An outboard motor and methods of use thereof in general, includes a powerhead removeably affixed to the transom of a boat, and a gear case rotationally connected to a propeller shaft, the outboard motor including a telescopic drive shaft, the telescopic drive shaft having a first drive shaft section rotationally connected to the motor and a second drive shaft section rotationally connected to the gear case, and a telescopic drive shaft housing, the telescopic drive shaft housing configured to support the telescopic drive shaft internally therethrough, whereby the telescopic drive shaft and the telescopic drive shaft housing are configured to provide depth adjustment for the gear case and the propeller shaft, and thus enable the propeller to be raised and lowered during propulsion to improve propulsion efficiency.

An outboard motor and methods of use thereof in general, includes a powerhead removeably affixed to the transom of a boat, and a gear case rotationally connected to a propeller shaft, the outboard motor including a telescopic drive shaft, the telescopic drive shaft having a first drive shaft section rotationally connected to the motor and a second drive shaft section rotationally connected to the gear case, and a telescopic drive shaft housing, the telescopic drive shaft housing configured to support the telescopic drive shaft internally therethrough, whereby the telescopic drive shaft and the telescopic drive shaft housing are configured to provide depth adjustment for the gear case and the propeller shaft, and thus enable the propeller to be raised and lowered during propulsion to improve propulsion efficiency.

An outboard-motor vibration-isolating cooler system apparatus providing a retrofit substitute for the midsection and the lower unit of a standard outboard motor, having a substitute closed-loop cooling system with an exterior heat exchanger, a substitute oil reservoir, a substitute exhaust system, and a substitute propulsion system with an isolating power-take-off shaft, allowing an existing standard outboard-motor powerhead to be used in conditions not conducive to standard open-loop water cooling, such as shallow-water, muddy-water, obstructed-water, seawater, or corrosive-water conditions.

An outboard motor has a cowling, a gearcase, a midsection located axially between the cowling and the gearcase, a steering arm extending forwardly from the midsection, and an anti-ventilation plate between the midsection and the gearcase. A wing extends laterally from the steering arm. The wing, a lateral side of the cowling, and a lateral side of the gearcase together define a side tripod which supports the outboard motor in a side laydown position. The anti-ventilation plate has a rear edge with laterally outer rear support members, which together with the rear of the cowling form a rear tripod which supports the outboard motor in a rear laydown position.

An outboard motor has a cowling, a gearcase, a midsection located axially between the cowling and the gearcase, a steering arm extending forwardly from the midsection, and an anti-ventilation plate between the midsection and the gearcase. A wing extends laterally from the steering arm. The wing, a lateral side of the cowling, and a lateral side of the gearcase together define a side tripod which supports the outboard motor in a side laydown position. The anti-ventilation plate has a rear edge with laterally outer rear support members, which together with the rear of the cowling form a rear tripod which supports the outboard motor in a rear laydown position.

A boat drive is provided for driving a water vehicle. The boat drive includes a drive housing made from a first metallic material and a propeller shaft made from a second metallic material. Moreover, the propeller shaft is designed to receive a drive propeller and the propeller shaft is mounted in the drive housing. In addition, a propeller shaft isolator is provided to electrically isolate the propeller shaft from the drive housing.

A boat drive is provided for driving a water vehicle. The boat drive includes a drive housing made from a first metallic material and a propeller shaft made from a second metallic material. Moreover, the propeller shaft is designed to receive a drive propeller and the propeller shaft is mounted in the drive housing. In addition, a propeller shaft isolator is provided to electrically isolate the propeller shaft from the drive housing.

An outboard motor having an internal combustion engine that causes rotation of a driveshaft, a planetary transmission that operatively connects the driveshaft to a transmission output shaft, a band brake configured to shift the planetary transmission amongst a forward gear, neutral gear and reverse gear, a hydraulic actuator is configured to actuate the band brake, and a cooling water circuit that extends adjacent to the hydraulic actuator so that the hydraulic actuator exchanges heat with cooling water in the cooling water circuit.

An outboard motor having an internal combustion engine that causes rotation of a driveshaft, a planetary transmission that operatively connects the driveshaft to a transmission output shaft, a band brake configured to shift the planetary transmission amongst a forward gear, neutral gear and reverse gear, a hydraulic actuator is configured to actuate the band brake, and a cooling water circuit that extends adjacent to the hydraulic actuator so that the hydraulic actuator exchanges heat with cooling water in the cooling water circuit.

An outboard motor includes a first exhaust passage connected to an exhaust port and extending downward from the exhaust port through a support frame on a lateral side of a cylinder head. A first case accommodates an engine. A second case accommodates a propeller shaft. A third case is between the first case and the second case in a vertical direction. An exhaust pipe is between the first case and the second case in the vertical direction. The exhaust pipe is connected to the first exhaust passage. At least a portion of the exhaust pipe is outside the third case as seen in a side view of the outboard motor. An exterior cover is between the first case and the second case in the vertical direction. The exterior cover covers the exhaust pipe.