An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.

An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.

An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.

A marine drive includes an output gear including a beveled gear and a hub. A propeller shaft extends through the hub. A first bearing and an adjacent second bearing are located on the hub and support rotation of the output gear. The first and second bearings have inner races and outer races. An inner spacer is located on the hub and sandwiched between the respective inner races of the first and second bearings. An outer spacer is sandwiched between the respective outer races of the first and second bearings. A bearing carrier surrounds the propeller shaft and holds the first and second bearings therein by way of a press fit. The inner and outer spacers and the bearing carrier are dimensionally sized to provide a dimensional preload on the first and second bearings to maintain the output gear in alignment with the propeller shaft during operation of the marine drive.

A marine drive includes an output gear including a beveled gear and a hub. A propeller shaft extends through the hub. A first bearing and an adjacent second bearing are located on the hub and support rotation of the output gear. The first and second bearings have inner races and outer races. An inner spacer is located on the hub and sandwiched between the respective inner races of the first and second bearings. An outer spacer is sandwiched between the respective outer races of the first and second bearings. A bearing carrier surrounds the propeller shaft and holds the first and second bearings therein by way of a press fit. The inner and outer spacers and the bearing carrier are dimensionally sized to provide a dimensional preload on the first and second bearings to maintain the output gear in alignment with the propeller shaft during operation of the marine drive.

Apertured propeller assemblies may include at least one propeller. The at least one propeller may include a propeller hub having a propeller hub wall. A propeller hub bore may be formed by the propeller hub wall. A plurality of propeller blades may extend from the propeller hub wall. At least one propeller service aperture may extend radially through the propeller hub wall in communication with the propeller hub bore. The at least one propeller service aperture may facilitate dual prop configurations, exhaust flare ring attachments and/or other modifications to the at least one propeller. Other propeller assemblies and apertured propeller methods are also disclosed.

Apertured propeller assemblies may include at least one propeller. The at least one propeller may include a propeller hub having a propeller hub wall. A propeller hub bore may be formed by the propeller hub wall. A plurality of propeller blades may extend from the propeller hub wall. At least one propeller service aperture may extend radially through the propeller hub wall in communication with the propeller hub bore. The at least one propeller service aperture may facilitate dual prop configurations, exhaust flare ring attachments and/or other modifications to the at least one propeller. Other propeller assemblies and apertured propeller methods are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein is an inventive dual propeller assembly that can be manually or automatively assembled and includes a leading propeller, and a trailing propeller which are coaxially aligned and secured with a propeller shaft and a locking nut. Various embodiments are disclosed with and without interior grooves for alignment. In all embodiments, the two propellers are secured and aligned with a propeller shaft and locking nut assembly.

Disclosed herein is an inventive dual propeller assembly that can be manually or automatively assembled and includes a leading propeller, and a trailing propeller which are coaxially aligned and secured with a propeller shaft and a locking nut. Various embodiments are disclosed with and without interior grooves for alignment. In all embodiments, the two propellers are secured and aligned with a propeller shaft and locking nut assembly.

An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.