Outboard motor and marine propulsion support system

A marine propulsion support system comprising:

• a transom mounting system configured to be mounted to a transom of a marine vessel;
• a drive unit coupled to the transom mounting system;
• a plurality of vibration isolation mounts coupling the drive unit to the transom mounting system, the plurality of vibration isolation mounts configured to absorb loads on the drive unit that do not exceed a mount design threshold;
• and
• a bump stop located between the drive unit and the transom mounting system, the bump stop limiting deflection of the drive unit caused by loads that exceed the mount design threshold;
• wherein the bump stop is located proximate a minimum fore-aft clearance between the transom mounting system and the drive unit, and prevents direct contact between the drive unit and the transom mounting system that would otherwise occur due to deflection of the drive unit caused by loads that exceed the mount design threshold;
• wherein the bump stop is mounted to one of the transom mounting system and the drive unit and does not contact the other of the drive unit and the transom mounting system when loads that do not exceed the mount design threshold are encountered;
• and
• wherein the bump stop is located remote from the plurality of vibration isolation mounts.

An outboard motor comprising:

• a transom bracket configured to be mounted to a transom of a marine vessel;
• a swivel bracket pivotally coupled to the transom bracket about a horizontal tilt-trim axis;
• a cradle coupled to the swivel bracket, the cradle having first and second opposite arms;
• a drive unit supported between the first and second opposite arms of the cradle;
• first and second upper vibration isolation mounts, the first upper vibration isolation mount connecting the first cradle arm to the drive unit, and the second upper vibration isolation mount connecting the second cradle arm to the drive unit;
• an upper motion-limiting bump stop located remotely from the first and second upper vibration isolation mounts and between the swivel bracket and the drive unit;
• first and second arm extensions depending generally downwardly from the first and second cradle arms, respectively;
• first and second lower vibration isolation mounts connecting the first arm extension to the drive unit and the second arm extension to the drive unit, respectively;
• and
• first and second lower motion-limiting bump stops located between the first arm extension and the drive unit and the second arm extension and the drive unit, respectively;
• wherein the upper motion-limiting bump stop is located between the swivel bracket and a superstructure of the drive unit;
• and
• wherein the first and second lower motion-limiting bump stops are proximate to, but not part of, the first and second lower vibration isolation mounts.