Neutral or in gear?

[Like_mike-ike]

When towing the boat, should you have the motor in neutral or in gear?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

When towing a boat or anything else you should most definitely be in gear.... If you are in neutral you'll just sit in one place revving your engine.... now the boat..... it makes no difference whether it is in gear or not since it's "wheel" isn't touching the ground so you may as well leave it in neutral

 

[Like_mike-ike]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

:facepalm: I guess I left myself wide open for that one.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

Sorry, couldn't help myself..... welcome to Iboats BTW

 

[superbenk]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

If the boat isn't running, I can't see any reason to have it in gear. What purpose would that serve?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

depends on the boat... I've seen plenty of towed boats going down the interstate with the prop spinning away like crazy from the air pressure. That is a lot of wear that isn't needed... Putting the boat in gear would prevent that.

 

[raven7]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

Then there will times when you forgot that it's in gear and wonder why the starter won't kick in...

 

[JimS123]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

The big boat uses a transom saver and its towed in neutral. The little tinny always has the engine down all the way and its trailered in reverse (thus has the tilt lock engaged) so it doesn't bounce around on the highway.

 

[Scottimus]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

When towing a boat or anything else you should most definitely be in gear.... If you are in neutral you'll just sit in one place revving your engine.... now the boat..... it makes no difference whether it is in gear or not since it's "wheel" isn't touching the ground so you may as well leave it in neutral

Love it! hahaha Good one...

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

When towing a boat or anything else you should most definitely be in gear...

I can't believe it. I was reading with such interest, then got ya.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

The spinning prop has virtually no load on it. Besides, attempting to shift the unit without the engine running may not allow the unit to go into gear unless someone is turning the prop by hand. It is all about clutch dog meshing. Forcing the shifter may stretch the cable. This is a Non-issue.

 

[chris.j.marshall]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

A friend of my dad's suggested he put the boat in gear before a 250 mile tow. For a long time after, he had problems with getting the boat out of gear while on the water. I'm not really sure what the actual issue was, but can't help but think towing in gear was a major contributing factor. I'll always tow mine in neutral.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

A friend of my dad's suggested he put the boat in gear before a 250 mile tow. For a long time after, he had problems with getting the boat out of gear while on the water. I'm not really sure what the actual issue was, but can't help but think towing in gear was a major contributing factor. I'll always tow mine in neutral.

No matter what subject you want to talk about, somebody will offer anecdotal evidence that there could be a problem. I've towed in gear for 40+ years with no problems, on many different engines. Just think about it for a second.....the engine is designed for tons of pressure in the water.....what could 65 mph of wind harm it?.....LOL.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

The manual with my motor, 115 4 stroke merc, says put it in gear to reduce wear from spinning prop.

glenn

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

I've wondered this same thing now that I have a pontoon boat. Before with my ski boat there never seemed to be enough wind to turn the prop, but the wind coming between the toon's seems to spin the prop from time to time. I see both sides of it, but am curious, if it's in neutral, what wear could this possibly be doing? Is this make the lower unit oil breakdown faster or is the worry with bearings in the lower unit?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

I either put mine in forward, reverse or neutral depending on which direction the wind is blowing. For example, if there's an east or west wind when we're ready to pull out and we're going north or south I'll put her in neutral. That way the prop won't be working against us in the side winds. Conversely, if there's a north wind and we're heading south I'll put her in reverse before we leave, while heading north into a north wind mandates forward. Same goes for heading south into a south wind. I won't get into drag coefficient and that sort of thing.

 

[rbh]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

Spinning props???? HWY boat bling???

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

I either put mine in forward, reverse or neutral depending on which direction the wind is blowing. For example, if there's an east or west wind when we're ready to pull out and we're going north or south I'll put her in neutral. That way the prop won't be working against us in the side winds. Conversely, if there's a north wind and we're heading south I'll put her in reverse before we leave, while heading north into a north wind mandates forward. Same goes for heading south into a south wind. I won't get into drag coefficient and that sort of thing.

I'm suprised you don't also use a transom mounted adjustable spoiler with a turbine duct to the prop to capture that wind effect to blow some of the hot air out of your driver seat...

 

[jjohnson120]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

I'm suprised you don't also use a transom mounted adjustable spoiler with a turbine duct to the prop to capture that wind effect to blow some of the hot air out of your driver seat...

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Neutral or in gear?

I'm suprised you don't also use a transom mounted adjustable spoiler with a turbine duct to the prop to capture that wind effect to blow some of the hot air out of your driver seat...

I would, but it's a party barge. Duh. Anyway, most of the hot air comes from the passenger seat.