Outboard drive device

1. An outboard drive device comprising a motor having a crankshaft, wherein said outboard drive device further comprises a propeller shaft with a propeller which is below the hull of a boat when said outboard drive device is operated, and a power coupling system for transferring power from the motor to the propeller shaft, wherein the crankshaft is substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to the propeller shaft, the power coupling system comprises a power transfer device, a transmission and a transmission drive shaft, the power transfer device connects the crankshaft with the transmission drive shaft for transferring the output power from the crankshaft to the transmission drive shaft, the transmission comprises a forward gear and a reverse gear, so that the output power is reversible, the transmission is arranged below the motor and between the crankshaft and the propeller shaft; and wherein the transmission further comprises a clutch centrally oriented between the forward and reverse gears, wherein the clutch is vertically aligned with a segment of said propeller shaft operatively coupled to the power coupling system, wherein the crankshaft extends in line with a longitudinal direction of the boat when said outboard drive device is mounted to the boat, whereby the crankshaft is configured to vary from such in-line orientation only when the boat is to be steered, said crankshaft and propeller shaft being substantially horizontal and substantially parallel when the boat is so steered.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the power transfer device extends in a substantially vertical direction between the crankshaft and the transmission drive shaft.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transmission drive shaft extends in a substantially horizontal direction between the power transfer device and the forward and reverse gears.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transmission drive shaft is arranged in parallel with the crankshaft and the propeller shaft and is vertically displaced below the crankshaft.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the forward and reverse gears are situated on the transmission drive shaft, and wherein the clutch is situated on the transmission drive shaft so as to be centrally located between the forward and reverse gears on the transmission drive shaft.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is connected to a hydraulic pump positioned on the transmission shaft, the pump and the propeller positioned on a same side of the outboard drive device.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the crankshaft and the transmission drive shaft extend from a first side of the power transfer device.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the motor is an automotive motor or an industrial base engine.

9. A boat comprising a hull and an outboard drive device of claim 1 , wherein the motor and the power coupling system are arranged outside the hull of the boat.

10. A method of manufacturing an outboard drive device, comprising the steps of a) arranging a transmission comprising a forward gear, a reverse gear, and a clutch in a drive housing, wherein the clutch is centrally oriented between the forward and reverse gears, b), arranging a propeller shaft so that it extends through an aperture in said drive housing, c) after steps a and b locating a motor in the form of an automotive motor or an industrial base engine in an outboard motor housing, so that a crankshaft of said motor is arranged substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to the propeller shaft, and d) connecting said crankshaft to a transmission drive shaft of said transmission by means of a power transfer device, said connection being made at an end of the transmission such that the clutch is vertically aligned with a segment of said propeller shaft operatively coupled to the transmission, wherein the crankshaft extends in line with a longitudinal direction of the boat when said outboard drive device is mounted to the boat, whereby the crankshaft is configured to vary from such in-line orientation only when the boat is to be steered, said crankshaft and propeller shaft being substantially horizontal and substantially parallel when the boat is so steered.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of arranging the power transfer device to extend in a substantially vertical direction between the crankshaft and the transmission drive shaft.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of arranging the transmission drive shaft to extend in a substantially horizontal direction between the power transfer device and the forward and reverse gears.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of arranging the transmission between the crankshaft and the propeller shaft.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the forward and reverse gears are situated on the transmission drive shaft, and wherein the clutch is situated on the transmission drive shaft so as to be centrally located between the forward and reverse gears on the transmission drive shaft.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the propeller shaft is supported by a drive housing of the outboard drive device, whereby the propeller shaft is oriented relative to corresponding orientation of the drive housing and the crankshaft.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the propeller shaft is supported by the drive housing, whereby the propeller shaft is oriented relative to corresponding orientation of the drive housing and the crankshaft.