Patent ID: 7172476

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 comprising a swivel bracket carrying the drive unit for pivotal movement about a steering axis that extends generally vertically, and a clamping bracket supporting the swivel bracket and the drive unit for pivotal movement about a tilt axis that extends generally horizontally, either the swivel bracket or the clamping bracket, at least in part, comprising a first flange, a second flange spaced apart from the first flange, and a web extending between the first and second flanges to connect together the first and second flanges, the first and second flanges extending generally parallel to the tilt axis, and the web extending generally normal to the tilt axis, wherein each of the first and second flanges have a width between opposing side edges, and at least part of the web is spaced from both of the opposing edges.