Can you start your engine with a Bravo Xr in gear?
 

I want to by-pass the safety neutral switch, (and I know all about the safety concerns, so please no lectures) have the ability to start the engine with XR in gear. My engine, when cold idles at 900 RPMS which is too high to shift the drive.
Thanks,
Dean

I have owned boats that will start in gear & never found it to be a problem. I believe the neutral safety switch is the only thing that keeps you from doing so. Might not be a great idea for initial cold start & certainly doesn't alleviate the high RPM shifts when docking but my guess is that you are simply trying to reduce the # of high RPM shifts your drives endure.

NC,
Exactly all the way around. On first cold start I will leave in N. But once she is warmed up, then I want to start her in gear. And I'm going to delete the neutral safety switch, I did this on my 2.5 280 EFI O/Bs and it worked great, never lost a lower on them in 7+years, and I think the starting in gear had alot to do with it.
Thanks,
Dean

You are an experienced boater so probably no worries, just have to alert others boating w/ you & assisting you & probably best to reconnect the switches prior to sale. A buddy of mine installed the new IMCO SCX lowers behind ILMORS that idle in that range. They slammed into gear so he had to install some shift interrupts to remedy the problem. ILMOR didn't want the RPM turned down nor is there really any type of external idle adjustment.

I would think the shift interrupters would be the way to go, tons of drag and road race bikes use them. Does MSD offer anything?

Yeah, I waiting for Arthur to leave and then i'm going to cut-out the safety neutral switch and just splice it back together. And if/when I do sell this boat, I will splice the switch back in.
Dean

I bypassed mine just in case it did stall in gear and I didn't have to scramble to try to get it back in neutral, re-fire, and try not to float into anything.

I just made a warning label and put it next to the shifter, that the boat will start in gear.

Good idea on the label, thanks.

just wire in a override switch so when you want to start them in gear just flip the switch. That way you haven't messed with the safety feature.

I put mine in gear at 900-1000 rpm and hold up fine ,but it s a light boat but turning a 30 bravo .