weird noise on 1985 46 post

Hard to say without being on the boat. Usual protocol is to start with the running gear and rudder and chase the sound back to the machinery until you find the source. Hopefully its just a loose prop nut or shaft zinc.... Good luck

Was thinking rudder or cross-arm. If not too much work, try adjusting cross-arm to change toe in or toe out to see if rudder bearing wear might be contributing. That will load the bearing a bit and change noise if that is the source.

Let us know what you find, thanks

Other options. You might have cable driven tachometers (I've seen them due this when the cable gets old). I have also seen the Glenndenning synchonizer do this. Also Capitals were known to have some whining noise at slow speeds sometimes. Check the prop for a line on it, check the shaft seals and cutlass bearings. But if you only hear it on the bridge, I would look to a cable driven tachometer cable, and the sheathing keeps the noise inside and the noise exits under the tachometer on the bridge. Also check what everyone else has mentioned.

Good day Paul. As I understood, the noise is comong from gear? In this case I'd recommend to check if transmission oil is original one, because it can influence on gear operation. Second thing is that this noise can be due to wearing of friction pairs. In this case you can try to use additives for transmission and noise will decrease after some time.

When you are idling the port side in forward gear, just enough to get the boat to move, then put the boat in neutral as it still moves do you hear the noise. The drive shaft still needs to slightly spin just to see if the noise is coming from inside trans or possibly stuffing box or cutlass bearing. Some times the keyway in the prop may cause the prop to walk slightly as the keyway is worn