Brunswick Corporation

Daniel A Roske

Jeffrey D Reifsnyder

Mitchell J Baer

Duane Harding

Jared D Kalnins

An outboard marine drive has a supporting frame, a lower unit suspended from the supporting frame, the lower unit supporting a propulsor for propelling the outboard marine drive in water, a top cowl on the supporting frame, wherein a gap is defined between a lower end portion of the top cowl and the supporting frame or the lower unit, and a splash plate on the lower unit, the splash plate being configured to reduce inflow of water to the top cowl via the gap.

Outboard marine drives having splash plate

An electric marine propulsion system for a marine vessel is provided. The system includes a power storage system, an electric motor powered by the power storage system and configured to rotate a propulsor to propel the marine vessel, and a control system configured to operate the electric motor in a speed control mode to generate a variable propulsion output so as not to exceed a rated operation value and an open loop parameter control mode such that the electric motor is operated to exceed the rated operation value to generate a maximum propulsion output. The control system is further configured to receive an operator demand to accelerate the marine vessel; determine whether the operator demand exceeds a predetermined acceleration threshold; and operate the electric motor in the open loop parameter control mode to generate the maximum propulsion output.

Systems and methods for improving acceleration performance of marine vessels

A propeller for a marine propulsion device configured for use on a boat has a hub extending along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of blades, each blade having a blade root attached to the hub and extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis toward a respective blade tip, and each blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a blade face, and a blade back. Each blade has a polymer-based blade core. A portion of an outer edge of each blade core has a flange that is stepped inwardly from both the blade face and the blade back of the blade core. Each flange is electroless plated with a metal coating that covers the flange and fills in the steps on the blade face and the blade back of the blade core to provide a desired blade section. A method for manufacturing the propeller is also included.

Marine propeller

A propeller for a marine propulsion device configured for use on a boat has a hub extending along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of blades, each blade having a blade root attached to the hub and extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis toward a respective blade tip. Each blade has a polymer-based core. Each blade is coated with a metal coating that extends from the blade root radially outwardly toward the blade tip. The blade tips are not coated with the metal coating. A method of manufacturing the propeller is also included.

A propeller for a marine propulsion device configured for use on a boat has a hub extending along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of blades, each blade having a blade root attached to the hub and extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis toward a respective blade tip. Each blade has a polymer-based core. Each blade is coated from the blade root to the blade tip with a metal coating. A method of making the propeller includes molding the propeller and coating each blade from the blade root to the blade tip with a metal coating.

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Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

Daniel A Roske