Marine propulsion device

In a marine propulsion device 10 having a power head (20 Fig 1) and a lower unit (24), a propeller shaft 32 is rotatably supported by the lower unit 24 and supports a propeller 50. The propeller shaft 32 includes a longitudinal axis 33 and a surface defining a plane which is substantially normal to the axis 33. A thrust washer 70 is mounted on the propeller shaft 32 for transmitting thrusting force from the propeller 50 to said surface. Such an arrangement provides particularly efficient transmission of thrust loads developed by rotation of the propeller without requiring expensive machining of frustoconical mating portions.