Read more at YACHT: Anyone wishing to improve their handling of ropes on board will find the basics in Rope, assistance with tight manoeuvres in Port manoeuvres and important safety rules in the event of a coastal hazard in Legerwall.
Text: Nico Krauss; Updated by Antonia von Lamezan, 3 August 2026
This problem can crop up from time to time: whilst a yacht is underway and the engine is running smoothly, whether in forward or reverse gear, the engine suddenly fails and cuts out abruptly. It’s a shocking moment, especially if the engine failure occurs during a narrow passage, whilst manoeuvring in a harbour, or whilst moored off the coast.
Before starting the engine again, the mental checklist for identifying the cause races through my mind: fuel supply, engine failure, electrical system? A quick glance aft sheds light on the captain’s now looming hour of darkness: there’s a rope lying on the cleat, running taut across the gunwale and continuing close to the hull down towards the waterline, all the way down to the propeller. The loose end has, as it were, been sucked in, wrapped round the shaft, and has then choked the propeller’s rotation from 2,500 to zero. Disbelief, astonishment, swearing, finger-pointing – but none of that helps now. On the contrary, this moment of truth calls for the swiftest possible action: check the surroundings, consult the nautical chart, hoist the sails and immediately sail clear of any potential danger.
Why restarting blindly is risky
The actual damage to the drive system can often only be assessed later. At the moment the engine stalls, shafts may have been bent and seals destroyed. If seawater enters the gearbox unnoticed as a result, or if melted remnants of the propeller cord remain behind the propeller hub, continuing the journey risks causing gradual, total failure of the gearbox. For safety on board, the most important thing is that the yacht remains controllable even without the engine running.
However important and convenient a well-functioning jib is on board, the sails should always be ready to be hoisted until the yacht has moored or the anchor is securely in place. Being prepared for a worst-case scenario is simply good seamanship.
Top priority: getting out of the dangerous situation
Anyone who has managed to prevent further damage to body, mind and hull can attribute this to skill or luck, and sail to the nearest harbour, drop anchor for the time being or request a tow, before turning their full attention to the problem with the propeller.
It’s certainly worth a try: disengage the engine and pull on the line causing the problem. To do this, the line must, of course, still be accessible on deck. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to free the propeller and restart the engine. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to dive yourself or hire a diver to remove the line, net or plastic sheet that’s become entangled around the shaft or Saildrive.
Key points at a glance
- Disengage the clutch when the revs drop significantly whilst driving
- Don’t restart blindly
- Check the surroundings and assess the risks
- Set sail and put some distance between you and Legerwall or the fairway
- Arrange for a tow if the yacht cannot be manoeuvred safely under its own power
- Do not investigate the cause in more detail until the boat has been secured
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Nico Krauss
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