A tiller system for a marine outboard engine having a tiller bracket is described. The tiller system comprises a tiller for mounting to the tiller bracket. A speed input control is mounted to the tiller and a speed input control position sensor detects a position of the speed input control. A control unit is mounted to the tiller and is operatively connected to the speed input control position sensor. The control unit converts the position of the speed input control into a speed input message. A digital communication port of the control unit transmits the speed input message to the marine outboard engine over a controller area network bus. A marine outboard engine having the tiller system and a marine outboard engine system for a watercraft are also described.