Ahead/astern shifting device for marine propulsion unit

In a marine outboard drive comprising an outer casing supported for steering movement about a generally vertically extending steering axis, a drive shaft journaled for rotation about a generally vertically extending axis in said outer casing and spaced from said steering axis, propulsion means supported by the said outer casing for propelling a watercraft to which said outboard drive is mounted, a forward, reverse transmission positioned within a lower unit of said outer casing including a dog clutching element for driving said propulsion means in selected forward and reverse directions from said drive shaft, the improvement comprising shifting means comprising a rotatably journaled lower shift rod for operating said dog clutching element of said forward, reverse transmission upon rotation about an axis disposed forwardly of said steering axis, an upper shift rod journaled about an axis coincident with said steering axis, a pin and a slot, cam and follower arrangement for rotating said lower shift rod upon rotation of said upper shift rod for reciprocating said dog clutching element between its positions, and detent means cooperating with said lower shift rod contiguous to said cam and follower arrangement releasably locking said lower shift rod in tis forward, neutral and reverse position.