hydraulic transmission

[canadianseamonkey]

Does anybody out here have a hydraulic transmission on their sailboat? What is the best way to keep the propeller shaft from turning? Would you recommend a hydraulic shaft brake, a manual one or is a feathering/folding prop the way to go? I'm pushing a 36' Morgan with a 42 hp Perkins.

Thanks.

[pigslo]

What is the make and model of the transmission. Some can freewheel and some can't.

[canadianseamonkey]

That's something I don't know right now. I bought the boat a few months ago and it's in storage at the moment. I do know that my tranny does heat up. The previous owner would start the engine every 1/2 hour to cool it down, I really don't want to be doing that. From everything I've read about hydraulic trannys, I was under the impression that freewheeling wasn't good as it would heat up the tranny. What is your suggestion in this case?

[pigslo]

I have a Perkins 4.108 that has a Borg Warner velvet Drive behind it that I allow to free wheel. Morgan used this engine and tranny in thousands of boats. What is the year your boat was built? Search this site with a search term of "free-wheel" or transmission and you will see posts that refer to the different brands and whether the owners lock the shaft or not. The danger in locking the shaft is you better remember to unlock when you start.
pigslo

[canadianseamonkey]

Thanks Pigslo. My Morgan is a 1973, but the engine has been replaced. I just e-mailed the previous owner for the make and model. I agree with you about forgetting to release the brake, that's why I think the folding prop might be the way to go.