Abstract: An outboard engine has a cowling defining an engine compartment and an outlet fluidly communicating therewith. An engine housed in the engine compartment includes an engine block and an output shaft defining an output shaft axis, an axial direction, a radial direction and a circumferential direction. An outer end thereof extends outside the engine block. A flywheel mounted thereto rotates therewith. A cover fixed with respect to the engine block defines a chamber housing the flywheel disposed axially between the engine block and the cover, and radially between the output shaft and the cover. The cover includes a channel member defining a channel between a first end and a second end fluidly communicating with the outlet. The channel member defines a cross-sectional area of the channel. A circumferentially-extending portion of the channel is continuous with the chamber and has a cross-sectional area increasing towards the second end.

Abstract: A cowling for housing an outboard engine. The cowling includes a plurality of walls defining at least in part an engine compartment. An engine compartment inlet, in fluid communication with the engine compartment, is defined at least in part by at least one of the plurality of walls. A hydrophobic mesh member disposed across the inlet is adapted to prevent at least a portion of a water content of an airflow flowing to the engine compartment via the engine compartment inlet from entering the engine compartment. An outboard engine having the cowling is also disclosed.

Abstract: A watercraft having a turnable (i.e., pivotable) planing surface, preferably with at least one skeg projecting generally vertically downward from the planing surface. This structure is designed to provide improved steering performance of watercraft, particularly jet-powered boats, while minimizing drag. The turnable planing surface is formed by a bottom surface of a steering pad mounted beneath a jet propulsion unit. In one embodiment, the water jet propulsion unit is fixed (i.e., not turnable) and the skeg-bearing planing surface is turnable relative to the water jet propulsion unit. In another embodiment, the water jet propulsion unit is turnable relative to the hull centerline (e.g., in the manner of an outboard engine) and the skeg-bearing planing surface is fixed relative to the water jet propulsion unit (i.e., the skeg-bearing planing surface turns in unison with the jet propulsion unit). The planing surface may optionally have strake-like sides.