Selectively disengageable, tiller actuated vane steering system

A steering system for a marine drive having a propulsion unit pivotally mounted on a watercraft for moving and steering the watercraft through the water, said marine drive further having a tiller, said steering system comprising:

• a steering vane rotatably mounted on the propulsion unit for generating a hydrodynamic torque on the propulsion unit upon rotation tending to pivot the propulsion unit with respect to the watercraft;
• mounting means intermediate the propulsion unit and the tiller for mounting the tiller on the propulsion unit, said mounting means being operable to a first condition in which the tiller can move relative to the propulsion unit and to a second condition in which the tiller does not move relative to the propulsion unit;
• and
• means coupling the tiller to said steering vane for causing movement of the tiller with respect to the propulsion unit to rotate said steering vane,
• wherein said mounting means includes a first element coupled to the propulsion unit and a second element coupled to the tiller, said first and second elements mounting the tiller on the propulsion unit and being mutually engageable to place said mounting means in said second condition,
• wherein said first and second elements are spaced with respect to each other when said mounting means is in said first condition and movable in abutment with each other to place said mounting means in said second condition,
• wherein one of said first and second elements has a groove engaging a projection on the other of said first and second elements when said elements are in abutment.

A steering system for a marine drive having a propulsion unit pivotally mounted on a watercraft for moving and steering the watercraft through the water, said marine drive further having a tiller, said steering system comprising:

• a steering vane rotatably mounted on the propulsion unit for generating a hydrodynamic torque on the propulsion unit upon rotation tending to pivot the propulsion unit with respect to the watercraft;
• mounting means intermediate the propulsion unit and the tiller for mounting the tiller on the propulsion unit, said mounting means being operable to a first condition in which the tiller can move relative to the propulsion unit and to a second condition in which the tiller does not move relative to the propulsion unit;
• and
• means coupling the tiller to said steering vane for causing movement of the tiller with respect to the propulsion unit to rotate said steering vane,
• wherein said mounting means includes a first element coupled to the propulsion unit and a second element coupled to the tiller, said first and second elements mounting the tiller on the propulsion unit and being mutually engageable to place said mounting means in said second condition,
• wherein said first and second elements are spaced with respect to each other when said mounting means is in said first condition and movable in abutment with each other to place said mounting means in said second condition,
• wherein said second element includes a post journalled in said first element for providing the relative movement of the tiller with respect to the propulsion unit, and wherein said post has a transverse pin in which said tiller is journalled for moving said elements into abutment.