Combination of boat and outboard engine, in which at least one outboard engine is fastened to the transom of the boat in a prearranged position, the engine being mounted to translate along a path with at least one motion component having a vertical orientation in a direction away from or close to the waterline of the boat, that is, of smaller or greater propeller draft, and a motion component having a horizontal or longitudinal orientation in a direction away from or close to the transom of the boat.

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.

A control device for a vessel, the control device comprises: an operation monitoring unit configured to monitor presence or absence of a supply of first electric power supplied from a power supply to an operation display unit for operating the vessel; a drive monitoring unit configured to monitor presence or absence of a supply of second electric power supplied from the power supply to a drive source of the vessel; and a caution control unit configured to cause a caution output device to output a caution based on information indicating the presence or the absence of the supplies of the first electric power and the second electric power that have been respectively acquired from the operation monitoring unit and the drive monitoring unit.

A control device for a vessel, the control device comprises: an operation monitoring unit configured to monitor presence or absence of a supply of first electric power supplied from a power supply to an operation display unit for operating the vessel; a drive monitoring unit configured to monitor presence or absence of a supply of second electric power supplied from the power supply to a drive source of the vessel; and a caution control unit configured to cause a caution output device to output a caution based on information indicating the presence or the absence of the supplies of the first electric power and the second electric power that have been respectively acquired from the operation monitoring unit and the drive monitoring unit.

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, receiving a steering position of the marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim position instruction and/or the adjusted trim position of the marine drive, and controlling a trim actuator to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction, the steering position, and the allowable steering angle range such that the steering position of the marine drive remains within the allowable steering angle range for the adjusted trim position.

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, receiving a steering position of the marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim position instruction and/or the adjusted trim position of the marine drive, and controlling a trim actuator to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction, the steering position, and the allowable steering angle range such that the steering position of the marine drive remains within the allowable steering angle range for the adjusted trim position.

An OSD-outboard stern drive boat propulsion system where single or multiple engines are positioned at boat stern inside boat outer envelope on customized-elevated subfloor and connected to outdrive unit that is attached to boat stern plate. Engine/s are positioned lower than typical outboard engine/s and higher than typical inboard engine/s. Engine compartment is covered by a customized hood and engines are easily accessible form boat floor like typical outboard engine configuration. Drive configuration is like typical sterndrive with engine/s crankshaft in horizontal position connected to outdrive via cardan joint allowing drive tilting up and down. The main purpose of using OSD would be use of one or two diesel or gasoline marine engines of existing design eliminating use of 2-6 large outboards for boats longer than 25 feet and outboard like access to engines for maintenance while using marine engines and providing much simpler boat/engine configuration.

An OSD-outboard stern drive boat propulsion system where single or multiple engines are positioned at boat stern inside boat outer envelope on customized-elevated subfloor and connected to outdrive unit that is attached to boat stern plate. Engine/s are positioned lower than typical outboard engine/s and higher than typical inboard engine/s. Engine compartment is covered by a customized hood and engines are easily accessible form boat floor like typical outboard engine configuration. Drive configuration is like typical sterndrive with engine/s crankshaft in horizontal position connected to outdrive via cardan joint allowing drive tilting up and down. The main purpose of using OSD would be use of one or two diesel or gasoline marine engines of existing design eliminating use of 2-6 large outboards for boats longer than 25 feet and outboard like access to engines for maintenance while using marine engines and providing much simpler boat/engine configuration.

A control apparatus for an outboard motor (4, 5) mounted on a hull (2), comprises a detection unit (46) that detects a variation of rotation of a propeller (25), a protruding portion (60) provided at a rear end portion (25b) of the propeller (25) to rotate integrally with the propeller (25) and extending from the propeller (25) to a rear of the hull (2), and a control unit (30, 40) that determines that an object has contacted the protruding portion (60) when a variation of rotation of the propeller (25) exceeds a predetermined threshold is detected.