Cable steering system for a marine vessel which has a primary propulsion unit and an auxiliary propulsion unit

1. A steering system for a marine vessel having a first propulsion unit and a second propulsion unit, the steering system comprising:

a steering assembly for steering the first propulsion unit, the steering assembly including an actuator for imparting steering movement to the first propulsion unit; and

a push/pull cable, comprised of a cable portion and a jacket which at least partially houses the cable portion and allows the cable portion to reciprocate within the jacket, the push/pull cable extending between the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit for operatively connecting the actuator of the first propulsion unit to the second propulsion unit, the push/pull cable extending through a tilt tube of the first propulsion unit, and the push/pull cable being capable of transmitting steering movement from the actuator of the first propulsion unit to the second propulsion unit.

2. The steering system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the push/pull cable extends through a tilt tube of the second propulsion unit.

3. A steering system for a marine vessel having a first propulsion unit and a second propulsion unit, the steering system comprising:

a transom bracket provided with a support rod having an axial passageway extending therethrough;

a steering assembly for steering the first propulsion unit mounted on the transom bracket, the steering assembly including an actuator for imparting steering movement to the first propulsion unit; and

a push/pull cable, comprised of a cable portion and a jacket which at least partially houses the cable portion and allows the cable portion to reciprocate within the jacket, the push/pull cable extending between the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit for operatively connecting the actuator of the first propulsion unit to the second propulsion unit, the push/pull cable extending through the support rod, and the push/pull cable being capable of transmitting steering movement from the actuator of the first propulsion unit to the second propulsion unit.

4. The steering system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the push/pull cable further extends through a tilt tube of the second propulsion unit.

5. The steering system as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the push/pull cable is coaxial with the tilt tube of the second propulsion unit.

6. The steering system as claimed in claim 3 wherein a connecting arm operatively connects the push/pull cable to the actuator of the first propulsion unit.

7. The steering system as claimed in claim 3 wherein a steering area operatively connects the push/pull cable to a steering member of the second propulsion unit.

8. The steering system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the actuator of the first propulsion unit includes a hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod reciprocatingly mounted therein.

9. The steering system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support rod and the piston rod are substantially parallel.

10. The steering system as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the push/pull cable is coaxial with the support rod.

11. The steering system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first propulsion unit is a stern drive and the second propulsion unit is an outboard motor.

12. A method for coupling a first propulsion unit of a marine vessel to a second propulsion unit of the marine vessel, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a support rod of the first propulsion unit with an axial passageway which extends therethrough;

providing a tilt tube of the second propulsion unit with an axial passageway which extends therethrough;

providing a push/pull cable comprised of a cable portion and a jacket which at least partially houses the cable portion and allows the cable portion to reciprocate within the jacket;

connecting a push/pull cable to a steering assembly of the first propulsion unit;

extending the push/pull cable through the axial passageway in the support rod of the first propulsion unit and the axial passageway in the tilt tube of the second propulsion unit;

steeringly connecting the push/pull cable to the second propulsion unit so that the push/pull cable is capable of transmitting steering movement from the actuator of the first propulsion unit to the second propulsion unit.