Marine steering system having swivel bracket forming hydraulic cylinder

A steering apparatus for a marine craft having a stem and a propulsion unit mounted on the stem, the system comprising:

• a first bracket connectable to the stem of the marine craft;
• and
• a second bracket connectable to the propulsion unit, the second bracket being rotatably connected to the first bracket for relative rotation about an axis of rotation, whereby the propulsion unit can be rotated about the axis of rotation relative to the stem of the craft, the second bracket having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough, a piston being reciprocatingly received within the bore, slidingly engaging the bore and having a piston rod connected thereto, the piston rod being operatively connected to the propulsion unit.