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Old 01-21-2019, 05:03 PM
Bratina Bratina is offline
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RPM in reverse - how much is enough?

Like many posters here, I've been at a point where reverse in my A4-powered Grampian 30 is low to non-existent.

I adjusted the reversing gear (one flat of the nut) towards the end of the season last year and it helped a little, although thrust in reverse remains extremely weak. I'm going to install an Indigo 3-blade prop over the winter, which many forum members have noted is more effective than a 2-blade. It's worth a shot, my boat is on the hard, and the cost is relatively low.

For no rational reason I baby my engine - I cringe when my RPMs climb over 2K, and cruise at between 1600 - 1800 (which nets me around 5kt - plenty for my short stint to get off the dock and out to Lake Ontario). I've read at length people noting that you have to 'really gun it' to get decent thrust backwards, but it's never quantified in terms of actual RPM.

So my question is twofold: what is 'gunning it' in reverse? I usually get to 2-2.2K RPM in reverse and, again irrationally, get scared. Likely part of my problem with the 'brakes'.

Second: a lot of forum members note that it's better for the engine to run at a higher RPM. Should I be scared cruising at 2,000 - 2,200 rpm or higher? Is it true that it's easier on the engine? If temperature and oil pressures are nominal, is it any more risky to run at 2,200 rpm vs. 1,800 rpm? It seems counterintuitive (and I should get a vacuum gauge...).
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