Patent ID: 7302899

Claim:
A tilt helm for use with a boat having a dashboard and a steering system; the tilt helm comprising: a first housing adapted to be mounted in a fixed position with respect to the dashboard; a second housing having a plurality of outwardly-opening teeth; the second housing defining a through-bore adapted to receive a portion of the steering system of the boat; the second housing pivotably mounted to the first housing about a first horizontal pivot axis; a tilt locking lever pivotably carried by the first housing between engaged and disengaged positions; the tilt locking lever engaging the teeth of the second housing when the tilt locking lever is in the engaged position to prevent the second housing from pivoting with respect to the first housing when the tilt locking lever is in the engaged position; the teeth of the second housing being free of the tilt locking lever when the tilt locking lever is in the disengaged position to allow the second housing to pivot with respect to the first housing when the tilt locking lever is in the disengaged position; the first housing defining an opening; a portion of the tilt locking lever being disposed in the opening of the first housing; the tilt locking lever pivoting about a second pivot axis; the second pivot axis being disposed in a non-parallel orientation with respect to the first pivot axis; and a mounting bolt adapted to mount the first housing to the dashboard; the mounting bolt pivotably mounting the tilt locking lever to the first housing.