Patent ID: 7758393

Claim:
A marine outboard engine comprising: a cowling; an engine disposed in the cowling, the engine including: a crankcase; at least one cylinder connected to the crankcase; and a crankshaft disposed in the crankcase, the crankshaft defining a crankshaft axis; a driveshaft disposed in the cowling generally parallel to the crankshaft axis, the driveshaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the driveshaft being operatively connected to the crankshaft; a gear case operatively connected to the cowling; a transmission disposed in the gear case, the transmission being operatively connected to the second end of the driveshaft; a propeller shaft disposed at least in part in the gear case generally perpendicular to the driveshaft, the propeller shaft being operatively connected to the transmission; a bladed rotor connected to the propeller shaft; a first engine mount operatively connected to a first side of the engine, the first engine mount defining a first engine mount working axis; a second engine mount operatively connected to a second side of the engine, the second engine mount defining a second engine mount working axis; a steering shaft operatively pivotally connected to the first and second engine mounts, the steering shaft defining a steering axis, the steering axis being generally parallel to the crankshaft axis, the first and second engine mount working axes being generally perpendicular to the steering axis, the first and second engine mount working axes passing through the steering shaft; and a stern bracket operatively pivotally connected to the steering shaft for mounting the outboard engine to a boat.