Outboard motor

An outboard motor comprising a power head comprised of an internal combustion engine having a generally upwardly extending cylinder with operating components thereof which require servicing at its upper end and its output shaft journaled for rotation about a generally horizontally disposed axis, means for driving a drive shaft disposed beneath said output shaft axis from said output shaft, and a protective cowling comprising a lower member encircling said output shaft and having an upwardly disposed opening for affording access to said engine and said operating components, a drive shaft housing affixed against rotation to and depending from said lower member, said drive shaft being journaled within said drive shaft housing, and a lower unit depending beneath and rigidly affixed to said drive shaft housing, said lower unit carrying propulsion means driven by said drive shaft, means for mounting said power head, said drive shaft housing and said lower unit as a complete assembly relative to a transom of an associated watercraft for steering movement about a generally vertically extending axis and for tilting movement about a generally horizontally extending axis, said protective cowling further including a cover member hingedly connected to said protective cowling lower member about a hinge axis disposed rearwardly of said power head from said tilting axis and extending parallel to said tilting axis when said power head is in a straight ahead steered condition and adapted to close said lower member opening.