An outboard motor includes a bracket, an outboard motor body, a harness, and a seal. The bracket is attached to a transom of a boat. The outboard motor body is supported by the bracket. The harness extends from the outboard motor body through an opening of the transom into the boat. The seal is detachably attached to the opening to hold the harness.

An outboard motor includes an outboard motor body that, when located in a full trim-in position, an upper connecting pin is located in a lower limit position below a tilt shaft. When the outboard motor body is in a full tilt-up position, the upper connecting pin is located in the upper limit position above the tilt shaft. The upper connecting pin rotates around the tilt shaft at a first rotation angle from the lower limit position to a horizontal position at the same height as the tilt shaft. The upper connecting pin rotates at a second rotation angle around the tilt shaft from the horizontal position to the upper limit position. The second rotation angle is larger than the first rotation angle.

An outboard motor includes an outboard motor body that, when located in a full trim-in position, an upper connecting pin is located in a lower limit position below a tilt shaft. When the outboard motor body is in a full tilt-up position, the upper connecting pin is located in the upper limit position above the tilt shaft. The upper connecting pin rotates around the tilt shaft at a first rotation angle from the lower limit position to a horizontal position at the same height as the tilt shaft. The upper connecting pin rotates at a second rotation angle around the tilt shaft from the horizontal position to the upper limit position. The second rotation angle is larger than the first rotation angle.

A stern and swivel bracket assembly for mounting a drive unit to a watercraft has a stern bracket having first and second laterally spaced portions, a swivel bracket pivotally connected to the stern bracket about a tilt/trim axis, and a hydraulic linear tilt-trim actuator operatively connected between the stern and swivel brackets. The swivel bracket includes a hydraulic steering actuator, and defines first and second hydraulic steer ports facing outward in a first lateral direction. The swivel bracket further includes at least one drive unit mounting bracket connected to the hydraulic steering actuator for connecting the drive unit to the swivel bracket. The hydraulic linear tilt-trim actuator is located laterally between the first and second portions of the stern bracket, and defines trim-up and trim-down hydraulic ports facing outward in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction.

A method of controlling a marine drive on a marine vessel includes receiving a trim position instruction to adjust a trim position of the marine drive and determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim positon instruction or adjusted trim positon of the marine drive. A trim actuator is controlled to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction and a steering actuator is controlled to automatically adjust steering positon of the marine drive to remain within the allowable steering range.

A method of controlling a marine drive on a marine vessel includes receiving a trim position instruction to adjust a trim position of the marine drive and determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim positon instruction or adjusted trim positon of the marine drive. A trim actuator is controlled to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction and a steering actuator is controlled to automatically adjust steering positon of the marine drive to remain within the allowable steering range.

A steering system for a trimmable outboard motor. The steering system includes a hydraulic steering device that upon actuation changes a steering angle of the outboard motor. A pump communicates a hydraulic fluid with the hydraulic actuator to cause actuation thereof, where the pump operates at a pump speed, and where the pump speed impacts a change rate for the hydraulic steering device changing the steering angle. A reservoir is fluidly coupled to the pump and configured to retain the hydraulic fluid. A tilt sensor detects a trim angle of the outboard motor. A control system is operatively coupled with the pump and receives requests for changing the steering angle. The control system controls the pump speed of the pump based at least in part on the trim angle of the outboard motor.

A steering system for a trimmable outboard motor. The steering system includes a hydraulic steering device that upon actuation changes a steering angle of the outboard motor. A pump communicates a hydraulic fluid with the hydraulic actuator to cause actuation thereof, where the pump operates at a pump speed, and where the pump speed impacts a change rate for the hydraulic steering device changing the steering angle. A reservoir is fluidly coupled to the pump and configured to retain the hydraulic fluid. A tilt sensor detects a trim angle of the outboard motor. A control system is operatively coupled with the pump and receives requests for changing the steering angle. The control system controls the pump speed of the pump based at least in part on the trim angle of the outboard motor.

Boat handling and control systems and methods related to one or more of steering and propulsion of a pontoon boat.

Boat handling and control systems and methods related to one or more of steering and propulsion of a pontoon boat.