Patent ID: 9623948
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: B63H

Claim:
1. A stern drive for a marine vessel, the stern drive comprising: a gimbal housing that is configured for connection to the transom of the marine vessel; a gimbal ring that is steerable with respect to the gimbal housing about a vertical steering axis; a drive leg that is trimmable with respect to the gimbal ring about a horizontal trim axis that is perpendicular to the vertical steering axis, wherein the drive leg supports a propulsor for propelling the marine vessel; a trim actuator that is configured to trim the drive leg about the horizontal trim axis; and a cradle that supports the drive leg with respect to the gimbal ring and pivots with the drive leg and as the trim actuator trims the drive leg about the horizontal trim axis, wherein the cradle decouples the drive leg from the transom of the marine vessel; wherein the cradle comprises a first end portion that is pivotably connected to the gimbal ring at the trim axis and an opposite, second end portion that is connected to the drive leg; an elastic vibration dampening isolator disposed between the drive leg and the second end portion of the cradle; and an elastic vibration dampening isolator disposed between the drive leg and the middle portion of the cradle.