RE: [omc-boats] Shifter preferences?

It’s funny how you like what you’re used to. I have the push buttons. I
think they are much more efficient in slow speed maneuvering and docking. I
have a hard time adjuster to the lever found in newer boats. I can shift
back and forth from forward and reverse and neutral instantly. When
docking, I don’t even have to touch the throttle. It’s a simple combination
of button pushes to control speed. I also don’t have to worry about
searching for the right speed because the throttle never moves. That’s my
take.

Gregory B. Fell

The Fell Law Firm

3300 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75219

972-488-8177

214-219-4218 - fax

gfell@...

   _____

From: owner-omc-boats@... [mailto:owner-omc-boats@...] On
Behalf Of lib1@...
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 6:26 PM
To: omc-boats@...
Subject: [omc-boats] Shifter preferences?

Hi,

Hope everyone had a nice summer boating season and you are now getting ready
for winter?

Over this past summer we did a ton of water-skiing lessons and that involved
doing a lot of docking (every 45-50 minutes to drop off/pick up students).
It got me to thinking and I wanted to get the group's feedback on the
following issue:

One of the few areas that OMC permitted Evinrude and Johnson to "customize"
the engineering (outside of color and trim) of their products was their
unique, respective electric shift-controller technologies:

Johnson & OMC adopted the single-motion/lever "ELECTRAMATIC" control; while
Evinrude had the push-button "SELECTSHIFT" gearshift with separate,
independent throttle. These control units first appeared on 1962 75hp and
40hp high-line outboards, as well as all electric stringer sterndrives built
from 1962 - 1976. Both controller designs use small switches to engage the
shifter electro-magnetic coils, located on the lower unit propshaft. On
these designs, the "default" no-power position is neutral. Power is
applied/maintained to engage either FORWARD or REVERSE.

I grew up around (and thus "favored") the Evinrude push-button type, but
after this summer, I have found its designed "flawed," from several
viewpoints compared to the Johnson design.

1) As far as I know, our 1962 - 1970 EJ/O boats DO NOT feature a "in-gear"
safety lock-out. Somebody correct me but I think this important safety
feature was added to all OMC sterndrives in 1971. This is a very simple and
cost-effective wiring modification that prevents power from reaching the
starter switch if the shifter (push button or single-level) is left in gear
when you hit the starter. Check you shifter's wiring connector, if it has
5-wires you have the safety lock-out feature, 3-wire units DO NOT. The
boating industry later adopted this safety requirement on all engines above
a certain minimum power level. (Probably after being faced with liability
law suits, where a swimmer got injured, when a motor and prop were
accidentally started "in-gear.")

2) a) I mentioned that I thought the Evinrude push-button shifter is
"flawed." Here's why: The unit contains an adjustable mechanical
(adjustable) lockout panel, located just under the cover for the push-button
switches. This panel features "keyholes." When adjusted properly, the
keyholes slide forward as the throttle is advanced. Once past 700 RPM
(factory recommended throttle "mechanical" adjustment point), the panel
prevents the operator from shifting. This was done to protect the lower unit
from operator abuse. Problem is, in a vibration-prone environment this
adjustment can get out of whack and prevent the operator from shifting at
all.

  b) When shifting to reverse, it's bad ergonomics to move the throttle
"FORWARD" to increase speed. It's ergonomically counterintuitive and doesn't
follow established industry standards. Push AHEAD to go FORWARD, PULL BACK
to go in REVERSE, as in the Johnson/OMC control.

c) When I'm doing close-in manuneurving around docks, I often find myself
looking down to move my right hand from the throttle to locate the shift
control button. This takes my eyes off the "prize" if even for a moment. Not
good.

3) The Johnson/OMC shifter avoids the above problems, at the expense of
having to add a small red, START/WARM-UP throttle override. If you are an
Evinrude owner you may not know that this lever allows the operator to move
the single lever control to advance the throttle without engaging forward or
reverse gear. Some of the later versions of this style control also
incorporated a REVERSE lock-out button into the throttle knob. So the
Johnson/OMC throttle control lever has a slight cam action resistance
"feel," when compared to the Evinrude throttle, but I know believe these are
superior to the Evinrude design.

In short, I suppose the original Evinrude push-button control has more
"Space-Age retro" historic appeal, but I've actually decided in the
interests safety and of making my Evinrude boat more "turn-key" user
friendly, I'm going to convert it this winter to the more widely accepted
single-lever style, and while I'm at it I'll incorporate the
"no-start-in-gear" safety lockout. If there's interest from the group, I'll
do a write-up with pictures and post it on my or Phil's website. I'd hate to
see anyone get hurt or have a bad experience.

Lee Shuster

Salt Lake City

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