I have been leaving my transmission in neutral when sailing, but have read discussions saying you should put it in gear. Some say reverse? I have a Kanzaki KM3a transmission if that matters? The manual doesn't make mention of this, so just asking what you do?

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

In general, marine transmissions should be in reverse or nuetral. I had a long discussion on another forum about the Borg Warner, as this is a fluid drive like an automatic. The idea of the trans turning while the engine is not running worried me. Borg Warner originally had a warning about this in the manual, but they later retracted it, and advised to keep the trans in reverse when sailing.
The best solution? Buy a feathering prop.
Since I do not know your specific trans, I will say nuetral if it is a gear drive, and reverse if it is hydraulic.

__________________
There is no better bilge pump than a scared sailor with a bucket.

I don't know about your transmission but most are to be kept in neutral and have a lock to keep it from turning from the force of the water. It seems that the trans turning will put wear on the bearings/etc without lubrication. You can imagine the rest.

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What the hell did I just do

The manual shows:

Model Transmission

3GMD KM3A
3GM30 KM3A or KM3P
3GM30F KM3A or KM3P

The manual only says: Oil contained in the transmission case lubricates the internal transmission components.

I certainly see no pump of any kind.

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

I keep mine in reverse and have a feathering prop. It likes to be in reverse better than in neutral.

__________________
"Money is not the only thing one has to spend; the other thing is life. The difference is that you never know how much is in the bank, or what your balance is. Your life is your inheritance. As soon as you realize this, you start trying to spend your life wisely." - From "Advice to the Sealorn" by Herb Payson.

You would not see the pump. It is internal.
Shu, most boats do not have a shaft lock, although, they should. That is an item well worth adding.

__________________
There is no better bilge pump than a scared sailor with a bucket.

Thanks Charlie. I hope things are well with your boat.

I do not have a shaft lock I'm guessing. The transmission does turn when I'm sailing, but slowly.

I looked at the manual and in the rebuild chapter I see no pump. I'll have a look throught the parts manual.

I guess it couldn't hurt to leave it in reverse anyway? The engine will start in gear, because I accidentally did this once. No harm there.

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.

I...got one!
Thank you previous owner.

__________________
What the hell did I just do

When in doubt, do what the manual says. When that's not clear, do what these guys say.

All I know about this stuff is that with my old 45' monohull, I was sailing along in neutral at a nice clip. I jammed it into reverse to see how she'd do with a locked prop and we lost 2 knots of speed off the boat. I also nearly lost my transmission doing that at 6.5 knots!! YIKES! Duh!

But the moral of my experience is that it's an incredible drag on the boat unless you have a folding prop. I don't know theory... that's just real life experience with a 3 blade bronze non-folding prop on a 45' monohull.

As to catamarans, many have sail drives. Yanmar says saildrives should always be kept in neutral when sailing to avoid pressure on the shifting pins. You'll void the warranty on a saildrive if you keep it in gear instead of freewheeling.

I like freewheeling props myself.

So, is there a consensus here? The manual doesn't give me an answer. Charlie's answer makes sense...*if* you have a folding prop. There would be less drag, and no reason to have it freewheel.

__________________
"Everybody has to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
--W.C. Fields

Hunter 36
s/v FUGUE
Kemah, Tx.