Shift system for a marine drive

A marine drive comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• a propulsor driven into rotation by the internal combustion engine so as to effect a thrust;
• a transmission that shifts amongst a forward gear wherein the thrust is a forward thrust, a reverse gear wherein the thrust is a reverse thrust, and a neutral state wherein the thrust is a zero thrust;
• a shift rod rotatable about its own axis to shift the transmission amongst the forward gear, the reverse gear, and the neutral state;
• an actuator that actuates rotation of the shift rod, the actuator having:
• an actuator motor that rotates an output shaft;
• a gear shaft that effectuates rotation of the shift rod;
• wherein the output shaft is connected to a gear shaft through a first gearset such that the rotation of the output shaft causes the rotation of the gear shaft;
• and
• wherein the gear shaft is connected to the shift rod through a planetary gearset such that the rotation of the gear shaft causes the rotation of the shift rod.