Patent ID: 7549901

Claim:
A system for controlling steering of an outboard motor of a boat and having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller, comprising: a swivel case provided with a rotatable member disposed therein, the swivel case disposed on a stern of the boat and configured to mount the outboard motor thereto; an actuator which steers the outboard motor relative to the boat; a left steer stop which mechanically stops leftward steering of the outboard motor; and a right steer stop which mechanically stops rightward steering of the outboard motor; wherein the left and right steer stops are protrudingly formed on an upper portion of the swivel case so as to limit a rotation of the rotatable member; a rudder angle sensor which produces an output indicating a rudder angle of the outboard motor; and a maximum rudder angle memorizer which memorizes the output of the rudder angle sensor as a maximum leftward rudder angle of the outboard motor when the outboard motor is mechanically stopped by the left steer stop, and memorizes the output of the rudder angle sensor as a maximum rightward rudder angle of the outboard motor when the outboard motor is mechanically stopped by the right steer stop.