Patent ID: 7226326
Filing Date: 2007-06-05
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A system for regulating steering angle and tilt/trim angle of an outboard motor mounted on a stern of a boat through stern brackets and having an internal combustion engine and a propeller powered by the engine to propel the boat, comprising: a steering wheel installed near a seat of an operator of the boat to be manipulated by the operator; a steering angle sensor generating an output indicative of a steering angle of the steering wheel manipulated by the operator; a power tilt switch operable by the operator and generating an output indicative of an instruction to tilt up/down the outboard motor relative to the boat when operated; a power trim switch operable by the operator and generating an output indicative of an instruction to trim up/down the outboard motor relative to the boat when operated; a pair of hydraulic cylinders each connected, at one end, to the boat through the stern brackets and connected, at the other end, to the outboard motor at a location upward of the one end in a vertical direction; and a control unit inputting the outputs of the steering angle sensor, power tilt switch and power trim switch and selectively driving the hydraulic cylinders to extend or retract, to regulate the steering angle and tilt/trim angles of the outboard motor relative to the boat in response to at least one of the inputted outputs.