Mount for a boat propulsion unit

Abstract

A mount for a boat propulsion unit comprises a collar for mounting around an aperture in a boat's hull, the collar having an annular groove on an inner surface thereof; a first mating part for mounting an inboard portion of a propulsion unit to the boat; and a second mating part, connectable to the first mating part, for mounting an outboard portion of a propulsion unit to the boat. The first and second mating parts are connectable through the collar and are configured such that when they are connected they form an external annular recess in an outer surface and an annular gasket is located partly in the groove and partly in the recess to form a seal there-between.

1 . A mount for a boat propulsion unit comprising:
 a collar for mounting around an aperture in a boat's hull, the collar having an annular groove on an inner surface thereof;   a first mating part for mounting an inboard portion of a propulsion unit to the boat;   a second mating part, connectable to the first mating part, for mounting an outboard portion of a propulsion unit to the boat;   the first and second mating parts being connectable through the collar and being configured such that when they are connected they form an external annular recess in an outer surface; and   an annular gasket locatable partly in said groove and partly in said recess to form a seal there-between.   
     
     
         2 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second mating parts are configured to apply a force to compress the gasket when the first and second mating parts are connected. 
     
     
         3 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second mating parts are configured to apply a force to compress the gasket when the first and second mating parts are connected, and wherein the force is applied generally vertically through a portion of the gasket received in the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second mating parts are configured to apply a force to compress the gasket when the first and second mating parts are connected, and wherein the force is applied through the innermost side of the gasket causing the gasket to expand radially outwardly into the groove to seal against the collar. 
     
     
         5 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the groove and the recess have similar cross-sections. 
     
     
         6 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the groove and/or the recess is generally V-shaped or C-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the groove and/or the recess is formed by two inclined annular surfaces having an angle of less than 180 degrees there-between. 
     
     
         8 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the groove and/or the recess is formed by two inclined annular surfaces having an angle of less than 90 degrees there-between. 
     
     
         9 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the groove and/or the recess is formed by two inclined annular surfaces having an angle of less than 180 degrees there-between, and wherein the inclined surfaces join via a curved or a straight interface. 
     
     
         10 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the groove and/or recess is generally V-shaped or C-shaped, and wherein the groove and/or recess is part-circular. 
     
     
         11 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the gasket is circular, oval, obround or elongated in plan view. 
     
     
         12 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the collar is substantially cylindrical or constituted by a substantially oval, obround or elongate section of tubing. 
     
     
         13 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the collar is integrally formed in a boat's hull. 
     
     
         14 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the first mating part is provided on a motor and the second mating part is provided on a propeller unit. 
     
     
         15 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second mating parts are connectable via an attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The mount according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second mating parts are connectable via an attachment mechanism, and wherein the attachment mechanism comprises complementary inter-engaging parts, or is configured for screwing the first and second parts together or is constituted by a bayonet-type fastening. 
     
     
         17 . The mount according to  claim 1  configured for mounting a propulsion unit in the form of an inboard propulsion unit, an outboard propulsion unit, an electric propulsion unit, an internal combustion propulsion unit, a saildrive propulsion unit or a propulsion pod unit. 
     
     
         18 . The mount according to  claim 1 , the first and second mating parts being configured such that, when connected, they are able to accommodate a motor drive shaft passing axially through the mount. 
     
     
         19 . A boat propulsion unit comprising a mount according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A boat comprising a mount according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A method of mounting a propulsion unit on a boat comprising:
 providing a collar around an aperture in a hull of the boat, the collar having an annular groove on an inner surface thereof;   locating an annular gasket in the collar so that the gasket partly resides in said groove;   providing a first mating part on an inboard portion of a propulsion unit and a second mating part, connectable to the first mating part, on an outboard portion of a propulsion unit; and   connecting the first and second mating parts through the collar so that the first and second mating parts form an external annular recess in which said gasket is partly located.