With Shadow Technology, there's no more grappling with multiple levers. Instead, you have just two levers controlling multiple engines. The operation is simple, smooth and intuitive, and for the first time it allows for a triple and a quad engine, dual helm installation. Just what you'd expect from the world leader in marine technology.

Four engines, two levers, one unbelievable system.
  • Makes operating a triple or quad engine- configured boat intuitive and more enjoyable.
  • Is a completely digital system extending from engine to helm.
  • Makes it possible to transfer the helm, directly from the throttle control, on a dual-helm, triple or quad engine boat.
  • Is the first and only system that allows the operator to add a second station on a triple or quad engine application.
  • Simplifies docking maneuvers.
  • Occupies less dash space.
  • Mercury Digital Throttle and Shift technology delivers unmatched smoothness and responsiveness, and with more than 50,000 on-water test hours, Mercury DTS is the most reliable shift system on the market.

Shadow Technology allows the operator of a triple or quad engine boat to operate the necessary throttle and shift functions from two levers. The basic premise is that the center engine(s) will "shadow," or follow, the outside engines when the outside engines are in the same gear. The center engine runs at an rpm that is the average of both the port and starboard engines.

When the outside engines are in opposite gears, as they would be in docking maneuvers, the center engine(s) automatically defaults to neutral. By having the center engine(s) drop to neutral, boaters have greater leverage and control when docking larger boats.

The Auto Sync® feature is designed so that when two levers are within 10 degrees of each other and engines are running above 1500 rpm and below 95 percent throttle, all three engines become synchronized. This facilitates engagement of all three engines by eliminating the need for levers to be perfectly aligned.


Port Key Switch Position Center Key Switch position Starboard key switch position How each engine responds
On-Position On-Position On-Position Port engine throttle and shift equals port lever position.
Starboard engine throttle and shift equals starboard lever position.
Center engine throttle equals the average of port and starboard engines.
Center engine shift equals neutral unless both port and starboard levers are in the same gear.
On-Position Off-Position On-Position Port engine throttle and shift equals port lever position.
Starboard engine throttle and shift equals starboard lever position.
On-Position On-Position Off-Position Port and center engine throttle and shift equal port lever position.
Off-Position On-Position On-Position Starboard and center engine throttle and shift equal starboard lever position.
On-Position Off-Position Off-Position Port engine throttle and shift equals port lever position.
Off-Position Off-Position On-Position Starboard engine throttle and shift equals starboard lever position.
Off-Position On-Position Off-Position Center engine can start, but remains at neutral/idle.
NOTE: Engine does not have to be running for these rules to apply. Center engine will start whenever centrer key switch is in the on-position, but will remain at neutral/idle unless port, starboard or both engine's key switches are in the on-position.
Port OUTER ENGINE PORT INNER ENGINE STARBOARD INNER ENGINE STARBOARD OUTER ENGINE How each engine responds
Running Running Running Running Port inner and outer engines throttle and shift = controlled by port control handle

Starboard inner and outer engines throttle and shift = controlled by starboard handle
Running Running Off Off Port inner and outer engine throttle and shift = controlled by port control handle
Off Off Running Running Starboard inner and outer engines throttle and shift = controlled by starboard control handle
Off
(ignition key switch turned on)		 Running Running Running Port inner engine throttle and shift = controlled by port control handle
Running Running Running Off
(ignition key switch turned on)		 Starboard inner engine throttle and shift = controlled by starboard control handle
Off
(ignition key switch turned off)		 Running Running Running Port inner engine throttle and shift = controlled by starboard control handle
Running Running Running Off
(ignition key switch turned off)		 Starboard inner engine throttle and shift = controlled by port control handle
Running Off Off Running Port outer engine throttle and shift = controlled by port control handle

Starboard outer engine throttle and shift = controlled by starboard handle
Off
(igntion key switch turned on)		 Running Running Off
(igntion key switch turned on)		 Port inner engine throttle and shift = controlled by port control handle

Starboard inner engine throttle and shift = controlled by starboard handle