Throttle cable disconnected from shifter

Question
I have a 1980 gibson houseboat and was having the interior redone.  The contractor I was using decided to take the driving console apart and therefore pulled out the steering wheel and the throttle/shifter.  The results are that the cables are no longer attached to the shift.  There are two cables and its a shigle shifter.  How do I know which cables go where.  I also have a gas leak in my engine compartment.  Since the fuel tank has a direct copper connection to the engine is it a safe to guess the leak is coming from the gas tank.  Beacuse from what I can see once it leaves the gas tank it can only be the copper fuel line or gas tank since gas would probably not leak from the engine itself

Answer
Hi Tony

I'm not aware of the make of your engine and whether it's an o/b or I/O. Usually, one cable controls acceleration, the second activates forward/reverse gears. If there's no color identity, check with a mechanic first. They're just a phone call away, or try connecting by trial and error.

Concerning the fuel leak, check the entire line from the fuel tank to the carb. There are likely a couple of connections in between, such as for a fuel pump and/or a fuel filter. Make sure all connections are secure. Also check the copper tubing for wear against some other part or object, which could create a hole in the copper. No matter the construction, fuel tanks can deteriorate. Seams can split due to vibration, corrosion takes place over winter storage in the event the fuel tank is not substantially full, which permits condensation to take place, then rust, etc. In the final analysis, you can disconnect the fuel line at the the tank and then apply some air pressure to the fuel line and see when it is leaking.

Safe Boating
Ron