An outboard motor includes an outboard motor main body, a support including a tilt shaft and that supports the outboard motor main body, and a trim cylinder including a first trim cylinder shaft disposed below the tilt shaft along an outer surface of a transom of a hull. A distance between the tilt shaft and the first trim cylinder shaft is adjustable.

An outboard motor includes an outboard motor main body, a support including a tilt shaft and that supports the outboard motor main body, and a trim cylinder including a first trim cylinder shaft disposed below the tilt shaft along an outer surface of a transom of a hull. A distance between the tilt shaft and the first trim cylinder shaft is adjustable.

A marine drive is for propelling a marine vessel. The marine drive has a propulsor configured to generate a thrust force in a body of water; a battery that powers the propulsor; and a supporting frame which supports the marine drive relative to marine vessel. The supporting frame has a monolithic body defining a frame interior, and further has a support leg extending downwardly from the monolithic body and a steering arm extending forwardly from monolithic body. A cowling is fixed to the supporting frame via at least one hidden fastener that extends from the frame interior, through the supporting frame, and into engagement with the cowl body, wherein hidden fastener being accessible during installation.

A marine drive is for propelling a marine vessel. The marine drive has a propulsor configured to generate a thrust force in a body of water; a battery that powers the propulsor; and a supporting frame which supports the marine drive relative to marine vessel. The supporting frame has a monolithic body defining a frame interior, and further has a support leg extending downwardly from the monolithic body and a steering arm extending forwardly from monolithic body. A cowling is fixed to the supporting frame via at least one hidden fastener that extends from the frame interior, through the supporting frame, and into engagement with the cowl body, wherein hidden fastener being accessible during installation.

A vessel operation system includes an outboard motor or other propulsion apparatus disposed on a hull, a trolling motor mounted externally to the hull, a joystick or other first operator, and a controller. The joystick is operated by a vessel operator in order to indicate at least one of a magnitude and a direction of a thrust that the outboard motor is to apply to the hull. In a state in which the trolling motor is generating a first thrust, the controller controls the outboard motor so as to generate a second thrust in accordance with a command indicated by the joystick. Additionally, the controller controls the trolling motor so that the first thrust changes.

A vessel operation system includes an outboard motor or other propulsion apparatus disposed on a hull, a trolling motor mounted externally to the hull, a joystick or other first operator, and a controller. The joystick is operated by a vessel operator in order to indicate at least one of a magnitude and a direction of a thrust that the outboard motor is to apply to the hull. In a state in which the trolling motor is generating a first thrust, the controller controls the outboard motor so as to generate a second thrust in accordance with a command indicated by the joystick. Additionally, the controller controls the trolling motor so that the first thrust changes.

An outboard motor includes a swivel bracket supporting a drive shaft housing such that the drive shaft housing is pivotable about an axis thereof and is movable in an axial direction thereof, a steering adjuster attached to the swivel bracket and configured to increase or reduce a rotational resistance force of the drive shaft housing against the swivel bracket, and at least one spacer mounted to the drive shaft housing at a position adjacent to at least one of both ends of the swivel bracket in the axial direction. In a state in which the spacer is mounted to the drive shaft housing, the drive shaft housing is restricted from moving in the axial direction with respect to the swivel bracket. A dimension from the swivel bracket to a rotation shaft of the propeller is changed by changing a mounting position of the spacer.

An outboard motor includes a swivel bracket supporting a drive shaft housing such that the drive shaft housing is pivotable about an axis thereof and is movable in an axial direction thereof, a steering adjuster attached to the swivel bracket and configured to increase or reduce a rotational resistance force of the drive shaft housing against the swivel bracket, and at least one spacer mounted to the drive shaft housing at a position adjacent to at least one of both ends of the swivel bracket in the axial direction. In a state in which the spacer is mounted to the drive shaft housing, the drive shaft housing is restricted from moving in the axial direction with respect to the swivel bracket. A dimension from the swivel bracket to a rotation shaft of the propeller is changed by changing a mounting position of the spacer.

A system for locking a trolling motor assembly in a stowed position on a watercraft is provided herein. The system comprises a trolling motor assembly attached to the watercraft, wherein the trolling motor assembly is movable between the stowed position and a deployed position. The system further includes a locking mechanism mounted to the watercraft and configured to interact with the trolling motor assembly when the trolling motor assembly is in the stowed position. The locking mechanism defines a locked state and an unlocked state and is configured to transition between the states. The system additionally includes a controller having a memory including program code configured to, when executed, cause a processor to determine an instance in which to transition the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state and, in response, cause the locking mechanism to transition from the locked state to the unlocked state.

A system for locking a trolling motor assembly in a stowed position on a watercraft is provided herein. The system comprises a trolling motor assembly attached to the watercraft, wherein the trolling motor assembly is movable between the stowed position and a deployed position. The system further includes a locking mechanism mounted to the watercraft and configured to interact with the trolling motor assembly when the trolling motor assembly is in the stowed position. The locking mechanism defines a locked state and an unlocked state and is configured to transition between the states. The system additionally includes a controller having a memory including program code configured to, when executed, cause a processor to determine an instance in which to transition the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state and, in response, cause the locking mechanism to transition from the locked state to the unlocked state.