The Goblin's Running Gear


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Posted by Dan Lind on September 19, 2006 at 20:42:10 from 70.69.183.186 user captain.

In WDMTGTS, Ted Walker made a mistake after he told Roger to, "Nip down and turn the petrol off." and then, "... pushed the gears into neutral."

This would have left the propeller, prop shaft, and assorted transmission gears to free-wheel, that is turn continuously (driven by the propeller moving through the water) as long as the Goblin was moving. This would cause unnecessary wear and tear on the cutlass bearing and transmission.

On a short passage this wouldn't be a big probem, but imagine several passages of several weeks over several years. Walker should have know better.

He should have put the transmission in gear, thus causing the engine to act as a brake and stop the rotation. Granted, this can cause propeller drag. Sailboats generally have either two or three blade fixed-blade props, or two of three blade folding props.

A folding prop would cause very little drag. A two blade fixed prop would cause some drag, although there are ways to brake a two blade so as it stops vertically behind the keel and causes minimum drag. A three blade fixed prop would slow a boat down but this is, as most things, a trade off. One can loose a few tenths of a knot, but save your running gear.

I suspect Roger quietly shoved the transmission in gear to protect all of his responsibility.



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