Shifter cable?

[Aerokj24]

I have a 1990 malibu sun setter..Just the past week shifting to get to a particular speed is hard. The shifter gets sticky..trying to get to a particular speed is hard as it’s to fast or slow till it gets the spot...is that the shifter cable or the shifter..there is no place to use the grease gun..please help

 

 

[UWSkier]

There are two cables.  One puts your boat into and out of gear and pretty much stops moving once your lever is past 30 degrees or so.  If it's still stiff and tricky beyond that point, that points to your throttle cable going bad and sticking.  They do wear out in time, especially if the housing is cracked and water from the bilge is infiltrating.  They're a maintenance item and not terribly hard to change, though adjusting them can be a treat.