The assembly includes a pivoting body member connectable to an outboard motor assembly, wherein the pivoting body member is movable along a transition path having a locked condition endpoint and an unlocked condition endpoint. A pivoting latch seat mechanically cooperates with a fixed latch pin in the assembly to maintain the pivoting latch seat and the outboard motor assembly in a locked condition when the outboard motor assembly is in a lowered position. The pivoting latch seat is mounted and arranged to disengage from the fixed latch pin to an unlocked condition when the pivoting body member is moved along the transition path to the unlocked condition endpoint, thereafter permitting movement of the outboard motor assembly to a raised position.

The assembly includes a pivoting body member connectable to an outboard motor assembly, wherein the pivoting body member is movable along a transition path having a locked condition endpoint and an unlocked condition endpoint. A pivoting latch seat mechanically cooperates with a fixed latch pin in the assembly to maintain the pivoting latch seat and the outboard motor assembly in a locked condition when the outboard motor assembly is in a lowered position. The pivoting latch seat is mounted and arranged to disengage from the fixed latch pin to an unlocked condition when the pivoting body member is moved along the transition path to the unlocked condition endpoint, thereafter permitting movement of the outboard motor assembly to a raised position.

A jack plate includes a mounting assembly having first and second spacing brackets connected by a transom plate adapted for mounting to the transom of a boat, each of the spacing brackets having inwardly facing channels at rearward sides of the spacing brackets. The jack plate further includes a motor lift including a lift plate extending between a first bearing and a second bearing, the channels adapted to conformingly receive the first and second bearings. An actuator is provided to raise and lower the lift plate relative to the transom plate. At least one spring is operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the motor lift, the spring unloading the lift plate to re-duce load on the actuator. The spring is optionally a compression gas spring.

A jack plate includes a mounting assembly having first and second spacing brackets connected by a transom plate adapted for mounting to the transom of a boat, each of the spacing brackets having inwardly facing channels at rearward sides of the spacing brackets. The jack plate further includes a motor lift including a lift plate extending between a first bearing and a second bearing, the channels adapted to conformingly receive the first and second bearings. An actuator is provided to raise and lower the lift plate relative to the transom plate. At least one spring is operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the motor lift, the spring unloading the lift plate to re-duce load on the actuator. The spring is optionally a compression gas spring.

A ship propulsion unit includes: an engine including a crankshaft extending in a front-rear direction of a ship; a propeller shaft; a power transmission mechanism configured to couple the crankshaft and the propeller shaft; an upper case; and a lower case accommodating the propeller shaft and connected to the upper case. The power transmission mechanism includes a drive shaft extending from the upper case toward the lower case. The upper case and the engine are fixed to a ship body. A connection portion between the upper case and the lower case is provided with a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the lower case around an axis of the drive shaft.

Embodiments of outboard motors and related systems and components thereof, as well as arrangements of marine vessels implementing same, as well as related methods of operation, use, assembly, and manufacture, and related improvements, are disclosed herein. In at least some embodiments, the outboard motor includes a cowling system in which at least one divider portion separates an interior region into first and second portion, with the transmission and engine respectively being situated in the first and second portions, respectively. Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the outboard motor includes a water pump system in which a water pump is integrated with the transmission. Further, in at least some embodiments, the outboard motor includes a fuel vaporization suppression feature, or an oil tank feature that allows for desirable oil drainage from the engine of the outboard motor particularly when the outboard motor is in particular (e.g., storage) positions.

Embodiments of outboard motors and related systems and components thereof, as well as arrangements of marine vessels implementing same, as well as related methods of operation, use, assembly, and manufacture, and related improvements, are disclosed herein. In at least some embodiments, the outboard motor includes a cowling system in which at least one divider portion separates an interior region into first and second portion, with the transmission and engine respectively being situated in the first and second portions, respectively. Additionally, in at least some embodiments, the outboard motor includes a water pump system in which a water pump is integrated with the transmission. Further, in at least some embodiments, the outboard motor includes a fuel vaporization suppression feature, or an oil tank feature that allows for desirable oil drainage from the engine of the outboard motor particularly when the outboard motor is in particular (e.g., storage) positions.

A steering device for an outboard motor is rotatably supported on a hull of a boat about a steering axis. The steering device includes a tiller handle, an actuator, and a linkage. The tiller handle is attached to the outboard motor. The actuator rotates the tiller handle about the steering axis. The linkage is movably disposed between a connection position and a blocking position. The linkage transmits the driving force from the actuator to the tiller handle at the connection position. The linkage shuts off the transmission of the driving force from the actuator to the tiller handle at the blocking position.

The invention relates to a motor boat comprising a bearing structure (1) and at least one foil (2) which is defined by a hydrofoil and its support (4), which is positioned under said structure and slideably mounted with respect to the latter; characterized in that the foil (2) is also mounted in such a way as to adopt at least two fixed positions, namely a position referred to as the active position in which the foil (2) is lowered and a position referred to as the passive position in which the foil (2) coincides with the bearing structure (1) or is fully retracted into the latter.

The invention relates to a motor boat comprising a bearing structure (1) and at least one foil (2) which is defined by a hydrofoil and its support (4), which is positioned under said structure and slideably mounted with respect to the latter; characterized in that the foil (2) is also mounted in such a way as to adopt at least two fixed positions, namely a position referred to as the active position in which the foil (2) is lowered and a position referred to as the passive position in which the foil (2) coincides with the bearing structure (1) or is fully retracted into the latter.