Patent ID: 8641462

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having 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 at least a first gear speed and a second gear speed and transmitting power of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established gear speed, comprising: a shift switch that is located on a throttle control lever and outputs a gear change command upon manipulation by an operator; and an electronic control unit which controls the transmission, and that determines, based on sensor output from a crank angle sensor, whether a speed of the engine is continuously equal to or greater than a predetermined speed for a predetermined time period when the outputted gear change command to change to the first speed gear is outputted, and the wherein the transmission changes the gear position from the first speed gear to the second speed gear when the speed of the engine is determined to be continuously equal to or greater than the predetermined speed for the predetermined time period.