1968 Starcraft Shift Issue

Newbee here. I have tried searching the forum, and I am sure the answer is here, but i am just no good with the search function. I have not really worked on boats a lot but i am somewhat mechanically inclined and have worked quite a bit on cars. I would take it to a mechanic to work on but I just lost my job this week, so no money for that, hoping this is something i can fix myself.

I have recently been given a 1968 Starcraft 20' fiberglass boat. It has a 160 hp mercruiser engine with a mercruiser lower unit on it. I do not know a whole lot about boats in general or this boat in specific. The issue I have is the boat is stuck in drive. It will no shift into reverse or neutral. It runs like crazy in drive but it is a real pain to get on or off the dock with it. I am looking for suggestions on what the problem might be and how to fix it. The shift cable does not seem to be broken (as I have played with that a little tonight). When was on the water and did not push in the button so I was only activating the throttle the engine would stall out. Since the outdrive is stuck in gear, I can activate just the throttle and the boat runs great, there is just no neutral or reverse. I also need to replace the floor in this boat, but that is the subject for another post.

Thanks for the help.

J.

Re: 1968 Starcraft Shift Issue

you will first have to pull the drive and inspect the shift cable operation, it is most liklely your problem as it is with most boats

then you will have to ensure the drive shift mechanism is sound

then replace any and all parts you find faulty