Patent ID: 7147525

Claim:
A hydraulic steering apparatus for a vessel having an outboard engine supported by the stern of the vessel hull, the vessel further having a pair of clamp brackets fixed to the stern, the vessel further having a swivel bracket positioned between the clamp brackets, the swivel bracket supported by the clamp brackets tiltably on a tilting axis extending horizontally across the vessel, the outboard engine supported by the swivel bracket turnably on a steering axis perpendicular to the tilting axis, the steering apparatus comprising: a substantially bow-shaped horizontal frame including a middle portion and a pair of end portions bent forward, the middle portion having bolt holes cut therethrough; bolts extending through the bolt holes and engaging with the front end of the swivel bracket to fix the frame to the front end; a piston rod extending in parallel with the tilting axis and supported by the end portions of the frame; a hydraulic cylinder supported by the piston rod slidably therealong; a steering lever fixed to the outboard engine; the steering lever having a front end movable around the steering axis to turn the outboard engine on the steering axis; and a steering link linking the front end of the steering lever to the hydraulic cylinder.