How do I operate two-lever controls on an old 1970 Evinrude 18 hp?

[Zrob]

I am total green, I have never owned a boat with a gas motor but I recently bought a 1973 MFG Carefree with a 1970 18 hp Evinrude and the boat has a two lever setup looks original. The outboard lever is tall and says FWD, NEUTRAL, REVERSE, and the inboard lever is smaller and has an upright 12 o-clock position marked fast start idle no shift, and say a 3 o-clock position marked idle.

I ran the boat today started with two pulls, but then I putted around the bay thinking how should I really operate this I was thinking more speed but how????

Can anyone explain the proper way to operate this, and how do I set the levers for top speed?

 

[smokeonthewater]

the inboard lever id ONLY for warming up the engine on the trailer or at the dock... once it is warmed up and running well, you return that lever to idle and operate the boat with the outboard lever... push forward (one quick movement, do not try to ease it into gear) to engage forward gear and then continue forward to increase throttle... same for reverse but pulling backwards.

You want one solid "thunk" as it goes into gear not "ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta thunk"

 

[Zrob]

OH OK well that explains my issues I felt today since I did the cautious slow push from NEUTRAL to the FWD position and it seemed to not have any get up and go speed. What happened I was moving, just did not seem to be all that fast and I had to really push the OUTBOARD handle almost all the way full FWD to get any speed and it was still kinda slow.

Thank You!