Alignment system for an outboard motor

An alignment system for a marine propulsion device, comprising:

• a first pliable member attachable between a first contact location and a second contact location, said first contact location being a part of said marine propulsion device and being rotatable with said marine propulsion device about a steering axis of said marine propulsion device, said second contact location not being rotatable with said marine propulsion device about said steering axis of said marine propulsion device, said first and second contact locations being spaced apart by a first distance when said marine propulsion device is attached to a boat and disposed in an operable position with a drive shaft of said marine propulsion device being in a generally vertical position, said first and second contact locations being spaced apart by a second distance when said marine propulsion device is attached to said boat and disposed in an inoperable position with said drive shaft being tilted away from said generally vertical position, said second distance being greater than said first distance, said first pliable member having a first length which is greater than said first distance, said second distance being at least equal to said first length of said first pliable member;
• a first attachment component connected to a first portion of said first pliable member, said first attachment component being attachable to said first contact location;
• a second attachment component connected to a second portion of said pliable member, said second attachment component being attachable to said second contact location;
• a second pliable member attachable between a third contact location and a fourth contact location, said third contact location being a part of said marine propulsion device and being rotatable with said marine propulsion device about said steering axis of said marine propulsion device, said fourth contact location not being rotatable with said marine propulsion device about said steering axis of said marine propulsion device, said third and fourth contact locations being spaced apart by a third distance when said marine propulsion device is attached to said boat and disposed in an operable position with said drive shaft being in a generally vertical position, said third and fourth contact locations being spaced apart by a fourth distance when said marine propulsion device is attached to said boat and disposed in an inoperable position with said drive shaft being tilted away from said generally vertical position, said fourth distance being greater than said third distance, said second pliable member having a second length which is greater than said third distance, said fourth distance being at least equal to said second length of said second pliable member;
• and
• a third attachment component connected to a third portion of said second pliable member, said third attachment component being attachable to said third contact location;
• and
• a fourth attachment component connected to a fourth portion of said pliable member, said fourth attachment component being attachable to said fourth contact location.

An alignment system for a outboard motor, comprising:

• an outboard motor;
• a first pliable strap attached between a first contact location and a second contact location, said first contact location being a part of said outboard motor and being rotatable with said outboard motor about a steering axis of said outboard motor, said second contact location not being rotatable with said outboard motor about said steering axis of said outboard motor, said first and second contact locations being spaced apart by a first distance when said outboard motor is attached to a boat and disposed in an operable position with a drive shaft of said outboard motor being in a generally vertical position, said first and second contact locations being spaced apart by a second distance when said outboard motor is attached to said boat and disposed in an inoperable position with said drive shaft being tilted away from said generally vertical position, said second distance being greater than said first distance, said first pliable strap having a first length which is greater than said first distance, said second distance being at least equal to said first length of said first pliable strap;
• a first attachment component connected to a first portion of said first pliable strap, said first attachment component being attachable to said first contact location;
• a second attachment component connected to a second portion of said pliable member, said second attachment component being attachable to said second contact location;
• a second pliable strap attached between a third contact location and a fourth contact location, said third contact location being a part of said outboard motor and being rotatable with said outboard motor about said steering axis of said outboard motor, said fourth contact location not being rotatable with said outboard motor about said steering axis of said outboard motor, said third and fourth contact locations being spaced apart by a third distance when said outboard motor is attached to said boat and disposed in an operable position with said drive shaft being in a generally vertical position, said third and fourth contact locations being spaced apart by a fourth distance when said outboard motor is attached to said boat and disposed in an inoperable position with said drive shaft being tilted away from said generally vertical position, said fourth distance being greater than said third distance, said second pliable strap having a second length which is greater than said third distance, said fourth distance being at least equal to said second length of said second pliable strap;
• and
• a third attachment component connected to a third portion of said second pliable strap, said third attachment component being attachable to said third contact location;
• and
• a fourth attachment component connected to a fourth portion of said pliable member, said fourth attachment component being attachable to said fourth contact location.