Throttle Position for Folding Prop when sailing

[UFO]

Just in a bored moment I was reading the Volvo manual for my 130S Sail drive with a 3 blade Folding prop and it states that when sailing the Throttle should be left in the Reverse Position.


I normally flip it into reverse and then back to Neutral - In 4 years I have only ever heard the prop spin once and a quick Reverse to neutral again sorted it out.


Is it a very bad practice what I have been doing?

[a64pilot]

I think what you have been doing is fine, once folded it really shouldn’t matter what the gear selection is, and even if it were to unfold and begin to rotate, it shouldn’t hurt anything, many boats prop spins for thousands of miles.

[Takamoana]

That is how we have done for the last 7 years without problems. We touch the gear astern after shutting down to ensure the props fold and then back to neutral. Having said that, you could leave the gear in reverse if you choose. Either way, the shafts are not spinning and so no wear & tear. When we had fixed props, there was no way we could leave the gear in neutral underway, the vibration was louder than when the engines were on.

[Jim Cate]

Your practice is the same as ours... and we've done it on several boats for many years. No issues have been noted, and it is one of the reasons that we like folding props!

Jim

[Ip485]

Me2 always done it that way, except my current one is a Yanmar.

[UFO]

Thanks for the responses

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by UFO

I normally flip it into reverse and then back to Neutral

that's how I do mine

[SaltyMetals]

UFO, you say you hv Volvo and i agree that IMHO there is no problem with yr procedure.

IP485 on the other hand says he does the same but there is a warning from Yanmar that you can do it on some models but on others it should be left in reverse. It depends on which gearbox & clutch you have .

Usally putting the gear back into neutral is a good way to see if the prop has feathered/folded since if it has the shaft will not be turning.

[01kiwijohn]

I have a yanmar/ Kanzaki Km2 (?) and I used to leave it in neutral until I read the manual and Knazaki didn't like the prop to spin as it needs the lower shaft turning to pump oil up to the top shaft. I did notice that the prop turned, but slowly, in neutral and didn't want to risk it especially on an extended passage.
Now, I set sail, to let the blades fall into a natural feathered state, then luff up until speed is below 2 knots and engage reverse. I've got about 2000 hours on it since doing that.

[SaltyMetals]

What am i missing kiwi that you find it necessary to luff up and slow to 2 Kn?

[01kiwijohn]

It is not necessary, but prudent.
At a certain engagement point, cone clutches develop a degree of inertia which causes them to complete the process. ( a major reason that plate clutches rendered cones obsolete in automobiles, Better control) I was taught to do this, years ago, because, with a non-feathering prop it is possible to have it lock into reverse with such force that it is difficult to get it back out of gear in order to start the engine. Not good for the shift linkage. Probably not for the transmission either.
I can observe the shaft, on my own boat, by lifting a cockpit locker, and have noticed it continuing to rotate at varying speeds. Sometimes quite quickly, presumably due to picking up a little weed?
To be on the safe side, I've always taught my students to slow the boat before engaging reverse. 2 knots is an arbitrary speed I have chosen as being quantifiable when instructing the crew.