US3583357A

US3583357A - Side mount stern drive

Info

Publication number: US3583357A
Application number: US811829A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Shimanckas
Original assignee: Outboard Marine Corp
Current assignee: Outboard Marine Corp
Priority date: 1969-04-01
Filing date: 1969-04-01
Publication date: 1971-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-08
Also published as: CA929802A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device in which a drive shaft housing having upper and lower housing sections projects through an opening in the transom of a boat hull and is rotatably supported for vertical movement about a horizontal tilt axis by a fixed housing on the inboard side of the transom. The lower housing section includes a gearcase with a propeller shaft and a projecting portion which extends through the hollow interior of the upper housing extension into an access area in the fixed housing where it is connectable to steering apparatus. Interchangeable components permit the engine to be mounted on either the port or starboard sides of the transom. At each of these locations, various engine-mounting positions are afforded by a planetary engine-mounting arrangement.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor William J. Shimanckas Waukegan, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 811,829 [22] Filed Apr. 1, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Assignee Outboard Marine Corporation Waukegan, Ill.

[54] SIDE MOUNT STERN DRIVE 19 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 115/41 [51] B63h 5/12 [50] Field 01 Search 115/41,17, 34; 74/397, 396, 606, 421

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,499,339 2/1950 Wanzer 115/41 2,644,434 7/1953 Watkins 115/17 X 2,700,359 l/1955 Dewhurst 115/41 X 3,182,629 5/ 1965 Armantrout et al. 115/41 3,303,365 4/1967 Hennessey 3,489,120 l/l970 Strang Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Carl A. Rutledge Attorneys-Michael, Best & Friedrich, Spencer B. Michael and Robert K. Gerling ABSTRACT: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device in which a drive shaft housing having upper and lower housing sections projects through an opening in the transom of a boat hull and is rotatably supported for vertical movement about a horizontal tilt axis by a fixed housing on the inboard side of the transom. The lower housing section includes a gearcase with a propeller shaft and a projecting portion which extends through the hollow interior of the upper housing extension into an access area in the fixed housing where it is connectable to steering apparatus. Interchangeable components permit the engine to be mounted on either the port or starboard sides of the transom. At each of these locations, various enginemounting positions are afforded by a planetary engine-mounting arrangement.

PATENTED JUN 8 1971 SHEET 1 0F 4 fpggl rroauaws PATENTED JUN 8197! SHEET .3 [1F 4 mv an TOR wmunm J. Sal/newer:

SIDE MOUNT STERN DRIVE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The invention relates to marine propulsion devices of the type which are commonly called stern drive or inboard-outboard propulsion units and in which the engine is mounted forwardly of the transom and power is supplied to a propeller either through the transom or over the transom.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a marine propulsion device in which steering of the boat hull is afforded by rotation of the lower housing section of a drive shaft housing having upper and lower housing sections. The lower housing section supports a propeller shaft and propeller.

External steering links or connections to the lower housing section are eliminated by a construction in which the lower housing section is provided with a hollow or tubular projecting portion which surrounds the drive shaft, and which is journaled in the hollow interior of the upper housing section. The projecting portion extends into a cavity or access area in a fixed housing which is connected to the inboard side of a boat transom. Rotation of the upper end of the projecting portion to turn the lower housing section about the axis of the drive shaft to steer the boat is afforded by a pulley and belt arrangementor by gears which connect the lower housing section to a steering shaft which can be connected to conventional remote steering apparatus.

The invention also provides means for interchangeably locating the engine on either the port or starboard side of the transom to accommodate the various seat and cockpit arrangements in a boat hull. This means includes two bushings which have symmetrical annular surface portions and which can be interchangeably received in either of two coaxial apertures in the fixed housing which supports the drive shaft housing on the transom for vertical tilting movement about a horizontal tilt axis. The bushings are connected to the upper end or inboard end of the upper section of the drive shaft housing to rotatably support the drive shaft housing to the transom. One of the bushings has a greater axial length than the other and projects through the sidewall of the fixed housing and rotatably supports the steering shaft. The bushings also carry bearings for supporting a horizontal cross-shaft which is coaxial with the horizontal tilt axis of the drive shaft housing and which is connected to the drive shaft through gears. One end of the horizontal cross-shaft is connected to the engine output shaft by gears. By interchanging the bushings, the steering shaft can be located on one side of the fixed housing and the gears for connection of the cross-shaft to the engine output shaft can be located on the other side of the fixed housing.

