Joe Parsons wrote:
Please excuse the purely boating content that follows...

I have an intermittent problem with the outdrive on my Gibson houseboat: when I
put it into reverse, the drive kicks up. If I put it into forward, gun it, then
back into reverse, it usually "catches."

I understand there's a latching mechanism of some sort that holds the drive in
its full down position.

Assuming you've been told that then it's a little old ??? & yes it's
just two little spring loaded articulated hooks on a bracket that hold
the leg down in reverse. They're designed to "just" hook onto the leg so
if you hit something going forward the leg can uncouple the hooks & fly
up, with no damage.

When you "tilt" the leg the first part of the tilt drive's movement
pushes a rod on the hook bracket so allowing it to lift up.

If yours is unhooking too easily then it might be the adjustment of the
tilt drive, or you need to make sure when you lower the leg you run the
drive in the drive down direct a little more (the make sure it's not
still partially unlatching) or;

Given you say it "does" properly hook when you give it forward, it
might just be it's a little fouled, with growth, sand, crud or whatever.
With the leg right down & the tilt drive let run a little after it is
completely down, then get in (still warm there?:-)) & you'll see how it
works easily enough, so clean it up & manually lift & hook it a few
times till it mores freely.

K

I'm hoping there's some kind of adjustment I might be
able to make without hauling the boat--especially before the season is over.

Any ideas?

Joe Parsons