A hybrid marine drive unit mounted to a transom. The drive unit includes a drive housing mounted on the transom, a propelling unit rotatable about a vertical axis and mounted to a lower surface of the drive housing, and a transmission with at least a vertical drive shaft located in the drive housing and extending into the propelling unit. The vertical drive shaft is arranged transmit drive torque from at least one of multiple sources of drive torque. The vertical drive shaft is operably connected to a first source of drive torque arranged within the drive housing, and the vertical drive shaft is operably connected to a horizontal output shaft extending into the drive housing through the transom. The horizontal output shaft is connectable to a second source of drive torque.

A tiller is for controlling a marine drive. The tiller has a base bracket assembly and a tiller arm which is extends outwardly from the base bracket assembly. The base bracket assembly is configured to facilitate yaw adjustment of the tiller arm, in particular into and between a variety of yaw positions relative to the base bracket assembly. The tiller arm has a grip restraining device which is located on the bottom of the middle portion of the tiller arm and is manually accessible from both sides of the tiller arm. The grip restraining device is specially configured to selectively restrain rotation of a hand grip on the outer end of the tiller arm. The tiller arm also has a tilt mechanism which facilitates tilting of the tiller arm relative to the base bracket assembly into and between a variety of tilt positions, including a straight upward tilt position and a straight downward tilt position.

A tiller is for controlling a marine drive. The tiller has a base bracket assembly and a tiller arm which is extends outwardly from the base bracket assembly. The base bracket assembly is configured to facilitate yaw adjustment of the tiller arm, in particular into and between a variety of yaw positions relative to the base bracket assembly. The tiller arm has a grip restraining device which is located on the bottom of the middle portion of the tiller arm and is manually accessible from both sides of the tiller arm. The grip restraining device is specially configured to selectively restrain rotation of a hand grip on the outer end of the tiller arm. The tiller arm also has a tilt mechanism which facilitates tilting of the tiller arm relative to the base bracket assembly into and between a variety of tilt positions, including a straight upward tilt position and a straight downward tilt position.

A stern drive for a marine vessel, the stern drive having a powerhead, a drive assembly configured to support a propulsor for generating a thrust force in water, the propulsor being powered by the powerhead. The drive assembly comprises a driveshaft housing and a gearcase suspended from the driveshaft housing, the gearcase being steerable relative to the driveshaft housing, and a steering actuator configured to steer the gearcase relative to the driveshaft housing.

A stern drive for a marine vessel, the stern drive having a powerhead, a drive assembly configured to support a propulsor for generating a thrust force in water, the propulsor being powered by the powerhead. The drive assembly comprises a driveshaft housing and a gearcase suspended from the driveshaft housing, the gearcase being steerable relative to the driveshaft housing, and a steering actuator configured to steer the gearcase relative to the driveshaft housing.

A hybrid marine drive unit mounted to a transom. The drive unit includes a drive housing rigidly mounted on the transom, a propelling unit rotatable about a vertical axis and mounted to a lower surface of the drive housing, and a transmission with at least a vertical drive shaft located in the drive housing and extending into the propelling unit, which vertical drive shaft is arranged transmit drive torque from at least one of multiple sources of drive torque. The vertical drive shaft is operably connected to at least one first source of drive torque arranged within the drive housing, and the vertical drive shaft is operably connected to a horizontal output shaft extending into the drive housing through the transom.

An improved outboard and steering control system that includes a removable lower drive unit with the ability to rotate 360 degrees or more. The embodiments shown herein are also design for electric outboard marine motors with cooling systems connected between the lower drive unit and the upper housing unit. This system allows the ability to configure an upper drive unit with multiple different variations of a lower drive unit and improve the ability to maneuver vessels with the increased 360-degree directional range.

A boat speed control device for a boat including a manual shifter and an outboard motor, includes an actuator and a controller. The outboard motor is operably connected to the manual shifter. The manual shifter includes a shift lever shiftable between a sailing position and a neutral position. The actuator is connected to the shift lever. The controller is configured or programmed to control the actuator to shift the shift lever to the sailing position and the neutral position.

A boat speed control device for a boat including a manual shifter and an outboard motor, includes an actuator and a controller. The outboard motor is operably connected to the manual shifter. The manual shifter includes a shift lever shiftable between a sailing position and a neutral position. The actuator is connected to the shift lever. The controller is configured or programmed to control the actuator to shift the shift lever to the sailing position and the neutral position.

An outboard motor has a powerhead that causes rotation of a driveshaft, a steering housing located below the powerhead, wherein the driveshaft extends from the powerhead into the steering housing; and a lower gearcase located below the steering housing and supporting a propeller shaft that is coupled to the driveshaft so that rotation of the driveshaft causes rotation of the propeller shaft. The lower gearcase is steerable about a steering axis with respect to the steering housing and powerhead.