Patent ID: 7421997

Claim:
An outboard engine unit comprising: an engine having an engine block and a substantially vertically disposed crankshaft accommodated in the engine block; an engine cover constituting a portion of an engine space for accommodating the engine therein, the engine cover having an outside air intake port formed therein for introducing outside air into the engine cover; a box-shaped air intake silencer disposed forwardly of the engine and having an intake port formed on a surface other than those facing the engine, the intake port of the air intake silencer facing downward; electrical equipment mounted on the engine block and disposed below the intake port of the air intake silencer; a power generator disposed on the engine block and having a rotary member connected to an upper portion of the crankshaft for rotation therewith, the power generator being located between the outside air intake port of the engine cover and an intake port of the air intake silencer; and a generator cover mounted on the engine block and covering the power generator, wherein the generator cover and the engine cover define therebetween an outside air guide channel for guiding the outside air from a vicinity of the outside intake port of the engine cover toward the intake port of the air intake silencer, wherein the generator cover has a plurality of holes for introducing the outside air therefrom into the generator cover to cool the power generator, and a bulged duct portion formed in a peripheral wall of the generator cover for exhausting cooling air introduced into the power generator cover, the duct portion opening in a downward direction, wherein the rotary member has a plurality of apertures facing in a direction of rotation of the rotary member for introducing the outside air into the rotary member to cool the power generator, and wherein the holes in the generator cover, the apertures in the rotary member of the power generator and the duct portion of the generator cover jointly form a cooling air channel for cooling the power generator.