Velvet drive , not so velvet

[vgcliff]

Have a 1991 2700 0pen , 350 Mercruiser velvet drive trans. Starboard motor shifting into forward and reverse, has a noticeable clunk one clunk when going into gear, not the chattering at low RPM like a bad Damper plate. My question , could it still be a bad Damper plate not absorbing the energy from the engine. sounds like bad U joints from trans to drive shaft. Thanks for any input. Greg.