Stern drives and methods of installing stern drives

A stern drive for a marine vessel having a transom, the stern drive comprising:

• a drive assembly configured to generate a thrust force in water;
• a powerhead configured to power the drive assembly;
• and
• a mounting assembly configured to couple the drive assembly to the transom outside of the marine vessel and to suspend the powerhead on the transom inside of the marine vessel, wherein the stern drive is further configured so that the drive assembly, the powerhead, and the mounting assembly are installed on the marine vessel as a single component from outside the transom.

A method of installing a stern drive on a marine vessel, the marine vessel comprising a transom defining a mounting hole, the method comprising:

• assembling as a single component a drive assembly configured to generate a thrust force in water, a powerhead configured to power the drive assembly, and a mounting assembly configured to couple the drive assembly to the transom outside of the marine vessel and to suspend the powerhead on the transom inside of the marine vessel;
• from outside the marine vessel, inserting the powerhead into the marine vessel via the mounting hole until the mounting assembly engages the transom;
• and
• fastening the mounting assembly to the transom.