Patent ID: 8142243
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. An outboard engine unit comprising: an outboard engine body mounted via a swivel shaft to a stern bracket fixedly connected to a body of a boat, the outboard engine body being horizontally pivotable relative to the stern bracket up to a predetermined maximum steered angle about the swivel shaft; an angle sensor provided on the stern bracket and including a contact having a maximum operating angle set to be not greater than half of the predetermined maximum steered angle, the angle sensor outputting detection information indicative of an operating angle of the contact; and a curved member provided on the outboard engine body and formed in a shape such that a radius of curvature thereof from a center axis of the swivel shaft varies continuously, the curved member being normally held in sliding contact engagement with the contact in such a manner that the contact varies in operating angle thereof while sliding along a curved outer peripheral surface of the curved member in response to steering operation.