Sooo.... based on what you're saying above if I understand it right, is that the faster the propeller rotates when freewheeling, the slower the boat must sail (is that right?)
>>Not exactly. If the prop is unlocked and the boat is not moving (and no current), then the prop doesn't spin. As the boat moves fast enough to overcome the friction of the cutlass bearing and whatever, the prop begins to turn. As the boat goes faster, the prop will turn faster, too. (Windmills do this, too... they turn faster in higher wind.) It's just that the boat won't be going as fast as it would if the prop was locked. <<
Neil
So we are back to the question i asked you earlier, if i slow the freewheeling prop shaft by hand, does the boat speed up or slow down? You said earlier, it speeds up. Now, it sounds like you wish to reverse yourself??
>>Actually, it reaches its maximum speed before you start to stop
the boat. If you apply forces to stop the boat while the prop is spinning quickly, the spinning prop will, as the boat slows sufficiently, begin to provide thrust rather than drag. The effect will be that the boat won't stop as quickly so you're more likely to over run your mooring.<<
Neil,
What you are saying here is that a boat with a propeller that is allowed to spin wont stop as quickly as a boat whose propeller is locked. I agree with you. There is more drag with a locked propeller. Now you're getting it.
...and you dont believe that if I unlock the prop BEFORE I start sailing, that it will begin at ZERO RPMs and increase RPMs as the boat gains speed, hhmmm..
>>Yes, I do believe that it starts at zero (just like a windmill with no wind) and spins faster as the boat goes faster (just like a windmill with more wind).<<
Neil,
Here you say a freewheeling prop spins faster as the boat goes faster. But, apparently, I cant deduce from that, that if a propeller speeds up, the boat has speeded up?? Can I deduce that if the windmill speeds up that the wind has picked up?(all other things remaining the same)
Darrell