Abstract: An outboard motor has an adapter plate with an upper surface supporting an engine, a lower surface spaced therefrom, and fore and aft sides connecting the upper and lower surfaces. A first pocket is defined in the adapter plate's fore side and a second pocket is defined in its aft side. A midsection housing is coupled to the adapter plate's lower surface and suspends a propulsion unit therebelow. A driveshaft coupling the engine's output shaft to the propulsion unit's propeller shaft extends through the adapter plate. A steering arm, which extends into the first pocket, has a hole through which the driveshaft extends. A mount in the second pocket is located aft of the driveshaft, and the mount's fore side is coupled to the steering arm's aft end by way of connectors. A cover plate attached to the adapter plate's aft side secures the mount within the second pocket.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a mounting assembly, a powerhead, a transmission, and a shift shaft that extends from the powerhead to the transmission via a conduit in the mounting assembly. The shift shaft is positionable into a forward position in which the transmission is engaged in forward gear, reverse position in which the transmission is engaged in reverse gear, and a neutral position in which the transmission is in neutral gear. In the forward position, an upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to a forward side of the conduit than the aftward side of the conduit. In the reverse position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to an aftward side of the conduit than the forward side of the conduit. In the neutral position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned between the forward and reverse positions.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a drive unit including an engine rotating output shaft and a driveshaft extending along a driveshaft axis and having an upper end coupled in torque-transmitting relationship with the output shaft. A propulsor shaft extends along a propulsor shaft axis and has a first end coupled in torque-transmitting relationship to a lower end of the driveshaft and a second end coupled to a propulsor. The propulsor shaft axis defines a direction of thrust generated by the propulsor. A transom bracket couples the drive unit to the marine vessel. A steering support couples the drive unit to the transom bracket and rotates the drive unit about a steering axis to change a direction of the thrust generated by the propulsor. The steering axis is substantially non-parallel to the driveshaft axis, and is oriented with respect to the driveshaft axis at a given angle of less than 45 degrees.

Abstract: An arrangement is for coupling a vibration isolation mount to an outboard motor. A pocket is formed in a midsection housing of the outboard motor and defines a first concave surface. A cover is configured to be mounted to the midsection housing over the pocket via a plurality of fasteners. The cover defines a second, oppositely concave surface on an inner face thereof. When the cover is mounted to the midsection housing over the pocket, the first concave surface and the second concave surface together form a cavity therebetween for holding a vibration isolation mount therein. One of the first concave surface and the second concave surface has a protrusion that extends into the cavity and contacts the mount held therein upon tightening of the plurality of fasteners to hold the cover over mount in the pocket. A mounting arrangement is also provided.

Abstract: An elongated exhaust conduit comprises a first end receiving hot exhaust gas from a marine engine and a second end discharging the exhaust gas. An elongated cooling water jacket extends adjacent to the exhaust conduit. The cooling water jacket conveys the raw cooling water adjacent to the exhaust conduit to thereby cool the exhaust conduit and warm the raw cooling water therein and discharges the warmed cooling water to cool the marine engine. The cooling water jacket comprises first and second channels that are separate from each other. The cooling water is oriented in a helical flow around the exhaust conduit.

Abstract: A midsection housing for an outboard motor includes a driveshaft housing having an oil sump provided therein. An adapter plate is coupled to a top of the driveshaft housing. The adapter plate has an inner surface along which oil from an engine mounted on the adapter plate drains into the oil sump. First and second pockets are formed in an outer surface of the adapter plate on first and second generally opposite sides thereof, the first and second pockets configured to receive first and second mounts therein. A water jacket is formed between the inner and outer surfaces of the adapter plate. The water jacket extends at least partway between the inner surface of the adapter plate and each of the first and second pockets, respectively. A method for cooling a mount is also provided.

Abstract: An outboard motor comprises an engine having an exhaust gas discharge opening, a midsection housing coupled below and supporting the engine, and an exhaust pipe having an exhaust inlet in fluid communication with the exhaust gas discharge opening. The exhaust pipe extends downwardly to a primary exhaust outlet. An idle relief port in the exhaust pipe is located in a fluid path between the exhaust inlet and the primary exhaust outlet. A sound-attenuating plenum chamber has an interior that is in fluid communication with an interior of the exhaust pipe by way of the idle relief port. The plenum chamber is a separate component that is exterior to the midsection housing, and exhaust gas flows from the interior of the exhaust pipe to the interior of the plenum chamber without first flowing through the midsection housing.

Abstract: Idle relief mufflers are configured to discharge exhaust gases from an outboard motor to atmosphere surrounding the outboard motor when an internal combustion engine of the outboard motor is operated at idle and at low speeds. The idle relief mufflers comprise a housing having an open interior, an inlet port configured to convey the exhaust gases to the open interior, and an outlet port configured to discharge the exhaust gases from the open interior. An exhaust grommet is connected to the outlet port. The exhaust grommet comprises a body that is configured to engage with a cowl of the outboard motor and an extension that extends through the outlet port and protrudes into the open interior. The extension and the body together define a through-bore that is configured to convey the exhaust gases from the open interior to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An outboard marine propulsion device comprises an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head and a cylinder block; and an exhaust manifold that discharges exhaust gases from the engine towards a vertically extending catalyst housing. The exhaust manifold has a plurality of horizontally extending inlet runners upwardly that receive the exhaust gases from the engine, and a vertically extending collecting passage that conveys the exhaust gases from the plurality of horizontally extending inlet runners to a bend that redirects the exhaust gases downwardly towards the catalyst housing.

