Patent ID: 7252568

Claim:
An outboard motor comprising a cowling generally enclosing an engine, the cowling comprising an upper cowling and a lower cowling that engage one another and define an engine compartment therewithin, the upper cowling having an intake assembly defining an intake chamber, an intake aperture formed through the upper cowling and opening into the intake chamber, an air duct opening from the intake chamber into the engine compartment so that intake air is drawn through the intake aperture into the intake chamber and then through the air duct to the engine compartment, and a water collector disposed in the lower cowling, the water collector having an opening and being adapted to accumulate water from within the engine compartment, wherein the air duct comprises an elongate passage having a first end communicating with the intake chamber and a second end generally aligned with the water collector opening, the passage adapted to direct water and air from the intake chamber toward the water collector opening, and an air outlet is formed through the passage between the first and second ends, the air outlet communicating with the engine compartment.