Patent ID: 7896304

Claim:
A marine propulsion support system, comprising: a first mount; a second mount; an outboard motor comprising an engine support structure and being supported by said first and second mounts, said first and second mounts being disposed on a circumference of a circle, said first mount having a first radial axis of stiffness directed inwardly with respect to said circle and a first tangential axis of stiffness which is generally perpendicular to said first radial axis of stiffness, said first radial and tangential axes of stiffness intersecting at a first effective center of response, said second mount having a second radial axis of stiffness directed inwardly with respect to said circle and a second tangential axis of stiffness which is generally perpendicular to said second radial axis of stiffness, said second radial and tangential axes of stiffness intersecting at a second effective center of response, a generally vertical roll axis intersecting a center of gravity of said outboard motor being aft of a line connecting said first and second effective centers of response, said first and second mounts defining an elastic center point which is behind said line connecting said first and second effective centers of response; and a bracket configured to support said first and second mounts for rotation about a generally vertical steering axis.