A paddle assistance and propulsion system for use with personal watercraft is disclosed. The paddle assistance and propulsion system may include different mounting techniques that allow a propulsion device (e.g., a motor) to be coupled to various types of personal watercraft. Some mounting techniques may include the use of magnets to couple a motor-side mount to a boat-side mount. The paddle assistance and propulsion system may also utilize a variety of sensors in combination with control systems to provide various types of paddle assistance and different types of paddle assistance modes for the user of the personal watercraft.

A paddle assistance and propulsion system for use with personal watercraft is disclosed. The paddle assistance and propulsion system may include different mounting techniques that allow a propulsion device (e.g., a motor) to be coupled to various types of personal watercraft. Some mounting techniques may include the use of magnets to couple a motor-side mount to a boat-side mount. The paddle assistance and propulsion system may also utilize a variety of sensors in combination with control systems to provide various types of paddle assistance and different types of paddle assistance modes for the user of the personal watercraft.

A watercraft and a marine engine assembly for mounting to a watercraft are disclosed. The marine engine assembly includes an engine unit including: an engine unit housing being sealed such that water in which the engine unit housing is immersed is impeded from entering the engine unit housing; an engine in the housing; and an air intake assembly in the engine unit housing which forms a conduit between an exterior of the engine unit housing and the engine, the air intake assembly defining an inlet fluidly communicating with exterior air, the engine unit housing defining at least one aperture aligned with the inlet, the air intake assembly defining at least one outlet fluidly connected with the engine intake, the air intake assembly being sealed such that surrounding fluids within the engine unit housing are impeded from entering the air intake assembly; and a propulsion device operatively connected to the engine.

A watercraft and a marine engine assembly for pivotably mounting to a watercraft about a tilt-trim axis are disclosed. The marine engine assembly includes an engine unit including: an engine unit housing; an engine disposed in the housing; and an exhaust conduit disposed in the housing, an exhaust inlet defined by the exhaust conduit being fluidly connected to the engine, the exhaust conduit extending forward and upward from the exhaust inlet and then subsequently extending downward and rearward to an exhaust outlet. The marine engine assembly also has a driveshaft operatively connected to the engine and a propulsion device operatively connected to the driveshaft. A center of mass of the engine is disposed below the tilt-trim axis at least when the driveshaft is vertically oriented.

The invention provides a marine drive unit (1), such as an outboard motor, for a marine vessel, comprising: an engine or power plant (E), such as an internal combustion; a drive transmission for transmitting or transferring mechanical power generated by the engine or power plant (E) to a propeller shaft for generating propulsion for the vessel; a casing (3) that houses or at least partially encloses the engine (E) and/or the drive transmission; a mounting assembly (2) configured to mount the marine drive unit (1) to a hull, preferably to a transom, of the marine vessel; and a gyrostabiliser (4) arranged in or on the mounting assembly (2) or the casing (3). As an alternative to an outboard motor, the marine drive unit (1) may be provided as a stern drive unit or a pod drive unit. The invention also provides a marine vessel incorporating such a drive unit (1).

The invention provides a marine drive unit (1), such as an outboard motor, for a marine vessel, comprising: an engine or power plant (E), such as an internal combustion; a drive transmission for transmitting or transferring mechanical power generated by the engine or power plant (E) to a propeller shaft for generating propulsion for the vessel; a casing (3) that houses or at least partially encloses the engine (E) and/or the drive transmission; a mounting assembly (2) configured to mount the marine drive unit (1) to a hull, preferably to a transom, of the marine vessel; and a gyrostabiliser (4) arranged in or on the mounting assembly (2) or the casing (3). As an alternative to an outboard motor, the marine drive unit (1) may be provided as a stern drive unit or a pod drive unit. The invention also provides a marine vessel incorporating such a drive unit (1).

An outboard motor includes a transom clamp bracket configured to be supported on a transom of a marine vessel and a swivel bracket configured to be supported by the transom clamp bracket. A propulsion unit is supported by the swivel bracket, the propulsion unit comprising a head unit, a midsection below the head unit, and a lower unit below the midsection. The head unit, midsection, and lower unit are generally vertically aligned with one another when the outboard motor is in a neutral tilt/trim position. The propulsion unit is detachable from the transom clamp bracket.

An outboard motor includes a transom clamp bracket configured to be supported on a transom of a marine vessel and a swivel bracket configured to be supported by the transom clamp bracket. A propulsion unit is supported by the swivel bracket, the propulsion unit comprising a head unit, a midsection below the head unit, and a lower unit below the midsection. The head unit, midsection, and lower unit are generally vertically aligned with one another when the outboard motor is in a neutral tilt/trim position. The propulsion unit is detachable from the transom clamp bracket.

An outboard motor includes an engine, a pressure charger, an intercooler, a bypass air passage, and an air bypass valve to open and close the bypass air passage. The engine includes a cylinder block and an air intake passage and an exhaust passage both of which are connected to the cylinder block. The pressure charger is located in the air intake passage. The intercooler is located in the air intake passage between the cylinder block and the pressure charger. A first end of the bypass air passage is connected to a region of the air intake passage upstream of the pressure charger. A second end of the bypass air passage is connected to a region of the air intake passage downstream of the pressure charger. The air bypass valve is directly attached to the intercooler.

An outboard motor includes an engine, a pressure charger, an intercooler, a bypass air passage, and an air bypass valve to open and close the bypass air passage. The engine includes a cylinder block and an air intake passage and an exhaust passage both of which are connected to the cylinder block. The pressure charger is located in the air intake passage. The intercooler is located in the air intake passage between the cylinder block and the pressure charger. A first end of the bypass air passage is connected to a region of the air intake passage upstream of the pressure charger. A second end of the bypass air passage is connected to a region of the air intake passage downstream of the pressure charger. The air bypass valve is directly attached to the intercooler.