
The lever controls the transmission as well as the throttle. When the lever for one outboard
Outboard motor
An outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom. They are the most common motorized method of propelling small watercraft. As well a…
How does a boat’s marine gear work?
So your boat’s marine gear has three functions that are completely different from your car’s transmission. One is to engage and disengage the engine from the propeller-in other words, to provide neutral. Another is to provide reverse rotation so that you can back your boat into your slip.
How do I shift the gear on my Boat?
Place your hand on top of the handle. Under the handle your fingers should feel the Shift Locking Mechanism. This Locking Mechanism must be lifted with your fingers before attempting to shift. Note: If you shift past the forward detent the engine will accelerate and the boat will move forward faster.
How does a reverse gear work on a boat?
Another is to provide reverse rotation so that you can back your boat into your slip. These two functions are accomplished by a series of internal clutches, which when moved via the gear lever at the helm, engage different gear sets.
What is a marine transmission?
The marine transmission: your boat’s unsung hero. Your marine transmission may be dull and mysterious, but your boat wouldn’t get far without it. Of all the myriad mechanisms and devices that combine to push your boat through the water, none is more ignored and misunderstood than the marine transmission.

How does an outboard shifter work?
4:227:19How an outboard gearbox works - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe forward gears now etched with the dog clutch the dog clutch spline onto the drive shaft theMoreThe forward gears now etched with the dog clutch the dog clutch spline onto the drive shaft the drive shaft pushes. So that's kind of pretty much it it's pretty simple.
What is the gear shift on a boat called?
0:041:08Forward, Reverse and Neutral Gears: Boater Safety and EducationYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is called the point and shoot method. You can use these controls to accurately andMoreThis is called the point and shoot method. You can use these controls to accurately and intentionally move this boat in tight quarters.
Why do boats not shift gears?
Boat engines don't have transmissions because they add a lot of undesired complexity for a minimal speed gain. Usually, the propeller doesn't turn at speed equal to its engine; if it does, it cavitates & reduces its life span. Adding gears increases speed, which increases cavitation, so no gears.
How do you rev a boat in neutral?
Place the shifter in the neutral position, in the middle of the shifter range, and you'll feel a detent when you shift to it. In-Gear Release Button. By pressing the in-gear release button, the operator can increase the throttle without shifting into gear, allowing the engine to rev in neutral.
Will a boat start in gear?
Most boats must be in neutral before starting the engine. If your boat is in gear, the engine will not start, but other components like the lights and gauges will work.
Where is neutral on a boat?
Use the control handle to both SHIFT and ACCELERATE. The handle has three shift positions or "DETENTS". FORWARD--NEUTRAL--REVERSE. Usually the handle is straight UP for NEUTRAL.
How many gears do boats have?
One of the essential reasons why boats don't have gears is that the boat's performance without gears vs. with gears isn't increasing much, and it requires more power and money. Instead of yielding a good performance, gears are giving unneeded complexity. So, that's why boats don't have gears.
How does a marine hydraulic gearbox work?
A mechanical forward-neutral-astern gearbox in which the shifts are made by a hydraulic link from the hand lever. A small boat may have a direct-acting lever like a motor car, but a hydraulic link allows the control lever to be fitted at some more remote point in a larger boat.
What is a clutch on a boat?
Clutches are ideal for controlling medium loads, and are therefore used extensively on medium sized boats. As a rule of thumb, choose a rope clutch when you would use a cleat, but the load is higher; with a clutch, it is possible to lock off a halyard, main, jib or even spinnaker.
Why do some boats have two throttle controls?
Dual-function mechanical controls are the most popular type of control in use today because they make boat handling easy. Both shift and throttle are operated by a single lever in a very instinctive action. Shifting is quick and can only be done at low rpm, which protects the engine's shift mechanism.
Why does my boat dies when I accelerate?
