Abstract: An outdrive system for water craft includes in an embodiment use of plastic or other relatively flexible material, e.g., compared to metal, as a housing material, and techniques which enable and/or at least facilitate use of such housing material. Several of those techniques employ a flexible member, such as a belt, to couple power between the input and output of an outdrive, and heat conducting back bending surfaces to urge the belt legs toward each other and to remove heat from the outdrive, an anti-shear stuffer or fence to reduce energy losses such as heat, and lubricant requirements, and/or an eccentric mechanical tensioning device for the belt. The invention also relates to use in a vehicle drive, especially for water craft, of housing materials a substantial part of which are not subject to corrosion, galvanic action and the like.

Abstract: An outdrive system for watercraft includes use of plastic or other relatively flexible material, e.g., compared to metal, especially as a housing material, and techniques which enable and/or at least facilitate use of such housing material. One of those techniques employs a flexible member, such as a belt, to couple power between the input and output of an outdrive and another employs a cooling system to remove heat. The invention also relates to use in a vehicle drive, especially for watercraft, of housing materials that are not subject to corrosion, galvanic action and the like.