Patent attributes
A remote control operation unit can have a remote control shift lever through which a boat operator can remotely control a forward drive mode, a neutral mode, and a reverse drive mode. A boat propulsion unit can have a shift switching device for shifting and a shift actuator for operating the shift switching device. A controller can be used to control the operation of the shift actuator in response to the operation amount of the remote control shift lever. The controller can also be configured to control the shift actuator such that in the case where the remote control shift lever has been shifted between a neutral position and a forward position or reverse position, when an engine is stopped and when shifting is not completed within a certain period of time, the shift actuator stops shifting operation.