Patent ID: 7097522
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: F01P

Abstract:
1. A cooling system for a marine propulsion device, comprising: a drive unit which is at least partially submergible below the surface of a body of water, said drive unit comprising a gear case which is configured to support a propeller shaft for rotation about a propeller axis; a water flow directing device which is removably attached to said gear case; a water inlet extending from said water flow directing device, said water inlet being aligned with and disposed directly behind a skeg of said marine propulsion device, said water inlet extending into water, on both the port and starboard sides of said skeg, through which said marine propulsion device is moving when said marine propulsion device is operative in propelling a marine vessel, said water inlet being disposed below and proximate an aft end of said gear case; and a water passage formed within said drive unit, said water passage being connectable in fluid communication with said water flow directing device to provide a water path from said water inlet to said water passage.