The outboard motor was developed as a means of propulsion for marine craft such as speed boats and large dinghies.
The first outboard motors emerged at the start of the century. The initial one was developed in 1902, and was a French design named the `Motogodille.' During the mid 1900's, Cameron Waterman of the US created a small outboard motor. However, the Norwegian-American Ole Evinrude is credited with producing the first design which was commercially successful. The plans went into production in 1909 after approximately three years of development.
The unit which encompasses both the engine and its electrical system is called the `powerhead.' Sometimes on smaller motors, the fuel tank is also contained within this unit. The two-stroke petrol engine is used by almost all outboard motors. Also available, although to a lesser extent, are four-stroke engines and also motors which are powered electrically.
A second unit is positioned beneath the `powerhead.' It encloses the gearbox, its gear change mechanism, the propeller shaft and the cooling water impeller. This is not applicable to the smaller motors as they have no gear-change. To make these types of craft reverse, the motor has to be rotated right round in order to reverse the direction. The engine drives the propeller, which is submerged, via the gearbox and propeller shaft.
