Patent ID: 8512085

Claim:
A tie bar apparatus for a marine vessel having at least first and second marine drives that extend aftwardly of the marine vessel and that are pivotable about respective first and second vertical steering axes, the tie bar apparatus comprising a linkage that is located forwardly of the first and second vertical steering axes with respect to the marine vessel and that connects the first and second marine drives together so that turning movements of the first and second marine drives about the respective first and second vertical steering axes are tied together; wherein the linkage has a first portion that is fixed to the first marine drive and pivots along with the first marine drive with respect to the first steering axis, a second portion that is fixed to the second marine drive and pivots along with the second marine drive with respect to the second steering axis, and a third portion that is located forwardly of the first and second vertical steering axes and extends between and connects the first and second portions together; the third portion having a first end that is pivotably connected to the first portion and a second end that is pivotably connected to the second portion; wherein the third portion is shorter than a linear distance between the first and second vertical steering axes; wherein during turning, movements of the marine vessel, the linkage causes output thrusts of the first and second marine drives to remain aligned with concentric first and second curved paths, respectively.