Inasmuch as the steering shaft is supported in one of the bushings which rotates upon vertical tilt of the drive shaft housing, the steering shaft remains in the same location relative to the projecting portion of the lower housing section, thus there is no twisting of the belt during tilting movement of the housing. Furthermore, the steering ratio remains constant during tilting movement of the drive shaft housing.

The direction of rotation of the drive shaft can be changed by axially shifting a clutch dog which is splined to the crossshaft and engageable with either of two bevel gears carried by the cross-shaft.

In addition to the provision for interchangeably locating the engine on either the port or starboard side of the transom, the invention also provides means for mounting one end of the engine to the fixed housing to afford a plurality of mounting positions of the engine and in planetary relation to the horizontal tilt axis and cross-shaft. Thus the height of the engine above the floorboard and the distance of the engine from the transom can be varied.

Means are also provided for adjustably mounting the other end of the engine to the transom. The invention also includes apparatus for prealignment of the means for adjustably mounting the other end of the engine prior to installation of the engine.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the marine propulsion unit of the invention which is partially broken away and is in fragmentary section.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the marine propulsion unit shown in FIG. 1 with the boat hull in fragmentary section.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. Sis a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an alternate arrangement for the steering means.

FIG. 7 is a view of the motor mounting arrangement with apparatus for alignment of the mountings.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. I there is shown a stern drive or marine propulsion device in accordance with the invention, which is generally designated 2, and which is shown mounted on the transom 4 ofa boat hull 6. The marine propulsion device 2 includes a drive shaft 7 rotatably supported in an outboard leg, propulsion unit or drive shaft housing 8 which includes a first part or lower housing section 10 and a second part or upper housing section 12. The lower housing section 10 includes a lower unit gearcase 11 which rotatably supports a propeller shaft 9 which carries a propeller 13. The gearcase 11 is separated from the upper part of the lower housing section by a gasket 11A. The propeller shaft 9 is connected to the drive shaft 7 by a pair of bevel gears 13A and 14A.

To facilitate steering, the lower housing section 10 is provided with an axial extension or projecting wall portion 16 which extends upwardly from an inturned wall portion 15 and through the hollow interior 17 of the upper housing section 12. The means provided to rotate the projecting portion 16 and lower housing section 10 to steer the hull are subsequently described.

The lower housing section 10 also has an annular wall portion 18 which is connected to wall portion 15 and which surrounds the drive shaft and extends through the interior 19 of the lower housing section 10. The wall portion 18 carries bearings 19A for rotatably supporting the drive shaft 7.

The lower housing section 10 is rotatably supported in a bearing 20 in the upper housing section 12. The bearing 20 (FIG. 1) is located between the projecting portion 16 of the lower housing section 10 and portions of an outer wall 21 and intermediate wall 21A of the upper housing section 12.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for rotatably supporting the drive shaft housing 8 on a boat hull for swinging or tilting movement in a vertical plane about a generally horizontal tilt axis. In the disclosed construction, the means includes a fixed housing or support or structure 22 in the form of a rearwardly open shell or enclosure with spaced

sidewalls

23, 24, (FIG. 2) interconnected by an intermediate wall 25.

Means are provided for securing the fixed housing 22 to the transom 4. As disclosed, the means includes out-turned flanges 26 (FIGS. 1, 2) which extend from the edges of the intermediate wall 25 and of the

sidewalls

23, 24, a clamping member 27 which has an out-turned flange 29 (FIG. I) located on the aftward or outboard side of the transom 4, and a portion 30 which projects through the transom opening 31. The flanges 26 are secured to the clamping member 27 by bolts 32 (FIGS. 1, 2).

To rotatably support the drive shaft housing 8, the

sidewalls

23, 24 of the fixed housing 22 are provided with coaxial apertures 33, 34 (FIG. 8) defined by annular flanges 35 and 36. The upper end 36A of the upper housing section 12 is located between the

sidewalls

23, 24 and is provided with two

coaxial apertures

37 and 38, respectively, defined by

annular flanges

39 and 40 having stepped shoulders 41 and 42 (FIG. 8). The stepped shoulders 41 and 42 are separated from the surfaces 35 and 36 of the fixed housing 22 by bearings 44 and 46.

