Pedestal mount for an outboard motor

An outboard motor, comprising:

• a pedestal, said pedestal being attachable to a transom of a boat;
• a motor support platform attached to said outboard motor;
• a steering mechanism attached to both said pedestal and said motor support platform;
• and
• a tilting mechanism attached to said motor support platform and to said outboard motor, said outboard motor being rotatable about a tilting axis relative to both said pedestal and said motor support platform, said tilting mechanism being rotatable relative to said pedestal and about a steering axis, said steering axis being generally vertical and stationary relative to said pedestal, said tilting mechanism being rotatable relative to said pedestal and about said steering axis with said outboard motor, said steering axis being disposed between said transom of said boat and the center of gravity of said outboard motor, said tilting mechanism comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder, said hydraulic cylinder comprising a cylindrical member and a piston members, said hydraulic cylinder being connected in fluid communication with at least one hydraulic conduit which is formed as an integral fluid passage within the structure of said motor support platform.

An outboard motor, comprising:

• a pedestal, said pedestal being attachable to a transom of a boat;
• a motor support platform attached to said outboard motor;
• a steering mechanism attached to both said pedestal and said motor support platform;
• a tilting mechanism attached to said motor support platform and to said outboard motor, said outboard motor being rotatable about a tilting axis relative to both said pedestal and said motor support platform, said tilting mechanism being rotatable relative to said pedestal and about a steering axis, said steering axis being generally vertical and stationary relative to said pedestal, said tilting mechanism being rotatable relative to said pedestal and about said steering axis with said outboard motor, said steering axis being disposed between said transom of said boat and the center of gravity of said outboard motor, said tilting mechanism comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder, said hydraulic cylinder comprising a cylindrical member and a piston member, said hydraulic cylinder being connected in fluid communication with at least one hydraulic conduit which is formed as an integral fluid passage within the structure of said motor support platform;
• an intermediate plate disposed between said pedestal and said transom of said boat, said intermediate plate being rigidly attached to said transom and said pedestal being rigidly attached to said intermediate plate, said steering axis being generally vertical and said tilting axis is generally horizontal;
• a propeller shaft connected in torque transmitting relation with an engine of said outboard motor, said propeller shaft being generally perpendicular to a plane in which said tilting axis extends;
• and
• a jacking mechanism attached to said pedestal and to said intermediate plate to cause said pedestal to move relative to said intermediate plate.