Patent ID: 8574019

Claim:
A controlling apparatus in combination with an outboard motor; said outboard motor comprising an internal combustion engine to power a propeller through a drive shaft and a propeller shaft, and 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 speed gears including at least a first speed gear which is a low speed gear and a second speed gear which is a high speed gear and transmitting power of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established speed gear, said controlling apparatus comprising: a reverse position determiner adapted to determine whether the transmission is in a reverse position; and a transmission controller adapted to control operation of the transmission to change the gear position from the second speed gear to the first speed gear when the second speed gear is selected and it is determined that the transmission is in the reverse position; wherein the gear ratio of the first speed gear is set to be higher than the gear ratio of the second speed gear; and when it is determined that the transmission is in the reverse position, an engine speed controller controls speed of the engine by one of controlling a throttle opening, applying an ignition cut and applying a fuel cut.