Patent ID: 6902449

Claim:
A transom mounted watercraft drive unit comprising: a) a support plate mounted to the watercraft transom, said support plate having a sleeve for receiving a first drive shaft, said first drive shaft extending through said transom and said transom sleeve; b) an upper bracket and a lower bracket mounted to said support plate, said upper bracket having an upper pivot attachment means and said lower bracket having a lower pivot attachment means; c) a pivot member pivotally attached to said support plate between said upper bracket and said lower bracket at said upper and lower pivot attachment means whereby said pivot member may be pivoted horizontally; d) a double universal joint positioned within said pivot member, said double universal joint being connected to said first drive shaft; e) a drive shaft housing pivotally connected to said pivot member whereby said drive shaft housing may be pivoted vertically on said pivot member; f) a second drive shaft positioned within said drive shaft housing, said second drive shaft connected to said double universal joint whereby said drive shaft maybe pivoted vertically and horizontally; g) a propeller mounted to said second propeller shaft; h) a single action spring-return hydraulic ram, said ram having a housing, a piston and a piston rod, said housing being pivotally attached to said pivot member and said piston rod being pivotally attached to said drive shaft housing; and i) means for moving said piston and thereby said piston rod of said hydraulic ram to raise and lower said drive shaft housing and thereby said propeller.