To support the upper end 36A of the upper housing section 12 in the

apertures

33, 34, the invention provides first and second members or

bushings

47 and 48 which have symmetrical

annular wall portions

49 and 50 which can be received or journaled in either of the

apertures

33, 34 of the fixed housing 22. As is disclosed in FIG. 8, bushing 47 is located in aperture 33. The symmetry of

portions

49 and 50 permits the mounting of an engine on either the port or starboard sides of the transom, as will be subsequently described in detail. The bushing 48 is secured to flange 40 of the upper housing section 12 by a series of bolts 49A. The bushing 47 is secured to the flange 39 by bolts 49A. Thus, the

bushings

47, 48 rotate with the propulsion unit or drive shaft housing 8 when it is tilted as for instance when the boat is beached or being trailed.

The

bushings

47, 48 respectively, have cup-shaped receptacles 50, 51 which receive the

bearings

52 and 53 which rotatably support a cross-shaft 54 in coaxial relation to the horizontal tilt axis of the propulsion unit 8.

Means are provided for rotating the lower housing section 10 about the axis of the drive shaft 7 to afford steering of the boat hull. As disclosed, the means includes a member 60 (FIG. 8) which is connected to the upper end of the projecting portion 16 by bolts 62. Member 60 is provided with an axially extending annular flange 64 which has an exterior annular groove 65 and an interior concentric bore 66 which carries a bearing 67 for rotatably supporting the upper end of the drive shaft 7.

The means for rotating the lower housing section 10 also includes a steering shaft 68 (FIGS. 5, 8, 9) which is rotatably supported in the bushing 47 by bearings 69 for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular or transverse to the cross-shaft 54 and parallel to the drive shaft 7. The steering shaft 68 carries a pulley 70 which is connected to the member 60 by a band or belt 72. The belt 72 and the member 60 are provided with means for preventing relative movement therebetween.

Various arrangements can be used. In the disclosed construction, the belt 72 is provided with a projection 73 (FIG. which is located in a transverse notch 74 in the groove 65 to afford a positive engagement with the belt 72. The ends of belt 72 can be connected to the pulley 70 as shown in FIG. 5.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the connection between shaft 68 and the projecting portion 16 of the lower housing section can be afforded by gears. As disclosed, a gear segment 70A is connected to the steering shaft 68 and a gear segment 65A is connected to the upper end of projection portion 16. The gear segments 70A and 65A are connected by an idler gear 71A. Rotation of the shaft 68 to provide steering is facilitated by a steering arm 74 (FIGS. 2, 8) secured to the shaft 68 and connectable to a conventional steering cable or apparatus (not shown). Inasmuch as the steering shaft 68 tilts with the drive shaft housing, the steering ratio between the steering shaft 68 and the projecting portion remains constant.

In addition to provision for locating the engine on either the port or starboard sides of the transom 4, the invention also provides means for mounting one end of the engine 80 to the fixed housing 22 to afford a plurality ofengine-mounting positions in planetary or orbital relation to the horizontal crossshaft 54 and the horizontal tilt axis. Such arrangement facilitates mounting of the propulsion device 2 on transoms having various angles and heights with respect to the water surface. The cockpit arrangements and seat locations vary considerably in boats produced by different manufacturers so considerable flexibility in engine-mounting arrangements is desirable.

In the disclosed construction (FIGS. 3, 5, and 7) the means for mounting the engine to afford a plurality of mounting positions includes a first engine-mounting member 92 which is secured to the fixed housing and a cooperating second mounting member 82 which is mounted, as will be described, to the first mounting member. The second mounting member is provided with a series of circumferentially arranged apertures 84 and a central aperture 86 for receiving a stub shaft 88 which carries a gear 90. The other end of the stub shaft 80 is journaled in the first engine mounting member 92.

