Patent ID: 9533748
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: B63H

Claim:
1. An apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor configured to be mounted on a stern of a boat and having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller through a drive shaft and a propeller shaft, a transmission that is installed at a location between the drive shaft and the propeller shaft, the transmission being selectively changeable in gear position to establish speeds including at least a first speed and a second speed, each of the first speed and the second speed being in gear positions, and transmitting power of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established speed, and a low-speed cruise controller which controls a rotational speed of the propeller to make the boat cruise at low speed, wherein the low-speed cruise controller includes: a propeller rotational speed increase/decrease command outputter which outputs an increase command and decrease command of the rotational speed of the propeller in response to manipulation by the operator; a first-speed change mechanism which changes the gear position from the second speed to the first speed through the transmission when the decrease command is outputted under a condition where the gear position is in the second speed and a speed of the engine is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed; and wherein the low-speed cruise controller controls the engine speed of when the gear position is changed to the first speed by the first-speed change mechanism to be equal or substantially equal to the engine speed of before the gear position is changed.