Steering device for marine propulsion

Claim 1

A steering device for a marine propulsion device affixed relative to the transom of a watercraft, said propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing rotatably journaling an engine driven shaft, a swivel bracket journaling said drive shaft housing for steering movement about a generally vertically extending steering axis, a generally "C" shaped clamping bracket adapted to receive the upper end of the transom for affixing said propulsion device to the transom, pivot pin means interconnecting said swivel bracket and said clamping bracket for pivotal movement about a generally horizontally extending tilt axis, and a steering arm affixed to said drive shaft housing, the improvement comprising a steering bracket affixed between a downwardly extending face of said clamping bracket and an upwardly extending face of the transom, said clamping bracket extending over said steering bracket for direct attachment to the transom, said steering bracket defining a bore extending generally parallel to and offset from said tilt axis, a steering rod slidably supported in said bore for reciprocation relative thereto, means for affixing an operator controlled steering cable to said steering rod for effecting operator controlled reciprocation of said steering rod, and means connecting said steering rod to said steering arm for steering of said drive shaft housing upon reciprocation of said steering rod.