I was unsure whether, while sailing, what selection to have my transmission in, with the engine off. I have a Universal M3-20B with a Hurth transmission. I came upon this in the E-32 owner's manual:
"To prevent excess wear on the transmission, shaft and strut bearing, and also to reduce drag for more efficient sailing, be sure to place the transmission in reverse after the engine has been shut down while sailing. Note: Leaving the transmission in the “Forward” position while sailing after shutting down the engine will “glaze” the transmission plates and cause slippage when the engine is running in gear."
Then I searched for a thread on the issue. From what I read in this thread it appears that sailing with engine off and the selector in neutral, the prop will be spinning but the shaft will not be lubricated as it should be. This is significant and confirms the preceding paragraph. I have been told that if the transmission is in reverse and the engine is started, real damage will occur. I've gotten in the habit of making sure I am not in reverse when I start, but if I always sail in reverse, I am concerned that someday, in an emergency, I may make a mistake and not check. Will starting in reverse do damage and to what? Thanks