An outboard motor has a drive unit and a bracket assembly that supports the drive
unit. The drive unit moves right and left. The drive unit has an engine that incorporates
throttle valves and a transmission. A propeller is powered by the engine. The throttle
valves move between closed and open positions. The transmission moves among shift
positions to set the propeller to either forward, reverse or neutral mode. A steering
actuator moves the drive unit right and left. A throttle valve actuator moves the
throttle valves between the closed and open positions. A shift actuator moves the
transmission among the shift positions. A stick generates a steering control command,
a throttle valve position control command and a shift control command. The stick
can swing right and left and back and forth. The control commands are selectively
generated in response to the swing movement of the stick. A control device controls
the actuators based upon the commands.
