Boat propulsion unit

In a boat propulsion unit adapted to be suspended on the outside of a boat transom and drivably connected to an engine on the inside of the transom, said unit comprising a propeller drive shaft housing, a suspension arrangement adapted to be fixedly secured to the transom, pivot means which pivotally connects the drive shaft housing to the suspension arrangement to allow pivotal displacement of the drive shaft housing relative to the suspension arrangement about a pivot axis in a vertical plane and pivot axis in a horizontal plane, steering means which is arranged to effect pivotal displacement of the drive shaft housing about said first-mentioned axis, and trim and tilt means which is arranged to effect pivotal displacement of the drive shaft housing about said second-mentioned axis;

• the improvement wherein the suspension arrangement (2) comprises a hollow frame member (5) which has a closed cross-sectional configuration, means for securing the hollow frame member around an opening (12) in a boat transom (4), and a carrier (6) attached to the frame member, said carrier covering the opening and supporting said pivot means.