The second mounting member 82 is also provided with two resilient mounts or pads 94 and 96 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which are connected to and support one end of the engine 80. The second mounting member 82 is in overlapping relation to the first mounting member 92 and is in planetary relation to the cross-shaft 54. The second mounting member 82 is secured to the first mounting member 92 by bolts 97 (FIG. 5) which extend through the apertures 84 (FIG. 3) and are receivable in a plurality of apertures 98 which are circumferentially arranged around the periphery of the first mounting member 92. To mount the engine in the desired location, mounting member 82 is rotated about the axis of the stub shaft 88 and the mounting member 92 is rotated about the axis of the cross-shaft 54 until the apertures 84 are in alignment with some of the apertures 98. The bolts 97 are then threaded into the apertures 98. The bolts 99 which extend through apertures 98 are tightened to secure member 92 to the fixed housing 22. Rotation of mounting

members

82 and 92 in this manner maintains the stub shaft 88 at the same radial distance from the cross-shaft 54 thus keeping gear in mesh with the gear 91 carried by the cross-shaft 54. FIGS. 1 and 2 show in broken lines the engine mounted in an alternate position.

Means are provided for adjustably mounting the other side or rear of the engine to the transom 4 to afford fore-and-aft engine adjustment. In the disclosed construction (FIG. 4) the means comprises a bracket which is secured to the transom by bolts 112. The fixed bracket 110 is provided with a slide 114 which travels in a guide or way 116 formed by

opposed flanges

118 and 120. One end of the slide is provided with a resilient engine mount 122 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7) which carries an outwardly projecting stud 124. The stud 124 extends through an aperture 129 in the engine flywheel cover 125 and is secured thereto by a nut 129A. The mount 122 has a second outwardly projecting stud 127 which extends through a square aperture 128A in the slide 114 and is secured to the slide 114 by a nut 130A.

The invention also provides apparatus for prealignment of the engine-mounting bracket 110 prior to connection of the engine 80 to engine-mounting member 82 by the use of an alignment rod 132 (FIG. 7) which projects into coaxial aperture 134 in stub shaft 88. The slide 114 is adjusted so that the pointed end 136 of the alignment shaft 132 is centered in the aperture 128A.

The drive train for rotating propeller shaft 12 and propeller 13 includes a coupling 142 (FIG. 5) which connects the engine output shaft 138 to the stub shaft 88. Stub shaft 88 carries the gear 90 which meshes with the gear 91 carried by the cross-shaft 54.

A water pump 158 including a pump body for supplying engine-cooling water (FIGS. 2 and 3) is driven by a pulley 152 located at one end of shaft 54 and a flexible belt 154. Means are provided for swingably mounting the body of the water pump to the water inlet pipe 151 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to tighten the belt 154. The means is in the form of a bolt 155. Alternatively, the pump 150 can be mounted on the engine 80. In the latter arrangement, the pump will move as the engine position is shifted, thus the need for a flexible hose 157 (FIG. 3) between the pump 150 and the engine 80 is eliminated.

The drive train also includes means for reversing the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 7. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the means includes a pair of

bevel gears

156 and 158 which are rotatably carried by shaft 54 and which mesh with a bevel gear 160 connected to the upper end of the drive shaft 7. Forward and reverse propeller rotation is effected by moving an axially shiftable clutch dog 164 which is splined to shaft 54. The clutch dog can be shifted either mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically or electromechanically as disclosed in pending application Ser. No. 627,106.

Tilting movement of the drive shaft housing 8 about the horizontal tilt axis is afforded by a power tilt cylinder and shock absorber 172 (FIG. 1) which is located within housing 22 and which has a piston connected at 174 to the upper housing section 12 and the cylinder connected at 176 to the fixed housing 22 (FIGS. 1 and 5). The cylinder 172 is connected to a hydraulic pump 178.

The engine 80 can be balanced by a battery 180 (FIGS. 2, 5) located on the opposite side of the boat hull.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

lclaim:

1. A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit including a first part having a projecting portion, a gearcase, and a propeller shaft rotatably supported in said gearcase, said propulsion unit also including a second part including first and second portions with said second portion rotatably receiving therein said projecting portion of said first part, a structure including a part adapted to extend inwardly relative to the transom of a boat and including means for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit second part for vertical swinging movement about a generally horizontal tilt axis and with said second propulsion unit part having said first portion extending on one side of said structure and said second portion extending on the other side of said structure and said projecting portion of said first part extending for rotation about an axis transverse to said horizontal axis, a drive shaft coaxial with said transverse axis and extending through said propulsion unit, means for connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft, and means movably mounted on said first portion of said vertically swingable propulsion unit second part and connected to said projecting portion of said first part for rotating said first part about said transverse axis to afford steering of said first part.

2. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit for swinging movement about a horizontal tilt axis comprises a support adapted to be connected to a boat transom, said support having opposed spaced sidewalls, said sidewalls having first and second coaxial apertures, a first member having a portion journaled within said first aperture, a second member having a portion joumaled in said second aperture, and means connecting said members to said second part for affording rotation of said second part about a horizontal tilt axis coaxial with said axis of said first and second apertures.

3. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said portions of said first and second members journaled in said apertures are symmetrical and interchangeably interfit in each of said apertures.

4. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 2, including a steering shaft rotatably supported in one of said first and second members, a steering arm on said shaft, said steering arm extending transversely to said shaft and connectable to a remote steering arrangement, and means connecting said shaft to said projecting portion of said first part.

5. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said means connecting said steering shaft to said projecting portion of said first part comprises a pulley on said shaft and a pulley on said projecting portion and an endless band reeved on said pulleys.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said means connecting said steering shaft to said projecting portion comprises a gear segment on said steering shaft, a gear segment on said projecting portion, and an intermediate gear in mesh with said gear on said steering shaft and said gear on said projecting portion.

7. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 2, includ ing an engine with an output shaft, and means for mounting one part of said engine to said propulsion unit so as to afford a plurality of engine-mounting positions in planetary relation to said horizontal tilt axis and with said engine output shaft being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis parallel to said horizontal tilt axis of said propulsion unit.

8. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said means for mounting said engine in said propulsion unit to afford a plurality of mounting positions comprises a first mounting member, means for securing said first mounting member to said support to afford a plurality of selective mounting positions of said first mounting member about said horizontal tilt axis, a second mounting member, means for securing said second mounting member in overlapping relation to said first mounting member and in planetary relation to said horizontal axis to afford a plurality of positions of said second mounting member with respect to said first mounting member.

9. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for securing said first mounting member to said support comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in said first member, bolts which extend through said apertures and are engageable with said support, and wherein said means for securing said second support member to said first support member comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures, and bolts extendable through said apertures in said second mounting member and receivable in apertures in said first mounting member.

10. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 7, including means for adjustably supporting another part of said engine to a transom.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said means for adjustably mounting another part of said engine to said transom comprises a bracket adapted to be secured to a transom, said bracket including a guideway, a slide movable in said guideway, said slide including a resilient engine mount provided with a projecting stud engageable with said engine, and means for securing said slide to said bracket.

12. Apparatus for prealigning a rear engine mounting bracket comprising a stub shaft having a coaxial opening, said stub shaft being adapted for coaxial connection with an engine output shaft, an engine-mounting bracket having an aperture adapted to receive a projecting stud from an engine mount and an alignment rod having one end adapted to project into said aperture in said stub shaft, and a second end adapted to project into said aperture in said bracket when said aperture in said bracket is coaxially aligned with said aperture in said stub shaft.

13. A boat hull having a transom with an opening in combination with a marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, said drive shaft housing extending through said opening in said transom, said drive shaft housing including upper and lower housing sections, said lower section being rotatably connected to said upper housing section, a projecting portion on said lower housing section extending through said upper housing section, a drive shaft rotatably supported in said drive shaft housing, a fixed housing secured to said transom and located on the inboard side of said transom, said fixed housing having opposed spaced sidewalls, first and second coaxial apertures in said sidewalls, a first bushing located in said first aperture and a second bushing located in said second aperture, said bushings being secured to the upper end of said upper housing section, a cross-shaft rotatably supported in said bushings for rotation about an axis coaxial to said axis of said first and second apertures, one of said bushings including a transverse steering shaft rotatably supported in said bushing for rotation about an axis parallel to said drive shaft, a pulley on said steering shaft, a pulley on said projecting portion, a belt connecting said pulleys, an engine, a first engine-mounting member having a plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures, bolts securing said first enginemounting member to said fixed housing, a second enginemounting member having a resilient mount connected to one end of said engine, a plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures in said second mounting member and bolts extending through said apertures in said second mounting member and threadable in some of said apertures in said first mounting member, and means for adjustably supporting the other end of said engine to said transom.

M, A marine propulsion device adapted for support on a boat adjacent the transom thereof, said device comprising a propulsion unit including first part including a gearcase and a projecting portion, said propulsion unit also including a second part having a hollow interior which rotatably supports said projecting portion about an axis for pivotal steering movement, means for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit second part on a transom for vertical swinging movement about a generally horizontal tilt axis transverse to said steering movement axis and with a portion of said second part extending forwardly of the transom within a boat, and means movably swingably mounted on said vertically tiltable portion of said second propulsion unit part located forwardly of the transom and connected to said projecting portion of said first part for pivoting said first part about said steering movement axis.

