Engaging Motor In Gear ( Not Running ) Whilst Anchoring To Eliminate Prop Wind Up

[Moejoes]

Scottars last response to How does your auxilliary perform? has prompt me to ask this question.
Does it damage your outboard motor whilst leaving it in gear ( Not running ) whilst anchoring or drifting to eliminate prop wind up of fishing lines if they get caught around the prop?
This is a practise I have done for 3 to 4 years now due to lines winding up on my props and have never had a problem since as the props do not spin in the current.
I have had a few people on my boat comment that it can't be good for the motors.
I can't see what the problem would be as the load on the motor from the current would be far less than when it was running, plus has saved potential gearbox seal replacements.
Thoughts?

[scottar]

As far as I know it can't hurt them provided you don't force it in if the dogs aren't lining up - usually not an issue with a bit of current as the prop is spinning. Not sure how it would work with the fly by wire jobbies though.

[Moejoes]

I normally either leave them in gear when I shut them down or gently engage them like you said with the current spinning them to get the dogs to engage.
Never force them as yes agree that could maybe stretch control cables or bend something in the linkage setup.
Probably leave the fly by wire engaged before you shut them down.

[Spaniard_King]

sounds like a Suzuki thing

[Noelm]

If the current is strong enough to spin the props, how does your line somehow get back under the props? How about if you had nice shiny stainless props, and they were slowly spinning, they would create the perfect "flasher" that people pay big money for (maybe)

[Feral]

Why not just lift the leg? No tthat I see any problem with leaving it in gear.

[Moejoes]

If the current is strong enough to spin the props, how does your line somehow get back under the props? How about if you had nice shiny stainless props, and they were slowly spinning, they would create the perfect "flasher" that people pay big money for (maybe)

Magic Noelm,
Nah, normally a green horn that gets the nick name Mr Tangles within the first 5mins of a drop.
I very rarely anchor, so generally happens drifting when Mr Tangles does his thing then trying to untangle down the side of the boat and lose lines sometimes manage to creep under the boat & start winding on the prop.
Not that it happens all the time
Just a habit I now do.

I have a pod Feral, lifting the motors would give me another 1/2meter of unfishable area out the back.
Plus raising & lowering is time consuming when you're on a mission

[scottar]

I have a pod Feral, lifting the motors would give me another 1/2meter of unfishable area out the back.
Plus raising & lowering is time consuming when you're on a mission

Plus the loose nut behind the wheel sometimes forgets in his urgency to get back to the top of the drift to have another crack at them - to put the motor in the water. They go better that way apparently........Hmmm, maybe that's just on my boat

[Moejoes]

Plus the loose nut behind the wheel sometimes forgets in his urgency to get back to the top of the drift to have another crack at them - to put the motor in the water. They go better that way apparently........Hmmm, maybe that's just on my boat

Yes that can be a problem Scottar, not just on your boat, plus don't like the thought of wearing hydraulic rams out prematurely

[Moejoes]

sounds like a Suzuki thing

Keep chipping away Garry

One day you might be surprised

[scottar]

Might not be too long and Garry will have go back to school and learn all about Hondas anyway. Application has been made for a new Honda two stroke motor design patent. Not marine just yet but who knows.

[Moejoes]

Might not be too long and Garry will have go back to school and learn all about Hondas anyway. Application has been made for a new Honda two stroke motor design patent. Not marine just yet but who knows.

Garry back to old school?
You know you can't teach an old dog new tricks
Probably MotoX motor.
Why would you go back to 2 stroke? Have to be the ducks nuts of all motors for me to even consider it.
Unless my butterflies let loose on my Suzi's

[scottar]

Why would you go back to 2 stroke?

Never went away from it LOL. Wanna race. I've seen the promo video, I'm a shoe in.

[Moejoes]

Never went away from it LOL. Wanna race. I've seen the promo video, I'm a shoe in.

Are you talking about this?
http://www.gizmag.com/honda-two-stro...-filing/38529/

[Nick H]

I normally either leave them in gear when I shut them down or gently engage them like you said with the current spinning them to get the dogs to engage.
Never force them as yes agree that could maybe stretch control cables or bend something in the linkage setup.
Probably leave the fly by wire engaged before you shut them down.

I've got a yammi 225 with fly by wire and the prop still spins if you kill the engine while in gear. I suppose if there is no power there is no gear selection, it must have a feature that selects the neutral position when turned off.

Cheers Nick