Your outboard motor's carburetors are clogged Carburetors mix fuel and air before injecting the resulting mixture into the cylinders of the marine engine. If this mixture is incorrectly made due to a lack of air or gasoline, then the outboard motor stalls. This stalling problem is recurrent when accelerating.
Can boats go in reverse?
The short answer is yes, moving in reverse is a maneuver often required in boating, usually when docking or launching from a ramp. This article shows you everything you need to know about reversing boats and more. Reversing, or moving astern, is not as intuitive as it may seem.
What is a marine gear?
The main parts that make up a marine gear are: [1] the input shaft that is driven by the engine, [2] the output shaft that drives the propeller, [3] a wet-type hydraulic multi-disc clutch that engages and disengages power transmission to the output shaft, [4] the gears that reduce the drive from the engine to the ...
What is a stick shift called?
Manual transmission. Vehicles with a manual or standard transmission are typically called stick shifts. The driver uses a stick shift to manually change the gears as they accelerate and decelerate their vehicle.
What will you use for boat to move?
Propeller – the most common form of ship propulsion today. They can operate on their own or in groups of two or three, and are normally mounted in a fixed position on the ship. Azimuthing thrusters – a variation of a propeller that are mounted on rotating pods to allow the ship to move in any direction.
Does a boat have gears?
Every boat has gears, but they are not the same as gears in cars for increasing the speed. Boats have reduction gears. Before going into reduction gears, let's see the basics first. The propeller shaft drives the propeller, and the engine drive shaft drives the propeller shaft.
What is a boat throttle and shifter?from overtons.com
Boat throttle and shifters control the throttle and speed of your vessel's outboard motor, and are essential when it comes to controlling a fast boat. When the throttle control lever is engaged, more air and fuel is allowed into the combustion chamber, allowing you to control the speed of your boat with precision and ease. Shop Overton's premium selection of boat throttle and shifter controls from top brands and experience improved handling.
What is a T-H marine hot foot?from wholesalemarine.com
T-H Marine Hot Foot Original Foot Throttle The T-H Marine Hot Foot Original Foot Throttle allows you to drive your boat like your car. With this foot throttle, you keep both hands on the wheel and control the throttle with your foot. If your foot is...
What is side mount control?from wholesalemarine.com
Side Mount Control for Outboards and Stern Drives This economical single lever, dual function control features positive shift detents, an optional engine trim switch in the handle and easy installation. (Mounts to gunwale surface - no hole cutout...
What is the phone number for wholesale marine parts?from wholesalemarine.com
Wholesale Marine’s Online Parts Finder can help! Or, if you’d prefer, give our boating enthusiasts a call for prompt, personal service: (877) 388-2628. We’re here Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM, EST.
Can you shift a boat with a single lever?from wholesalemarine.com
As the name suggests, a single lever performs its function one at a time. This way, boaters can either shift or throttle, but not perform both functions simultaneously. This two-lever single function model is generally used with boats with twin engines.However, both levers of one control are for the throttle while the other control levers operate the shift mechanism. A popular choice is Teleflex Marine’s CH7500 Series Top Mount Control with Lever on Right. It offers smooth handling and additional safety features.
How does a water boat work?
They float thanks to the displacement of water and the resulting upward force created by that displacement. Since a boat’s density is much lighter than the ocean’s density, a little upward force is all it takes to stay floating. Even for the heaviest of ships! And that’s how you float a boat!
How does a motor boat run?
Motorboat engines run on gasoline or diesel fuel. Engines come in various types. Engines vary in fuel types such as gasoline, diesel, gas turbine, rotary combustion or steam. Motorboats are commonly used for recreation, sport, or racing.
What force causes boats to move?
The two main forces acting on a stationary sailboat are gravity and buoyancy. In order for the boat to move, the force of wind pushes on the sail and causes the boat to move. The forces are now unbalanced, which is noticeable by the boat’s movement.
How does a boat's transmission work?
