Abstract: A boat propeller drive unit of the inboard-outboard type, having a portion securely mounted in an opening in a boat transom and adapted to be drivingly connected to a motor inboard of the transom, and having a propeller leg disposed outboard of the transom. This leg is adjustable to various angles in relation to the transom by tilting about a horizontal axis and is pivotable about an upright steering support. The drive unit comprises an inductive sensor connected to a wire passing through a central bore of the steering shaft, and a magnetic core fixedly attached to the propeller leg. The magnetic core has magnetic areas separated by non-magnetic areas, and when the magnetic core is moved under the sensor, the sensor functions as a pulse counter to count a pulse of each magnetic area is moved under it. The sensor thus provides an output signal depending on the tilting angle relative to the transom, which signal indicates that angle.

Abstract: A boat propeller drive unit, a so-called inboard-outboard drive unit, has a sensor which senses the trim/tilting angle of the drive unit and is designed to be connected to an electrical indicator instrument on the boat instrument panel. The sensor is a potentiometer mounted in a recess in the drive unit steering shaft. A shaft mounted in a bore in the steering shaft engages the potentiometer and is joined at its lower end to a gear, which engages a toothed segment on the helmet of the drive unit. When the drive unit is tilted, the gear is rotated by the toothed segment, and the output signal of the potentiometer varies.

Abstract: In an outboard drive unit for boats, the drive shaft housing is swingable by hydraulic cylinders for trimming and tilting. One end of each cylinder is pivotally journalled in the shield of the drive unit, whereas the opposite cylinder ends bear against abutment surfaces on the carrier fork shanks conventionally supporting the drive shaft housing. An intermediate member, pivotally connected to the cylinders via pivot pins, is pivotally suspended in the carrier fork, moving along with it during trimming and tilting. A pivot pin fixed into the intermediate member constitutes one part of a mechanical latch, the other part being formed of a latch hook (not shown) rotatably journalled on the carrier forks. The latch is thereby completely disengaged upon propeller thrusts during forward travel.