Patent ID: 8579668

Claim:
A vessel propulsion apparatus comprising: a nozzle that jets water rearward; a deflector rotatable to the right and to the left around a substantially vertical axis D and between a right maximum steering position and a left maximum steering position, the deflector including an outlet which jets water jetted rearward from the nozzle in a rearward direction or an obliquely rearward direction tilted to the right or to the left with respect to the rearward direction; and a forward bucket rotatable up and down around a substantially horizontal axis F and between a closed position covering at least a portion of the outlet in a rear view of the vessel propulsion apparatus and an opened position not covering the outlet, the forward bucket guiding water jetted obliquely rearward to the right from the outlet in a right guiding direction extending in a right direction or an obliquely rearward right direction that is tilted further to the right than a direction of jetting of water from the outlet in a state in which the forward bucket is positioned at the closed position and the deflector is positioned at a right side relative to a straight drive position between the right maximum steering position and the left maximum steering position, the forward bucket guiding water jetted obliquely rearward to the left from the outlet in a left guiding direction extending in a left direction or an obliquely rearward left direction that is tilted further to the left than the direction of jetting of water from the outlet in a state in which the forward bucket is positioned at the closed position and the deflector is positioned at a left side relative to the straight drive position.