So your boat’s marine gear has three functions that are completely different from your car’s transmission. One is to engage and disengage the engine from the propeller—in other words, to provide neutral. Another is to provide reverse rotation so that you can back your boat into your slip. These two functions are accomplished by a series of internal clutches, which when moved via the gear lever at the helm, engage different gear sets. Each marine transmission has an internal oil pump that generates hydraulic pressure, which forces these clutches together to provide engagement. Because the pump generates heat as it pressurizes the oil, every marine transmission also must have an oil cooler, which is typically mounted on the outside of the transmission housing and is identifiable by the water hoses leading into and out of it.
What is marine transmission?
The marine transmission performs one other vital function: It is the most convenient location from which to drive an auxiliary device, such as a hydraulic pump. Most marine transmissions have a power take-off point, which if unused, is usually covered by a plate.
How fast does a diesel engine rotate?
A typical diesel rotates at around 2000 rpm at cruise setting. A propeller turning this fast would be highly inefficient, so it is the job of the gears inside the transmission to slow down the propeller rotation to roughly half that of the engine, which is why this is always referred to as the reduction ratio.
Why do marine transmissions need oil coolers?
Because the pump generates heat as it pressurizes the oil, every marine transmission also must have an oil cooler, which is typically mounted on the outside of the transmission housing and is identifiable by the water hoses leading into and out of it.
What happens when you hammer your throttles?
So when you hammer your throttles, your engines don’t stall or balk. The propeller automatically slips enough to get your boat underway.
Is marine transmission reliable?
Your marine transmission may be dull and mysterious, but your boat wouldn’t get far without it. Of all the myriad mechanisms and devices that combine to push your boat through the water, none is more ignored and misunderstood than the marine transmission. That’s probably becausee it is so boringly mundane and steadfastly reliable ...
What happens when a shift shaft is put in forward position?
When the shift shaft is put into its "forward" position, it engages the dog clutch with the forward gear, which causes the dog clutch (and the prop shaft) to rotate in one direction.
What is the drive shaft in a gearbox?
The drive shaft enters the gearbox and ends at a pinion gear . The pinion gear is permanently engaged with the forward gear and the reverse gear, so when the driveshaft is rotating, the pinion gear is rotating, and the forward and reverse gears are rotating. Shims behind the pinion, forward and reverse gears keep the gears properly engaged with one another, with no play between them.
What is the pinion gear in a drive shaft?
The drive shaft enters the gearbox and ends at a pinion gear. The pinion gear is permanently engaged with the forward gear and the reverse gear, so when the driveshaft is rotating, the pinion gear is rotating, and the forward and reverse gears are rotating.
How does a gearbox seal work?
How It Works: To keep the lubricating oil within the gearbox and to prevent water from entering the gearcase, there are a number of oil seals and O-rings in the lower unit. These seals are: 1 Driveshaft oil seal 2 Prop shaft oil seal 3 Shift shaft oil seal 4 Shift shaft plate O-ring 5 Gearbox bearing housing O-rings
Why do you need to inspect the oil seal on a prop shaft?
Maintenance and Repair: Because the prop shaft oil seal is exposed and prone to damage, you should inspect it regularly and replace it if it is worn or leaking.
How does a driveshaft work?
How It Works: The driveshaft takes the rotational power from the engine (or powerhead) and transmits it down to the water pump and gearcase. Maintenance and Repair: There's little to no maintenance needed for the driveshaft, and provided the lower unit is well maintained, it should last for the lifetime of the outboard.
How does a water pump work?
How It Works: The water pump pushes water up through the engine to keep it cool. The water pump assembly is attached to the drive shaft, and uses the rotation of the driveshaft to power the water pump. As the driveshaft rotates, it turns an impeller inside the water pump housing.
What is shift interrupt on mercruiser?
The ONLY purpose of the shift interrupt system in the Mercruiser Alpha style outdrives is to get the drive out of gear (forward or reverse) when the engine is running and the boat is in the water with a load on the prop. The lower gears (Both Forward and reverse) have a dog type clutch. These dogs are reverse cut so they try to hold themselves ...
