Patent ID: 7431620
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A surface piercing marine drive assembly for a watercraft, comprising: said watercraft having a transom and a propeller disposed aft of said transom; an inboard motor disposed fore of said transom; an articulating frame assembly disposed fore of said transom; an output shaft connected in driven relation to said inboard motor; a propeller shaft to which said propeller is mounted; a countershaft for interconnecting said output shaft and said propeller shaft; an opening formed in said transom for receiving a leading end of said propeller shaft; said inboard motor, said output shaft, said countershaft, and said leading end of said propeller shaft being disposed fore of said transom; said articulating frame assembly including a trim frame mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis; said articulating frame assembly including a vertical steering plate mounted for rotation about a vertical axis; whereby rotation of said trim frame about said horizontal axis raises or lowers said propeller relative to a water surface, depending upon the direction of rotation; whereby rotation of said vertical steering plate about said vertical axis turns the watercraft to the left or right, depending upon the direction of rotation; whereby the inboard motor, the articulating frame assembly, the output shaft, the countershaft, and the leading end of the propeller shaft are not exposed to the deleterious effects of water, thereby increasing the longevity and reliability of the surface piercing marine drive, and facilitating the installation of said surface piercing marine drive.