Patent ID: 7465202

Claim:
A system for controlling steering of an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on a stern of a boat and having an internal combustion engine that powers a propeller, comprising: a steering wheel adapted to be installed at a cockpit of the boat to be turned by an operator; a steering shaft installed in the outboard motor through which the outboard motor can be steered relative to the boat; an electric steering mechanism having a steering wheel angle sensor which produces an output indicative of a turned amount of the steering wheel, a rotation angle sensor which produces an output indicative of a rotation angle of the steering shaft, an electric actuator which is adapted to rotate the outboard motor about the steering shaft, and a controller which controls operation of the electric actuator in response to the outputs of the steering wheel angle sensor and the rotation angle sensor such that the outboard motor is steered relative to the boat; a hydraulic steering mechanism having a hydraulic actuator which is adapted to rotate the outboard motor about the steering shaft and a hydraulic pump which supplies operating oil to the hydraulic actuator in response to turning of the steering wheel such that the outboard motor is steered relative to the boat; and a switch which switches steering control between the electric steering mechanism and the hydraulic steering mechanism in response to manipulation by an operator, wherein the switch includes: a driver disposed to be freely manipulated by the operator; and a clutch which disconnects the hydraulic pump from the hydraulic actuator in response to manipulation of the driver by the operator, such that the hydraulic steering mechanism becomes inoperative.