Abstract: An outboard marine propulsion device comprises an internal combustion engine having a cylinder head and a cylinder block and an exhaust manifold that discharges exhaust gases from the engine towards a vertically elongated exhaust tube. The exhaust manifold has a plurality of inlet runners that receive the exhaust gases from the engine, and a vertically extending collecting passage that conveys the exhaust gases from the plurality of inlet runners upwardly to a bend that redirects the exhaust gases downwardly towards the exhaust tube. A cooling water jacket is on the exhaust manifold and conveys cooling water alongside the exhaust manifold. A catalyst housing is coupled to the exhaust manifold and a cooling water jacket is on the catalyst housing and carries cooling water alongside the catalyst housing. A catalyst is disposed in the catalyst housing.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement is for supporting an outboard motor with respect to a marine vessel extending in a fore-aft plane. The mounting arrangement comprises first and second mounts that each have an outer shell, an inner wedge concentrically disposed in the outer shell, and an elastomeric spacer between the outer shell and the inner wedge. Each of the first and second mounts extend along a axial direction, along a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction, and along a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction and perpendicular to the vertical direction. The inner wedges of the first and second mounts both have a non-circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken perpendicular to the axial direction. The non-circular shape comprises a first outer surface that extends transversely at an angle to the horizontal and vertical directions.

Abstract: An elongated exhaust conduit comprises a first end receiving hot exhaust gas from a marine engine and a second end discharging the exhaust gas. An elongated cooling water jacket extends adjacent to the exhaust conduit. The cooling water jacket conveys the raw cooling water adjacent to the exhaust conduit to thereby cool the exhaust conduit and warm the raw cooling water therein and discharges the warmed cooling water to cool the marine engine. The cooling water jacket comprises first and second channels that are separate from each other. The cooling water is oriented in a helical flow around the exhaust conduit.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement is for supporting an outboard motor with respect to a marine vessel extending in a fore-aft plane. The mounting arrangement comprises first and second mounts that each have an outer shell, an inner wedge concentrically disposed in the outer shell, and an elastomeric spacer between the outer shell and the inner wedge. Each of the first and second mounts extend along a axial direction, along a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction, and along a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction and perpendicular to the vertical direction. The inner wedges of the first and second mounts both have a non-circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken perpendicular to the axial direction. The non-circular shape comprises a first outer surface that extends transversely at an angle to the horizontal and vertical directions.

Abstract: A cooling system for a marine engine has an elongated exhaust conduit comprising a first end receiving hot exhaust gas from the marine engine and a second end discharging the exhaust gas; and an elongated cooling water jacket extending adjacent to the exhaust conduit. The cooling water jacket receives raw cooling water at a location proximate to the second end of the exhaust conduit, conveys raw cooling water adjacent to the exhaust conduit to thereby cool the exhaust conduit and warm the raw cooling water, and thereafter discharges the warmed cooling water to cool the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An outboard marine drive includes a cooling system drawing cooling water from a body of water in which the outboard marine drive is operating, and supplying the cooling water through cooling passages in an exhaust tube in the driveshaft housing, a catalyst housing, and an exhaust manifold, and thereafter through cooling passages in the cylinder head and the cylinder block of the engine. A 3-pass exhaust manifold is provided. A method is provided for preventing condensate formation in a cylinder head, catalyst housing, and exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine of a powerhead in an outboard marine drive.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an internal combustion engine, a driveshaft housing, a molded adapter plate connecting the internal combustion engine and the driveshaft housing; and an elongated exhaust conduit conveying hot exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, the exhaust conduit extending from a first end portion located proximate to the internal combustion engine to a second end portion located proximate to the driveshaft housing. The exhaust conduit and adapter plate are separate components.

Abstract: Cooling systems and methods for hybrid marine propulsion systems are disclosed. A first cooling circuit is arranged to convey raw cooling water through an internal combustion engine and to at least one drive component of a drive unit for the marine propulsion system. A second control circuit is arranged to convey raw cooling water through an electric motor. The system is arranged such that raw cooling water in the second cooling circuit is conveyed to the first cooling circuit to cool the drive component without cooling the component of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An outboard motor cooling water distribution system directs water from the water jacket of an engine through a container in which a conduit has a first inlet opening that is configured to cause a water stream to entrain debris from a region near a drain opening of the container and prevent the debris from building up in the vicinity of the drain opening. Debris which is heavier than the water is drawn upwardly through the first inlet opening of the conduit and conducted away from the container. Debris which is lighter than water is entrained in a second water flow and conducted through a second inlet opening of the conduit so that it can be drawn into the conduit and conducted away from the container. The creation of the first water flow maintains the area around the drain opening in a clean condition as a result of the velocity and direction of the water flow caused by the position and size of the first inlet opening of the conduit.

Abstract: Cooling systems and methods for hybrid marine propulsion systems are disclosed. A first cooling circuit is arranged to convey raw cooling water through an internal combustion engine and to at least one drive component of a drive unit for the marine propulsion system. A second control circuit is arranged to convey raw cooling water through an electric motor. The system is arranged such that raw cooling water in the second cooling circuit is conveyed to the first cooling circuit to cool the drive component without cooling the component of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A marine drive has a break-away mount provided by hollowed-out threaded fasteners mounting first and second sections of the drive and breaking away in response to a given underwater impact against the second section to protect the first section and the vessel.