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A hinge assembly is for a cowl of an outboard motor. The hinge assembly is configured to connect a first portion of the cowl to a second portion of the cowl. The hinge assembly comprises an arm that is connected to one of the first and second cowl portions and a retainer that is connected to the oth

A hinge assembly is for a cowl of an outboard motor. The hinge assembly is configured to connect a first portion of the cowl to a second portion of the cowl. The hinge assembly comprises an arm that is connected to one of the first and second cowl portions and a retainer that is connected to the other of the first and second cowl portions. The arm is movable with respect to the retainer between a registered position wherein the arm is retained by and pivotable with respect to the retainer to thereby pivotably connect the first portion of the cowl to the second portion of the cowl and an unregistered position wherein the arm is separated from the retainer so that the first portion of the cowl is separated from the second portion of the cowl.

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1. A hinge assembly for a cowl of an outboard motor, the hinge assembly being configured to pivotably and releasably connect a first portion of the cowl to a second portion of the cowl, the hinge assembly comprising: an arm that is configured to connect to one of the first and second cowl portions a

1. A hinge assembly for a cowl of an outboard motor, the hinge assembly being configured to pivotably and releasably connect a first portion of the cowl to a second portion of the cowl, the hinge assembly comprising: an arm that is configured to connect to one of the first and second cowl portions and a retainer that is configured to connect to another of the first and second cowl portions, wherein the arm is movable with respect to the retainer between a registered position in which the arm is retained by and pivotable with respect to the retainer to thereby pivotably connect the first portion of the cowl to the second portion of the cowl and an unregistered position in which the arm is separated from the retainer so that the first portion of the cowl is separated from the second portion of the cowl;wherein the arm comprises a first end that is configured to connect to the first portion of the cowl and an opposite, second end that is configured to be pivotably retained by the retainer; anda body that is disposed on and extends transversely to the second end of the arm, wherein the retainer comprises a complementary recess that is configured to receive the body and permit pivoting of the arm with respect to the retainer. 2. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a flexible member that is configured to retain the arm in the retainer. 3. The hinge assembly according to claim 2, wherein the retainer comprises a side wall, and wherein the flexible member has a first end that is connected to the side wall, a second end that is freely movable with respect to the sidewall, and a middle portion that is disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the middle portion extends into the retainer. 4. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible member that is configured to retain the body in the recess, wherein the flexible member bends outwardly as the body is inserted into the recess and then springs back inwardly as the body is fully seated in the recess to thereby retain the body in the recess. 5. The hinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein when the arm is in the registered position, the arm is pivotable with respect to the retainer through a range of pivot motion between an open cowl position and a closed cowl position. 6. The hinge assembly according to claim 5, wherein the retainer comprises at least one ramp that is configured to guide movement of the body into and out of the recess. 7. The hinge assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least one ramp comprises a sloped surface and a crest on top of the sloped surface, and wherein the body is configured to engage with and slide along the sloped surface and over the crest as the arm is moved into the registered position. 8. The hinge assembly according to claim 7, wherein the retainer comprises at least one retaining wall that engages with the arm when the arm is pivoted into the open cowl position, and further wherein the crest engages with the body when the arm is pivoted into the open cowl position, such that the retaining wall and crest together prevent further pivoting movement of the arm past the open cowl position. 9. The hinge assembly according to claim 8, wherein the retaining wall and crest further prevent movement of the arm out of the recess into the unregistered position when the arm is in the open cowl position. 10. The hinge assembly according to claim 9, wherein the retaining wall includes a flange that extends downwardly towards the at least one ramp, and wherein the flange engages with the body to further prevent movement of the arm out of the recess into the unregistered position when the arm is in the open cowl position. 11. A cowl for an outboard motor, the cowl comprising first and second portions and a hinge assembly that connects the first and second portions together, the hinge assembly comprising: an arm connected to one of the first and second cowl portions and a retainer connected to another of the first and second cowl portions; wherein the arm is movable with respect to the retainer between a registered position in which the arm is retained by and pivotable with respect to the retainer, thereby pivotably connecting the first portion of the cowl to the second portion of the cowl, and an unregistered position in which the arm is separated from the retainer so that the first portion of the cowl is separated from the second portion of the cowl;wherein the arm comprises a first end that is configured to connect to the first portion of the cowl and an opposite, second end that is configured to be pivotably retained by the retainer; anda body that is disposed on and extends transversely to the second end of the arm, wherein the retainer comprises a complementary recess that is configured to receive the body and permit pivoting of the arm with respect to the retainer. 12. The cowl according to claim 11, wherein the retainer comprises a flexible member that is configured to retain the arm in the retainer. 13. The cowl according to claim 12, wherein the retainer comprises a side wall, wherein the flexible member is formed in the side wall, and wherein the flexible member has a first end that is connected to the side wall, a second end that is freely movable with respect to the sidewall, and a middle portion that is disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the middle portion bends inwardly into the retainer. 14. The cowl according to claim 11, further comprising a flexible member that is configured to retain the body in the recess, wherein the flexible member bends outwardly as the body is inserted into the recess and then springs back inwardly as the body is fully seated in the recess to thereby retain the body in the recess. 15. The cowl according to claim 11, wherein when the arm is in the registered position, the arm is pivotable with respect to the retainer through a range of pivot motion between an open cowl position and a closed cowl position. 16. The cowl according to claim 15, wherein the retainer comprises at least one ramp that is configured to guide movement of the body into and out of the recess. 17. The cowl according to claim 16, wherein the at least one ramp comprises a sloped surface and a crest on top of the sloped surface, and wherein the body is configured to engage with and slide along the sloped surface and over the crest as the arm is moved into the registered position. 18. The cowl according to claim 17, wherein the retainer comprises at least one retaining wall that engages with the arm when the arm is pivoted into the open cowl position, and further wherein the crest engages with the body when the arm is pivoted into the open cowl position, such that the retaining wall and crest together prevent further pivoting movement of the arm past the open cowl position. 19. The cowl according to claim 18, wherein the retaining wall and crest further prevent movement of the arm out of the recess into the unregistered position when the arm is in the open cowl position. 20. The cowl according to claim 19, wherein the retaining wall includes a flange that extends downwardly towards the at least one ramp, and wherein the flange engages with the body to further prevent movement of the arm out of the recess into the unregistered position when the arm is in the open cowl position. 21. The cowl according to claim 11, wherein the hinge assembly is one of a pair of hinge assemblies that are mirror opposites of each other and are located on one end of the first and second portions of the cowl. 22. The cowl according to claim 21, comprising a latch connecting a second, opposite end of the first and second portions of the cowl together in the closed cowl position.