Patent ID: 7517262

Claim:
A watercraft comprising a transom having an outboard motor mounted thereon through a mount unit having a swivel member and a clamping member, the outboard motor having a cowling and being supported by the swivel member in a manner so that the outboard motor may pivot about a generally vertical axis in a generally horizontal plane, the swivel member attached to the clamping member at a tilt member disposed in a forward portion of the clamping member and configured so that the swivel member pivots about an axis of the tilt member in a generally vertical plane to adjust a tilt angle and a trim angle of the outboard motor, and a steering mechanism comprising a pivotal gear adapted to pivot with the outboard motor, a drive mechanism for driving the pivotal gear, and an electric motor adapted to provide drive force for the drive mechanism, wherein the pivotal gear, drive mechanism and electric motor are disposed between the tilt member and the outboard motor cowling, and wherein the drive mechanism includes a small bevel gear attached to an output shaft of the electric motor and a large bevel gear meshing with the small bevel gear, and the drive mechanism is positioned between a center and a rear end of the swivel bracket.