Patent ID: 7410397

Claim:
An outboard motor comprising a drive unit, and a bracket assembly adapted to mount the drive unit on an associated watercraft, the bracket assembly including a swivel bracket carrying the drive unit for pivotal movement about a steering axis that extends generally vertically, the swivel bracket having a tubular section that extends generally vertically, the drive unit having a steering member that includes a steering shaft section, the steering shaft section extending through the tubular section of the swivel bracket and defining the steering axis, the steering shaft section having top and bottom portions that exposed beyond at least a portion of the tubular section, the top and bottom portions being attached to the drive unit, the steering shaft section further having an upper portion below the top portion within the tubular section, and a lower portion above the bottom portion within the tubular section, the tubular section including upper, lower and middle bushings, the upper bushing pivotally supporting the upper portion of the steering shaft section, the lower bushing pivotally supporting the lower portion of the steering shaft section, and the middle bushing pivotally supporting a middle portion of the steering shaft section between the upper and lower portions without any locking mechanism or clutch disposed between the tubular section and the steering shaft and between the upper and lower bushings.