Patent ID: 8795011

Claim:
A marine vessel propulsion apparatus comprising: a transom bracket attachable to a transom of a hull, the transom bracket including a tubular housing portion extending along a steering axis that extends in an up-down direction; a steering shaft joined to the transom bracket, the steering shaft being turnable around the steering axis; an outboard motor joined to the steering shaft, the outboard motor being turnable around a tilt axis extending along a plane that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the steering axis, the outboard motor being turnable around the steering axis together with the steering shaft; a tilt mechanism joined to the steering shaft and the outboard motor, the tilt mechanism including a hydraulic cylinder arranged to turn the outboard motor around the tilt axis with respect to the steering shaft, a pump arranged to supply hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder, and an electric tilt motor arranged to drive the pump; and a steering mechanism including an electric motor and a power conversion mechanism arranged to convert power of the electric motor into turning of the steering shaft around the steering axis; wherein at least one of the pump and the electric tilt motor is disposed outside the tubular housing portion of the transom bracket.