A suspension structure includes a clamp bracket attachable to a hull, a main load bearing portion to support an outboard motor body to mainly bear the weight of the outboard motor body, a tilt shaft, a coupling, and a cylinder to change a trim angle or a tilt angle of the outboard motor body. The coupling includes a first end rotatably supported by the tilt shaft, and a second end fixed to the main load bearing portion. The cylinder includes a first end supported by the clamp bracket at a position lower than the tilt shaft and rotatable about a first rotation shaft in an up-down direction, and a second end supporting the coupling and rotatable about a second rotation shaft in the up-down direction. The second rotation shaft is provided in or near the main load bearing portion.

A power steering system for a watercraft includes an electromechanical rotary actuator mounted within a cylindrical housing. The electromechanical rotary actuator includes a motor and a gearing system. The housing, along with a stern bracket and an output flange, are sized and arranged to permit steering movements and trim/tilt movements of an outboard motor. The power steering system may include one or more of a redundant linear actuator, a trim/tilt mechanism, and a control system.

A power steering system for a watercraft includes an electromechanical rotary actuator mounted within a cylindrical housing. The electromechanical rotary actuator includes a motor and a gearing system. The housing, along with a stern bracket and an output flange, are sized and arranged to permit steering movements and trim/tilt movements of an outboard motor. The power steering system may include one or more of a redundant linear actuator, a trim/tilt mechanism, and a control system.

A marine propulsion system includes a main propulsion device including a main thruster, an auxiliary propulsion device to be attached to a stern on one side of a centerline of a hull in a right-left direction and including an auxiliary thruster, and a remote control lever to switch between a neutral state, a forward movement state, and a reverse movement state. The auxiliary propulsion device further includes a tilt device to tilt up and tilt down an auxiliary propulsion device body, and is operable to tilt up the auxiliary propulsion device body with the tilt device when the main propulsion device is switched from the neutral state to the forward movement state by the remote control lever while the auxiliary propulsion device body is tilted down.

A marine propulsion system includes a main propulsion device including a main thruster, an auxiliary propulsion device to be attached to a stern on one side of a centerline of a hull in a right-left direction and including an auxiliary thruster, and a remote control lever to switch between a neutral state, a forward movement state, and a reverse movement state. The auxiliary propulsion device further includes a tilt device to tilt up and tilt down an auxiliary propulsion device body, and is operable to tilt up the auxiliary propulsion device body with the tilt device when the main propulsion device is switched from the neutral state to the forward movement state by the remote control lever while the auxiliary propulsion device body is tilted down.

A control apparatus for an outboard motor (4, 5) mounted on a hull (2), comprises a control unit (30, 40) that controls an attitude of the outboard motor (4, 5) with respect to the hull (2), and a detection unit (47, 49) that detects a counter electromotive force generated by an attitude change of the outboard motor (4, 5) due to an external force applied on the outboard motor (4, 5). The control unit (30, 40) determines that an object has collided with the outboard motor (4, 5) when the counter electromotive force that exceeds a predetermined threshold is detected.

A control apparatus for an outboard motor (4, 5) mounted on a hull (2), comprises a control unit (30, 40) that controls an attitude of the outboard motor (4, 5) with respect to the hull (2), and a detection unit (47, 49) that detects a counter electromotive force generated by an attitude change of the outboard motor (4, 5) due to an external force applied on the outboard motor (4, 5). The control unit (30, 40) determines that an object has collided with the outboard motor (4, 5) when the counter electromotive force that exceeds a predetermined threshold is detected.

A pump device includes a first case, a second case, a sacrificial anode. The first case has a channel in which hydraulic fluid flows. The second case provides in contact with the first case. The sacrificial anode is coupled to one of the first case and the second case and suppresses corrosion of the first case and the second case. At least one of the first case and the second case includes an insulating section that interrupts electric coupling between the first case and the second case. The pump device further includes a valve member provided in the channel, controlling the flow of the hydraulic fluid flowing in the channel, and electrically coupling the first case and the second case.

A pump device includes a first case, a second case, a sacrificial anode. The first case has a channel in which hydraulic fluid flows. The second case provides in contact with the first case. The sacrificial anode is coupled to one of the first case and the second case and suppresses corrosion of the first case and the second case. At least one of the first case and the second case includes an insulating section that interrupts electric coupling between the first case and the second case. The pump device further includes a valve member provided in the channel, controlling the flow of the hydraulic fluid flowing in the channel, and electrically coupling the first case and the second case.

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.