Outboard motor control apparatus

An apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor for 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, a second speed and a third speed, and transmitting power of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established gear position, comprising:

• an engine speed detector that detects speed of the engine;
• an acceleration instruction determiner that determines whether acceleration is instructed to the engine when second gear is established;
• a transmission controller that controls operation of the transmission to change the gear position from the second gear to the first gear when the acceleration is determined to be instructed, and then change back the gear position from the first to the second gear based on the detected engine speed;
• a hydraulic clutch that is installed in the transmission and adapted to establish a first gear and a second gear;
• wherein the transmission controller controls the operation of the transmission to establish first gear when the clutch is not supplied with hydraulic pressure;
• and
• a switch installed to be manipulated by an operator to input a fuel consumption decreasing instruction for decreasing fuel consumption of the engine;
• wherein the transmission controller controls the operation of the transmission to change the gear position from second gear to third gear when the fuel consumption decreasing instruction is inputted through the switch and also when the detected engine speed is equal to or greater than a second predetermined speed and the detected change amount of the engine speed is less than a second prescribed value when the second speed is established.