An outdrive for a marine vessel, such as a watercraft having an inboard engine, is provided. The outdrive can include a standoff box joined with a drive unit having a driveshaft that rotates in response to rotation of an input shaft coupled to an engine within a hull of the watercraft. The drive unit includes a propeller shaft that rotates in response to rotation of the driveshaft, and an associated propeller. The drive unit is vertically movable from a raised mode to a lowered mode, in which the propeller shaft is a preselected distance from a bottom of the boat hull, thereby lowering a thrust point produced by the propeller, all while the watercraft is moving through water and while the propeller is producing thrust. A related method and standoff box are also provided.

An outdrive for a marine vessel, such as a watercraft having an inboard engine, is provided. The outdrive can include a standoff box joined with a drive unit having a driveshaft that rotates in response to rotation of an input shaft coupled to an engine within a hull of the watercraft. The drive unit includes a propeller shaft that rotates in response to rotation of the driveshaft, and an associated propeller. The drive unit is vertically movable from a raised mode to a lowered mode, in which the propeller shaft is a preselected distance from a bottom of the boat hull, thereby lowering a thrust point produced by the propeller, all while the watercraft is moving through water and while the propeller is producing thrust. A related method and standoff box are also provided.

An outdrive for a marine vessel, such as a watercraft having an inboard engine, is provided. The outdrive can include a standoff box joined with a drive unit having a driveshaft that rotates in response to rotation of an input shaft coupled to an engine within a hull of the watercraft. The drive unit includes a propeller shaft that rotates in response to rotation of the driveshaft, and an associated propeller. The drive unit is vertically movable from a raised mode to a lowered mode, in which the propeller shaft is a preselected distance from a bottom of the boat hull, thereby lowering a thrust point produced by the propeller, all while the watercraft is moving through water and while the propeller is producing thrust. A related method and standoff box are also provided.

An outdrive for a marine vessel, such as a watercraft having an inboard engine, is provided. The outdrive can include a standoff box joined with a drive unit having a driveshaft that rotates in response to rotation of an input shaft coupled to an engine within a hull of the watercraft. The drive unit includes a propeller shaft that rotates in response to rotation of the driveshaft, and an associated propeller. The drive unit is vertically movable from a raised mode to a lowered mode, in which the propeller shaft is a preselected distance from a bottom of the boat hull, thereby lowering a thrust point produced by the propeller, all while the watercraft is moving through water and while the propeller is producing thrust. A related method and standoff box are also provided.

An outboard motor includes a driving gear that is driven and rotated, and a propeller shaft that extends in a front-rear direction below the driving gear. The outboard motor includes a first transmission gear that is engaged with the driving gear and surrounding the propeller shaft, a propeller-shaft bearing that rotatably supports the propeller shaft, a first-transmission-gear bearing that rotatably supports the first transmission gear, and a support including an intervening portion between the first transmission gear and the propeller shaft. The support supports the propeller-shaft bearing between the intervening portion and the propeller shaft, and supports the first-transmission-gear bearing at a more outward position than the intervening portion in a radial direction of the propeller shaft.

An outboard motor includes a driving gear that is driven and rotated, and a propeller shaft that extends in a front-rear direction below the driving gear. The outboard motor includes a first transmission gear that is engaged with the driving gear and surrounding the propeller shaft, a propeller-shaft bearing that rotatably supports the propeller shaft, a first-transmission-gear bearing that rotatably supports the first transmission gear, and a support including an intervening portion between the first transmission gear and the propeller shaft. The support supports the propeller-shaft bearing between the intervening portion and the propeller shaft, and supports the first-transmission-gear bearing at a more outward position than the intervening portion in a radial direction of the propeller shaft.

An outboard propulsion system comprising: a first portion for attachment to a boat comprising a stern, the first portion comprising an engine including a crankshaft; and a second portion comprising at least one propeller shaft having a longitudinal axis along the elongate length of the at least one propeller shaft, wherein the at least one propeller shaft is operably connected to the crankshaft via at least one drive shaft configured to transmit motive power therebetween, wherein the at least one drive shaft comprises a drop shaft and wherein the drop shaft is substantially perpendicular to the at least one propeller shaft, wherein the second portion is configured to pivot relative to the first portion about a steering axis, wherein the steering axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the at least one propeller shaft at an obtuse angle, wherein the first portion and second portion are configured to tilt together about a single axis of rotation substantially parallel to the stern of the boat, and wherein the first portion is fixed about a substantially vertical axis.

An outboard propulsion system comprising: a first portion for attachment to a boat comprising a stern, the first portion comprising an engine including a crankshaft; and a second portion comprising at least one propeller shaft having a longitudinal axis along the elongate length of the at least one propeller shaft, wherein the at least one propeller shaft is operably connected to the crankshaft via at least one drive shaft configured to transmit motive power therebetween, wherein the at least one drive shaft comprises a drop shaft and wherein the drop shaft is substantially perpendicular to the at least one propeller shaft, wherein the second portion is configured to pivot relative to the first portion about a steering axis, wherein the steering axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the at least one propeller shaft at an obtuse angle, wherein the first portion and second portion are configured to tilt together about a single axis of rotation substantially parallel to the stern of the boat, and wherein the first portion is fixed about a substantially vertical axis.

An outboard motor includes a driving gear that is driven and rotated, and a propeller shaft that extends in a front-rear direction below the driving gear. The outboard motor includes a first transmission gear that is engaged with the driving gear and surrounding the propeller shaft, a propeller-shaft bearing that rotatably supports the propeller shaft, a first-transmission-gear bearing that rotatably supports the first transmission gear, and a support including an intervening portion between the first transmission gear and the propeller shaft. The support supports the propeller-shaft bearing between the intervening portion and the propeller shaft, and supports the first-transmission-gear bearing at a more outward position than the intervening portion in a radial direction of the propeller shaft.

An outboard motor includes a driving gear that is driven and rotated, and a propeller shaft that extends in a front-rear direction below the driving gear. The outboard motor includes a first transmission gear that is engaged with the driving gear and surrounding the propeller shaft, a propeller-shaft bearing that rotatably supports the propeller shaft, a first-transmission-gear bearing that rotatably supports the first transmission gear, and a support including an intervening portion between the first transmission gear and the propeller shaft. The support supports the propeller-shaft bearing between the intervening portion and the propeller shaft, and supports the first-transmission-gear bearing at a more outward position than the intervening portion in a radial direction of the propeller shaft.