Stuck in Reverse!

Ok, So I'm not sure what's going on and my boat lingo is very limited. Other day, I put the boat in the water, and moved it closer to the car for loading. All loaded up and ready to go, fire the engine up and try to shift forward. Engine revs up but I am stuck in idle. So I put it into reverse, just trying to jiggle it. No problem, we start backing into the dock slowly. I shift it to neutral, thinking it just needed a little love tap, but it doesn't engage into neutral. I'm still in reverse, and am now backed up against the floating dock. (prop is underneath the dock with plenty of clearance, so no worries there.) I push the arm forward and it revs up but is still stuck in reverse, now pushing back against the dock even more. So the engine responds to throttle advances by increasing the RPM, but it doesn't matter which way the arm is pushed I'm still in reverse. I shut it off. Start it up again, and it fires up right away. It starts up at idle power, but still engaged in Reverse. So right when I start it, it starts pulling in reverse, and pushing up against the Dock.

I have a 27' Rinker Captiva, Open bow.
Mercruiser 7.4 MPI - Not sure on any other details. sorry, basic knowledge

Any ideas on where to start?? diagrams would be great. Seems like a cable issue, but I am not sure.

Re: Stuck in Reverse!

This an Alpha drive?

Re: Stuck in Reverse!

ksdone said:

Ok, So I'm not sure what's going on and my boat lingo is very limited. Other day, I put the boat in the water, and moved it closer to the car for loading. All loaded up and ready to go, fire the engine up and try to shift forward. Engine revs up but I am stuck in idle. So I put it into reverse, just trying to jiggle it. No problem, we start backing into the dock slowly. I shift it to neutral, thinking it just needed a little love tap, but it doesn't engage into neutral. I'm still in reverse, and am now backed up against the floating dock. (prop is underneath the dock with plenty of clearance, so no worries there.) I push the arm forward and it revs up but is still stuck in reverse, now pushing back against the dock even more. So the engine responds to throttle advances by increasing the RPM, but it doesn't matter which way the arm is pushed I'm still in reverse. I shut it off. Start it up again, and it fires up right away. It starts up at idle power, but still engaged in Reverse. So right when I start it, it starts pulling in reverse, and pushing up against the Dock.

I have a 27' Rinker Captiva, Open bow.
Mercruiser 7.4 MPI - Not sure on any other details. sorry, basic knowledge

Any ideas on where to start?? diagrams would be great. Seems like a cable issue, but I am not sure.

Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,....

There's a switch plate back 'round near on the motor, that the forward control cable is attached to...

The other cable attached to that switch plate goes to the outdrive,...(Bravo, I'm guessin)

Disconnect that cable(the 1 to the drive), 'n try to shift the drive by pullin', or pushin' that cable, with the motor idling...

If that don't work, ya need a Mechanic....

Re: Stuck in Reverse!

Ok so facing aft at the engine, I see 3 total cables near the back. One on the left (I assume reverse). Then 2 on the right (i assume this is the forward and the drive one you mention to disconnect). Is this correct?

I don't understand what you mean by pushing/pulling it myself... Unless you mean it is still connected to wherever its going down below.

Also, the boat is still in the water....