sudden loss of propulsion

[2catchfish]

I am sorry I do not have my signature for the board so let me give you that info here. I have a 1998 230 BR Select, with a 7.4 MPI Bravo Three. Yesterday we went to the river and had a wonderful day. It is about a thirty minute ride @ 30-35 mph to the sand bar that we go to. The boat ran great with no problems however when we left I backed the boat off the bar idled out to deeper water and hit the throttle to come on plane and heard one solid popping noise and lost propulsion. It would not go foreward or reverse. Motor was running fine but the boat would not move. It also became very difficult to move the shifter into foreward or reverse but when it did it just acted like it was on fast idle. The props seem to turn normally when rotating hem by hand. I do not know where to start to trouble shoot and would welcome any suggestions.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Disconnect the shift cable at the engine (the one from the throttle lever) and try shifting manually. If you've had your trim up too far past the safe limit that could cause cable problems - and more serious stuff, too. Also, shifting the drive w/o the engine running is bad for the shift cable. Start with the cables, it's the easier solution - hopefully that's all it is.