"beaufortnc" wrote:

Hi,

In previous threads, I've read that, even though the manual for the
velvet drive (w/ a perkins 4-108) can be freewheeled while sailing,
real experience proves this to be harmful and even catastrophic to the
tranny.

Some suggest that if the motor is started periodically (6-8 hours) then
the tranny will be ok.

Should we just plan on starting the motor every 6 hours and motor
sailing for twenty minutes before shutting the motor down?

or

Should we bite the bullet and buy a Maxprop?

We have a Perkins 4-154 and a velvet drive. We also have engine
driven refrigeration, which we run for about 35-40 minutes twice a
day. So with that in mind, the problem with free-wheeling didn't
really come up.

But the shaft turning was so NOISY that we hated it. It was as noisy
as living next to a freeway, and there wasn't any way to stop it
turning except to put vice grips on it (one of our sister ships did
that, but I didn't think it was a good idea). For that reason, we got
a Maxprop, and we really love it. Sailing is quiet again.

---

Hey Glenn - while you're making a prop, maybe you could whip up one for
me too!

Thanks,

Mike.

grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id1.html