Systems and methods for positioning a marine propulsion device to prevent hydro-lock of a marine propulsion engine

A system for positioning a marine propulsion device with respect to a transom of a marine vessel to which it is coupled, the system comprising:

• a trim device having a first end coupled to the propulsion device and a second end coupled to the transom, the trim device being extendible and retractable to trim the propulsion device up and down with respect to the transom;
• a speed sensor sensing an actual speed representing one of a speed of the vessel and a speed of an engine powering the propulsion device;
• a shift sensor sensing a gear state of a transmission of the propulsion device;
• a trim sensor sensing an actual trim position of the propulsion device;
• and
• a controller in signal communication with the trim device, the speed sensor, the shift sensor, and the trim sensor, and having a trim control unit controlling extension and retraction of the trim device;
• wherein the controller sets the trim control unit to a ready state in response to the actual speed being rater than a given speed and the transmission is being in a forward gear;
• wherein the controller sets the trim control unit to an active state in response to the transmission being shifted out of the forward gear while the trim control unit is in the ready state;
• wherein the controller sends a signal to the trim device to trim the propulsion device up in response to the actual trim position being less than a target trim position while the trim control unit is in the active state;
• and
• wherein the trim device thereafter trims the propulsion device up in response to the signal to trim the propulsion device up.