >> > >> > > > both???> > > >>> > > >> Thanks!> > > >> Mike> > > >>
> #637> > > 
> >> > >> > > >  >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> >
> >>> >> 
> >>> >>
>
____________________________________________________________________________________Get
> 
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> > _______________________________________________
> >
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> > 11:07 AM
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> > 
> 
> 
> 

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