A system for suspending a lubricant in a marine propulsion device having a gearcase, the gearcase defining a gearset cavity for containing a propeller shaft gearset rotated by a driveshaft. The system includes a pump device configured to pump the lubricant away from the gearset cavity, and a reservoir located away from the gearset cavity and configured to receive the lubricant from the pump device. An input passage conveys the lubricant from the pump device to the reservoir, and an output passage conveys the lubricant from the reservoir to the gearset cavity. The reservoir is configured to retain at least 15% of the lubricant circulating between the gearset cavity and the reservoir.

An outboard motor includes an engine, a propeller shaft that rotates together with a propeller and extends in a forward-rearward direction, and a lower case that houses the propeller shaft. The lower case includes a front case and a rear case separate from the front case and positioned rearward of the front case, and the front case and the rear case are assembled to each other.

An outboard motor includes an engine, a propeller shaft that rotates together with a propeller and extends in a forward-rearward direction, and a lower case that houses the propeller shaft. The lower case includes a front case and a rear case separate from the front case and positioned rearward of the front case, and the front case and the rear case are assembled to each other.

A stern drive is for propelling a marine vessel in water. The stern drive has an upper drive unit with a lower mounting surface; a lower gearcase coupled to the lower mounting surface and a trailing end surface that is angled relative to the lower mounting surface; and a propeller shaft extending forwardly from the lower gearcase and being configured to rotate a propeller for pulling the marine vessel in the water. The upper drive unit and the lower gearcase are configured such that when a forward side of the lower gearcase impacts an underwater obstruction, the lower gearcase is caused to pivot relative to the upper drive unit until the trailing end surface impacts the lower mounting surface, which thereby causes the lower gearcase to completely uncouple from the upper drive unit.

An outboard propulsion system comprising an engine configured to receive oil; an oil pan configured to receive oil from the engine; and an oil reservoir configured to receive oil from the oil pan and provide oil to the engine, in use.

Provided herein is a marine propulsion apparatus including a prime mover having a drive shaft, a cowling enclosing the prime mover, first and second struts affixed to the cowling, where each of the struts have a leading portion, an interior belt void, and a trailing portion. The apparatus further includes a lower unit coupled to the distal ends of the struts, a sprocket rotatably disposed within the lower unit, a shaft rotatably coupled to the sprocket, a belt rotatably coupling the drive shaft to the sprocket, such that a first portion of the belt is disposed within the interior belt void of the first strut and a second portion of the belt is disposed within the interior belt void of the second strut. The apparatus further includes a thermal circuit (having a heat transfer fluid) extending from the cowling, through each of the struts, and into the lower unit.

Provided herein is a marine propulsion apparatus including a prime mover having a drive shaft, a cowling enclosing the prime mover, first and second struts affixed to the cowling, where each of the struts have a leading portion, an interior belt void, and a trailing portion. The apparatus further includes a lower unit coupled to the distal ends of the struts, a sprocket rotatably disposed within the lower unit, a shaft rotatably coupled to the sprocket, a belt rotatably coupling the drive shaft to the sprocket, such that a first portion of the belt is disposed within the interior belt void of the first strut and a second portion of the belt is disposed within the interior belt void of the second strut. The apparatus further includes a thermal circuit (having a heat transfer fluid) extending from the cowling, through each of the struts, and into the lower unit.

The present invention concerns an outboard propulsion device for a navigational seacraft comprising a propulsion means (4), at least one engine (1) supplying torque to a drive shaft (20) extending out of the engine and driving a transmission shaft (3) intended to supply torque to the propulsion means, the drive shaft and the propulsion shaft being in a fixed relative orientation, and a transmission means (2) connected at the input to the drive shaft (20) in order to receive the engine torque and transmit it, in the form of modified torque, to the transmission shaft (3) to which it is connected at the output, and the transmission shaft (3) is a double universal joint shaft (30, 31) that extends in an inclined manner between the transmission means (2) and the propulsion means (4).

An outboard motor includes an upper case located between an engine and a propulsion unit. The upper case includes case parts that are separate from each other and assembled together. The case parts include a first case part and a second case part opposing each other in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axis of a drive shaft.

A system for rotating an inner propeller shaft within a gearcase via a driveshaft. The system includes a stub shaft that extends between forward and aft ends and is rotatable within the gearcase. A forward gear is rotatably coupled to the stub shaft, where the forward gear meshes with the driveshaft and is engageable to become rotatably fixed to the stub shaft such that rotating the driveshaft rotates the stub shaft. A shock absorbing coupler is positioned within the gearcase, where the coupler has forward and aft ends, where the forward end of the coupler is engageable with the aft end of the stub shaft, and where the aft end of the coupler engageable with the inner propeller shaft. The coupler is torsional between the forward and aft ends such that shock is absorbable between the inner propeller shaft and the driveshaft.