[navtron]

Spoke with Yanmar Dealer at 2 Boat Shows.
They both say it is alright to freewheel because the shaft inside spins up the oil.

 

[navtron]

Ive been racing for sometime and have tested with the free wheeling prop and locked. I have found freewheeling gives me more speed....Think about it....a fan in a room and a breeze blowing in the window. If fan free wheels the breeze blows in unobstructed as it turns the fan...with it locked it will prevent breeze from coming in, stops flow.

 

[navtron]

A folding prop definitely has less resistance

 

[navtron]

On a two bladed prop if close to keel and lined up with it, will give less drag if locked cross ways...but another factor is the turbulance the locked prop creates. It now effects the rudder surface(it will also put a drag on the vessel) which will not allow you to point as high, plus much less control when heeled over...turbulance creates air bubbles and pockets of different pressures not needed by the rudder

 

[navtron]

I also have not seen a neutral saftey on small sailboats....2 & 3 cyl...but I always let my prop freewheel...my last boat for 15 years...sailed to bermuda, bahamas, florida, carolinas...never had a problem with the trany...I went to the N.Y. boat show and Atlantic City boat show(2001)...The Yanmar Factory Reps and their dealers said it is OK to freewheel...won''t hurt tranny...I do feel when prop is locked it creates more drag and water disturbance pass the rudder(air bubbles and such) giving less control...In my racing I find when I lock it, my speed goes down...I lock it several times in different positions but lose speed...