It shifts but it is definitely tight. I can go Forward, neutral, reverse. Hardest getting it into reverse but it can be done. I can pop it into forward, but then when I punch it, it won't respond and just continues at Idle speed. It isn't bogging down and dying. It runs great as long as i don't want to scream across the lake, which I do! Never done control cables, but I am feeling like this is the issue. They haven't completely failed as i can shift ,but am I on the right track?

Take it to the shop.

Obvioulsy i could take it to the shop. Trying to work on this myself, especially with the current situation of the economy. Not really making money right now, which means this is going to be a diy to start. I can get a couple of control cables for $80. If that is the problem awesome. If it isn't I have new cables.

Two cables do two independent things from the same handle via the miracle of mechanical design. Have you thought about taking the cowling off the motor and watch for cable-end movement when you move the control handle? You can usually spot them coming into the motor housing and trace them (the throttle cable in particular) so that you can check for movement as you move the handle. The cable may have dislodged from a hold-down bracket, or be broken inside the sheath, as examples of possible problems.

that is exactly what I am thinking. Haven't had time yet. But that is the plan. I feel like it is a bad cable and maybe was too tight and pulled off. it shifts so that one is hooked up. it won't throttle up. That one came off or something affecting the throttle up. That is what I am thinking.

I had a similar issue on a 115hp years ago and it turned out to be a bad power pack.

Flippin Out nailed it. The throttle cable came dislodged from the bracket. It also has a broken piece that goes in to the hole but half is left so i can get it to bite temporarily when I snap the bracket in place. But that cable will need to be replaced. And the shifter cable is tight so might as well do that at the same time. When that cable is not in it's bracket, it will not advance the throttle. ON a rough day if the boat bounces hard, that cable will probably come dislodged again, but it looks like a minor problem.

Picture 1 shows the broken piece on the cable. Makes that EZ to dislodge
Picture 2 shows it back in the bracket. Throttle now works, but it could come out again
Picture 3 shows the top of the Throttle. it pivots on that bolt and there is no nut securing it there? I don't like it. I feel like it is wrong, but I can't disodge it so mabe that is how it is suppose to be? I will be researching that.

I bought this boat last year. Motor has always been strong, but shifting was tight, and then last year the throttle started going crazy. I thought I spun a hub. And then the problem a few days ago pointed me right to the problem. Shift and throttle cable came dislodged from the bracket. It was so obvious when I took the cowling off. Took about 30 seconds to fix it. And we were screaming across the lake today. Ran better than it every has. Flippin-Out hit it on the head. Easy fix.

Glad you're running again. Hope you can help someone out someday. Combined knowledge here can do a lot, but not make the fish bite when they don't feel like it.