MARINE PROPULSION DEVICE WITH FORWARD/REVERSE SHIFTING MECHANISM, AND MARINE VESSEL

A propulsion device for a marine vessel includes an engine and a forward/reverse shifting mechanism. The direction of a propulsive force generated by the propulsion device is changed according to a shift position of the forward/reverse shifting mechanism. The shift position is changeable between a forward position and a reverse position via a neutral position. In response to a command signal based on an operation of a joystick or an operator, the shift position of the forward/reverse shifting mechanism and the engine are controlled. When the shift position of the forward/reverse shifting mechanism is changed from the neutral position to a position corresponding to a direction opposite to a travelling direction of the marine vessel, which is determined based on the speed of the marine vessel, a correction control is performed to increase an output of the engine based on the speed of the marine vessel.