Patent ID: 8821201

Claim:
A vessel propulsion apparatus comprising: a first shaft that is rotationally driven; a drive gear connected to the first shaft; a tubular first driven gear that is disposed forward relative to the first shaft and engages the drive gear; a tubular second driven gear that is disposed rearward relative to the first shaft and engages the drive gear; a dog clutch that is switched by a shift operation between a connected state in which the dog clutch is connected to one of the first driven gear and the second driven gear and a non-connected state in which the dog clutch is not connected to either of the first driven gear and the second driven gear; a second shaft that is inserted in the first driven gear and in the second driven gear and connected to the dog clutch; a bearing disposed between an inner surface of the second driven gear and an outer surface of the second shaft; wherein the second driven gear is pressed backwardly by a preload onto the bearing.