Why won't my outboard go into forward?

Question

i was going down the lake at full trottle then all of sudden the motor went into neatral the motor just reved up real load and the prop spin fast why it was in forward but would not move

Answer 1

Sounds like it popped out of gear, same as in a car with a manual box. When it happens again turn engine off quick, the over revving can blow the engine.

Best get it seen to professionally.

You were getting nowhere as the prop had moved all the water away from it and was working in a virtual air bubble. Had nothing to push against (water) to give you motion

Answer 2

I don't think you're telling us the complete story.

If the prop was spinning, then the motor wasn't in neutral, and the boat was moving.

Maybe you tilted the motor up, revved it up, and saw the prop spinning, then tilted it back down, and the motor revved but the boat didn't go?  If that's the case, then you either sheared the shear pin, or if you have thru-hub exhaust, spun the hub.  Shear pin is easily replaced.  Spun hub has to go to a prop shop for repair.

In any case, if the prop spins then the motor is in gear.

So tell us, does the motor go into forward or not?

And, what motor is it?  year/make/horsepower ouboard/sterndrive/inboard

Answer 3

If the motor went into neutral the gearing  would have dissengaged.The engine would rev. to its limit if you kept the throttle fully open and the prop  would not spin.If for whatever reason the prop carried on spinning fast then you would not been in neutral and would have moved foreward unless you were firmly beached on something,which is something I am sure you would have been well aware of.