What happens when you move the shifter from FWD to neutral?
When you start moving the shifter into neutral there is resistance from the engaged shift dogs that prevents them from coming out of gear.
What happens if the lower shift cable is corroded?
With an old, corroded lower shift cable, the cable will not allow the Y plate to release and the shift interrupt switch remains engaged. Since the shift interrupt switch remains engaged for a long period of time which keeps the ignition system grounded out, the engine dies completely.
Why are shift dogs reverse cut?
These dogs are reverse cut so they try to hold themselves into gear, and will stay in gear even under heavy load. Even at idle they are under a fair amount of load and without the shift interrupt system, it’s almost impossible to get out of gear. You can see the undercut and how the shift dog fits in the gears in the picture below.
What does a boat inboard transmission do?
The boat inboard transmission, or as the engineers call it, the marine transmission, is the propelling force in a boat. In a boat, the speed level is dictated by the increase of a throttle; this puts the boat underway without stalling or spluttering.
How does a boat transmission work?
First of all, the marine transmission is designed to change the speed of the boat without any physical change in the propeller as in the case of a car.
Things to consider with an inboard transmission
On a closer look, you’d find that a car can operate on water if it is redesigned to work as a boat. Majorly because mechanisms are somewhat similar to that of a boat and they also share similar parts.
Troubleshooting problems with an inboard transmission
Most people usually find it difficult to address a problem in their boat because they do not know how the engines work. One thing worthy of note is that whatever operation problem there is on a boat starts from either the engine or the inboard transmission. Hence the reason why they should be kept under close and regular observation.
Boat transmission maintenance and repair
The only way to prevent an unforeseen breakdown on the water is to keep the boat cable under constant check.
Why do people lift boats?
Those who have a boat lift tend to save both time and money on boat maintenance and repairs – that’s an undeniable fact.
What is a boat lift?
Boat lifts are used to launch the boat in and out of the water. Boat lifts generally work with either a hydraulic lifting system or a motorized system, which raises and lowers the boat into and out of the water for a safe and convenient system.
How to make sure boat lift is not submerged?
To do this, turn on the boat lift motor and use the switch to lift the unit above the water’s surface. By doing this, you can ensure that other boater owners don’t enter your lift dock and cause damage.
What does it mean when a boat lift is slack?
If your lift is secured with cables, the cables will become slack, indicating that the lift base is lowered enough to lift your boat safely. If you don’t have tell-tale cables, you can lower the lift until the lift reaches the bottom. Once the lift is lowered, switch off the motor.
How to raise a boat out of water?
Step 1: Lowering the Boat into the Water with a Boat Lift: Step 2: Driving the Boat Safely off the Boat Lift: Step 3: Repositioning the Boat on the Boat Lift When in the Water: Step 4: Raising the Boat Out of the Water: Step 5: Protecting the Lift When Not in Use: Why You Should Use a Boat Lift:
Why do you leave your boat in the water?
Leaving your boat in the water could lead to corrosion and algae growth – both of which are problems that are costly and time-consuming to rectify.
Why do people use boat lifts?
A boat lift eliminates the hassle of asking family and friends to help you with boat launching from a trailer. When you invest in a boat lift, they will thank you for it!
How Do Boat Engines Function?
To understand how does an inboard boat transmission work, we must understand how boat engines work. But first, let’s answer another question – do boat engines have transmissions? No, they don’t. Now, let’s proceed.
How does a Boat Shifter Work?
A boat shifter or a marine gearbox is what a boat relies on for its mobility. For a variety of reasons, marine gearboxes differ from typical car gears. One of the most significant components that propels the boat through the water is the marine gearbox or marine transmission.
The Problems of having Transmissions in Boats
Transmissions in boats do more harm than good. Transmissions were tried on boats but as they serve no proper purpose rather than to impose an issue, they were removed. Some of those issues were-
