Patent ID: 7238068

Claim:
An outboard motor, comprising an internal combustion engine and a cowling, the cowling generally enclosing at least an upper portion of the engine and defining an engine compartment, the cowling having front and rear portions, a rear air inlet port being formed through the rear portion of the cowling, the rear inlet port having a rear closure device adapted to selectively move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the rear closure device is adapted so that when the closure device is in the open position air from outside the cowling can be selectively drawn through the rear inlet port, and when the closure device is in the closed position air does not substantially pass through the rear inlet port, wherein the rear closure device comprises a plurality of flaps, each flap being pivotablv mounted to edges of the port and the flaps are arranged generally adjacent one another and adapted to pivot so as to generally engage one another to close the inlet when in the closed position.