Engine control system and method

An engine control system of a marine vessel propulsion system, comprising:

• a shifter and throttle control including movable element that generates a signal indicating a requested gear from among plural transmission gears and an engine throttle level corresponding to a position of the movable element;
• a controller connected to the shifter and throttle control and to an engine of the marine vessel propulsion system to monitor and control the speed of the engine, said controller adapted to receive the shift and throttle request signal and to maintain the engine at a predetermined speed for a predetermined amount of time in response to the received request;
• and
• a shift actuator moveably coupled to a clutch member operable to engage and disengage the requested transmission gear with a propulsion element,
• wherein the controller prevents the actuator from performing the requested shift for the predetermined amount of time while the engine is maintained at the predetermined speed, and allows the requested shift to occur after the predetermined amount of time elapses.