Patent ID: 8858279

Claim:
A marine outboard engine for a watercraft comprising: a stern bracket for mounting the marine outboard engine to the watercraft; a swivel bracket pivotally connected to the stern bracket about a generally horizontal tilt/trim axis: a drive unit pivotally connected to the swivel bracket about a steering axis, the steering axis being generally perpendicular to the tilt/trim axis; at least one linear actuator connected to the swivel bracket, the at least one linear actuator including: a fixed portion connected to the swivel bracket; a movable portion being extendable and retractable linearly relative to the fixed portion; and a roller rotationally connected to the movable portion; and at least one ramp connected to the stern bracket, the roller of the at least one linear actuator abutting a surface of the at least one ramp over at least a range of angles between the stern bracket and the swivel bracket as the swivel bracket pivots about the generally horizontal tilt/trim axis, extension of the movable portion relative to the fixed portion of the at least one linear actuator within the range of angles causing the roller of the at least one linear actuator to roll along the surface of the at least one ramp and causing the swivel bracket and the drive unit to pivot away from the stern bracket about the generally horizontal tilt/trim axis.