Outboard motor control apparatus

An apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on a stern of a boat and having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller through a propeller shaft, and a transmission installed at a location between the engine 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 and transmitting power of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established speed, comprising:

• a throttle opening change amount detector that detects a change amount of throttle opening of the engine:
• a manifold absolute pressure change amount detector that detects a change amount of manifold absolute pressure in an air intake pipe of the engine:
• and
• a transmission controller that controls operation of the transmission to change the gear position from the second speed to the first speed when the second speed is established based on the change amount of the throttle opening and the change amount of the manifold absolute pressure, wherein the change amount of the throttle opening is less than a first predetermined value and the change amount of the manifold absolute pressure is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value in a decreasing direction.