Boat occasionally stalls while docking forward to reverse or reverse to forward

[Phil Chieco]

I have a 2016 Hurricane sundeck Sport SS201 with a 4.5 250. On several occasions when docking going from forward to reverse or reverse to forward I stall. Does anyone know if I need to adjust some form of a safety switch that engages if I move too fast into forward or reverse. Do I have to stop at the neutral point for a second or two before going to forward or reverse. The few times this happened to me I almost did not have enough time to restart and back up. Thank you for your comments.

 

[Phillbo]

I'm not familiar with the engine but does it have a shift interrupter switch?

 

[BillK]

What outdrive do you have? If it is an Alpha the likely issues is the shift interrupt switch is either faulty or the shift cable needs adjustment. I would check the cable adjustment (will need to locate the Mercruiser documents the spell out the procedure) and verify adjust idle is set correctly. It does not take much of a mis-adjustment for either to cause an Alpha to have shift problems.

• A switch "interrupts" the ignition on an Alpha when shifting, your can hear the engine stumble for a second. This is normal an necessary due to the way an Alpha switches in and out of gear.
• It is a good idea to paus for a second or two in -N- when shifting from F > R or R > F.
• Also, shifting in an Alpha should be deliberate, if you try and ease it into gear it will get caught between gears and you will hear a chatter. This is because the dog style gears are not fully engaged.