15. A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said means for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal tilt axis comprises a support adapted to be connected to a boat transom, a hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod with one of said cylinder and said piston rod being connected to said second part and the other of said piston and said cylinder being connected to said support.

16. A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, said propulsion unit including a first part having an axial extension, a second part having a hollow interior, said axial extension being journaled in said hollow interior of said second part and a support for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit for swinging movement in a vertical plane about a generally horizontal tilt axis, said support including opposed spaced walls defining a cavity therebetween and wherein said axial extension of said first part projects into said cavity within said hollow interior of said second part, and means connected to said axial extension in said cavity to afford rotation of said first part about an axis transverse to the horizontal tilt axis.

17. A marine propulsion unit in accordance with claim 16, including a water intake tube, a water pump including a pump body, flexible drive means connected to said water pump, and means swingably mounting said water pump body to said intake tube to afford movement of said pump to tighten said drive means.

18. The assembly of a boat hull having a transom, a marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, means for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit on said boat hull for vertical swinging movement relative to said boat hull about a generally horizontal tilt axis, an engine having an output shaft, and means for mounting said engine on said means for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit to afford a plurality of engine-mounting positions in planetary relation to said horizontal tilt axis with said output shaft parallel to said horizontal tilt axis.

19. An assembly in accordance with claim 18, wherein said engine is mounted on one of the port and starboard sides of said boat hull and a battery mounted on the other of said port or starboard sides of said hull to counterbalance said engine.

Claims

2. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit for swinging movement about a horizontal tilt axis comprises a support adapted to be connected to a boat transom, said support having opposed spaced sidewalls, said sidewalls having first and second coaxial apertures, a first member having a portion journaled within said first aperture, a second member having a portion journaled in said second aperture, and means connecting said members to said second part for affording rotation of said second part about a horizontal tilt axis coaxial with said axis of said first and second apertures.

7. A propulsion device in accordance with claim 2, including an engine with an output shaft, and means for mounting one part of said engine to said propulsion unit so as to afford a plurality of engine-mounting positions in planetary relation to said horizontal tilt axis and with said engine output shaft being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis parallel to said horizontal tilt axis of said propulsion unit.

13. A boat hull having a transom with an opening in combination with a marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, said drive shaft housing extending through said opening in said transom, said drive shaft housing including upper and lower housing sections, said lower section being rotatably connected to said upper housing section, a projecting portion on said lower housing section extending through said upper housing section, a drive shaft rotatably supported in said drive shaft housing, a fixed housing secured to said transom and located on the inboard side of said transom, said fixed housing having opposed spaced sidewalls, first and second coaxial apertures in said sidewalls, a first bushing located in said first aperture and a second bushing located in said second aperture, said bushings being secured to the upper end of said upper housing section, a cross-shaft rotatably supported in said bushings for rotation about an axis coaxial to said axis of said first and second apertures, one of said bushings including a transverse steering shaft rotatably supported in said bushing for rotation about an axis parallel to said drive shaft, a pulley on said steering shaft, a pulley on said projecting portion, a belt connecting said pulleys, an engine, a first engine-mounting member having a plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures, bolts securing said first engine-mounting member to said fixed housing, a second engine-mounting member having a resilient mount connected to one end of said engine, a plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures in said second mounting member and bolts extending through said apertures in said second mounting member and threadable in some of said apertures in said first mounting member, and means for adjustably supporting the other end of said engine to said transom.

14. A marine propulsion device adapted for support on a boat adjacent the transom thereof, said device comprising a propulsion unit including first part including a gearcase and a projecting portion, said propulsion unit also including a second part having a hollow interior which rotatably supports said projecting portion about an axis for pivotal steering movement, means for rotatably supporting said propulsion unit second part on a transom for vertical swinging movement about a generally horizontal tilt axis transverse to said steering movement axis and with a portion of said second part extending forwardly of the transom within a boat, and means movably swingably mounted on said vertically tiltable portion of said second propulsion unit part located forwardly of the transom and connected to said projecting portion of said first part for pivoting said first part about said steering movement axis.