1971 50 hp mercury trouble

[pm5471]

Hello, i'm new to the boating world. I just got a boat for the first time and will be asking for your help as i fix it. It's a 1982 crestliner 13 ft. runabout. it needs some t.l.c. before it goes in the water.I was just wondering, is the motor supposed to stay locked so i can't lean it foreword when in drive and nuetral but not in reverse? It seems to me that if its looked and you run into a sand bar (lets just say) that it would tear up the motor and back of the boat. I know this probably sounds stupid but it has me puzzeled.
Thanks, i,ll have more dumb questions as i go along.

pete

 

[jddenham]

Re: 1971 50 hp mercury trouble

I have a 1976 Mercury 50HP 4-cyl - should be similar to yours. Mine is unlocked in neutral and forward. It has a mechanism that locks the tilt rod when you shift it into reverse. Mine doesn't work however, so if you gun it in reverse the motor comes out of the water!

If yours is sticking maybe clean it up then lube any moving parts.