Boat propeller guard

Claim 1

A guard for use with an outboard motor including a motor shaft, a motor housing, a propeller having a propeller blade, and a fin, the guard comprising: an elongate main rib terminating in a shock-absorbing resilient end portion, attachment means for securing said rib to an outboard motor such that said main rib is disposed adjacent to and forwardly of said motor housing and fin with said rib end portion extending downwardly beyond the fin and generally rearwardly, a plurality of shock-absorbing side ribs disposed along said main rib and each having a forward end secured to said main rib and terminating in free ends extending outwardly and rearwardly on either side of said motor housing so as to be disposed on either side of said propeller, said main rib resilient end portion including a plurality of shock-absorbing lower ribs each having an upper portion secured to said main rib with the lower portions thereof extending in spaced, diverging relation downwardly and rearwardly of said fin so as to be disposed below said propeller, and, arcuate rigid funnelling ribs attached to said main rib adjacent the upper portion thereof and extending downwardly on either side thereof to define therebetween a rearwardly directed funnel opening thereby to direct water flow therethrough from said main rib toward said motor housing to enhance cooling thereof.