An outboard motor includes a cooling water passage that guides cooling water to cool an exhaust passage and a cylinder unit. A cooling water intake port draws external cooling water into the cooling water passage. A water pump draws cooling water into the cooling water intake port and supplies the cooling water to the cooling water passage. A thermostat is arranged in the cooling water passage downstream of the catalytic converter and the cylinder unit. A first bypass passage is connected to a first connecting section provided on the cooling water passage. The first connecting section is provided along the cooling water passage at a position farther downstream than the catalytic converter and farther upstream than the thermostat.