Well... good idea, however...
I was wondering the same thing a couple of years ago, but then I decided to just replace the cable, instead. It sounds like you have probably done something like this in the past, possibly replacing your throttle cable. But if not, here's my opinion: It's not THAT horrible of a job. OK, I had a few scrapes and bruises; it IS a horrible job. But, if you use the existing cable as a messenger, and attach it to the new cable with some stainless steel wire (and maybe wrap the 'splice' with some duct tape), and if you can find someone to help you feed it through it's absurdly circuitous route from the binnacle to the transmission, it CAN be done. Wear long sleeves, though, if you want MY advice. You can avoid the scrapes, but not the bruises.Also, you might find that the routing of the old cable was a bit TOO circuitous. Mine had a couple of unnecessary bends and loops, and the new cable worked like a charm.But if you do find an alternate means of rigging a shifting actuator of some kind, be it electric or hydraulic, I'd be VERY interested. For next time. There's always a 'next time,' right?Have fun - Rick