Outboard Motor Lighting System

An outboard motor configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, the outboard motor comprising:

• an upper portion at which is positioned an internal combustion engine that provides rotational power output via a crankshaft,
• a lower portion at which is positioned a gearcase supporting a propeller shaft and propeller;
• a mid portion at which is positioned at least one transmission component that allows for transmission of at least some of the rotational power output to the gearcase;
• and
• a cowling that extends around at least a portion of the outboard motor so as to form a housing therefore, the cowling including a plurality of light sources supported within interior regions formed within the cowling,
• wherein the cowling additionally includes at least one reflective portion, wherein the light sources are arranged to emit light toward the at least one reflective portion, and the at least one reflective portion is configured so that, upon receiving the light, at least some of the light is directed outward away from cowling.

A method of operating a lighting system on an outboard motor configured for use with a marine vessel, the method comprising:

• providing a set of light sources arranged within an interior region of a cowling;
• actuating the light sources to emit light toward a light strip;
• and
• reflecting the light at the light strip so that the light is emitted in a direction away from the cowling.

In an outboard motor having a cowling and configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, a lighting system comprising:

• a first cowling panel portion including a first reflective portion;
• a second cowling panel portion that, in combination with the first cowling panel portion, at least partly defines an interior region within the cowling;
• and
• a first lighting source,
• wherein the lighting source is supported on one or more of the first cowling panel portion, the second panel portion, or a further panel portion, within the interior region,
• wherein the second cowling panel includes a blocking portion that serves to at least partly shield the lighting source from exposure to an outside environment, and
• wherein the second cowling panel is detachable from the first cowling panel to allow for direct exposure of the lighting source to the outside environment,
• whereby cleaning or other servicing of at least some of the lighting source is facilitated.

A cowling for an outboard motor configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, the cowling comprising:

• a first panel structure;
• a second panel structure that is detachably coupled to the first panel structure, wherein a gap exists between an edge of the second panel structure and the first panel structure, and wherein a first portion of the panel structure extends inwardly of the second panel structure such that the second panel structure shields the first portion from an external environment;
• a light source positioned within an interior region of the cowling;
• and
• a reflective portion formed on the first panel structure, wherein at least some light emitted from the light source is reflected off of the reflective portion and directed through the gap to the external environment.

A method of implementing a lighting system in relation to an outboard motor configured for use with a marine vessel, the method comprising:

• attaching a lighting source to a surface of an inner wall structure;
• providing a reflective surface on the inner wall structure or an additional structure that is exposed to an outside environment;
• and
• coupling a further wall structure to the inner wall structure so that an interior region is defined partly by the inner wall structure and the further wall structure.

In an outboard motor having a cowling and configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, a lighting system comprising:

• a first cowling panel portion configured to at least partly surround an internal region in which are positioned one or more internal components of the outboard motor, and having a first surface that is substantially outwardly facing away the internal region;
• a light pipe having a first end and a second end, the light pipe extending along the first surface and through an orifice in the first cowling panel portion such that a first portion of the light pipe is positioned along the first surface outside of the internal region and a second portion of the light pipe including the first end is within the internal region;
• a light source arranged at the first end, within the internal region, wherein the light source is substantially shielded from ultraviolet radiation existing externally of the outboard motor and
• wherein the orifice and light pipe are configured so that the light pipe can be withdrawn via the orifice.

In an outboard motor having a cowling and configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, a lighting system comprising:

• a cowling;
• and
• a light source supported in relation to the cowling;
• wherein the light source is positioned in relation to the cowling so that, and the cowling is configured so that, the light source is at least partly shielded from an exterior environment by the cowling or one or more portions thereof, and also at least some light emitted from the light source upon being reflected or refracted is able to escape or pass to an external location outside of the cowling, at which at least a portion of the at least some light is viewable.