My new to me 2002 Playboy has sloppy shifters, have to hunt for neutral all the time and I am being pretty deliberate in my movement not tentative. Now I have been around boats a long time and to me this seems to be out of adjustment but maybe I am just spoiled by the DTS in my other boats now. What would be the quickest, easiest corrective measure I could try to provide smoother shifting and a more definite detent in neutral?

Everything appears to be factory build on the 500EFIs and XR drives.

There is adjustment, and there is actually a tool to make sure you get it to the correct specs.
http://www.mercstuff.com/bravocableadj.htm

Any Merc dealer can do this for you, but you may want to buy the tool and do it yourself. It's not hard. Cables stretch over time, which is what I assume the issue is with your setup. You don't want to let it be, as this could premature wear your cone clutches.

Latham or Marine Machine?

Not even sure guessing Latham but will check when I get the boat back. Why?

Just checked my photos and they are MM sticks

[ATTACH=CONFIG]554733[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]554734[/ATTACH]

I had the same problem with my Marine Machine controls. The throttles were nice, but the shifters and finding neutral could be tricky. I have since switched to Latham. Much more precise when shifting between gears.

Okay after searching every source I can find there appears to be no rebuild kit for my MM controls so I have decided to take the plunge on new controls. Recomendations are welcome for my 2002 cig with 500 EFIs.

Have heard Latham here, my service center is talking Livorsi and I have no idea.

What would be the absolute best and what would be the best value?

Why are you hunting neutral? Do you have a neutral switch problem? Are you having starting problems? The MM shifters are a very nice piece. Lot of cash to put out for a bad neutral switch.

There is absolutely no detent at neutral so yes some times hunting for neutral at start, finding neutral while docking even with very deliberate shift movement. Might be cables, and adjustment (cables will be replaced first) but even beyond that the MMs just don't seem to have any real adjustment capability.

Sounds similar to the newer DTS Livorsi controls. Very hard to tell from a mechanical feel if you are in neutral. That would drive me nuts as well. If PBC is doing the work go with what Myrick recommends.