110vac 60Hz outboards? Not really. For electric motors to provide
variable speed and torque, variable frequency and voltage ac drive,
switched dc really, is required.

What I see ahead is chopper controlled 48 vdc electric moter /
generators, getting better and better so fast it'll be hard to keep up.
We will see them in road vehicles, such as the electric bicycle
previously mentioned, for modest requirements, and soon, modest town
commuter cars. The vehicle will be propelled by wheel motor / brake
units, with no transmission, motors in wheels and a small optimised
engine or plug in at home to recharge when idle, or drive slowly and
economically even with a low battery.

Driving economically in a low wind resistance lightweight land vehicle
can be economical. Economy has gotta make a comeback.

I want an eco-micro (TM) or eco-mini (TM).

Of course, this is my projection for what I want. Higher voltages get
more and more dangerous in wet conditions, even if higher frequencies
and higher voltages do promise high power and light weight.

See the eliica electric car for a vision of the future. These motor
generators can be made at home with a brake rotor, backing plate, wire
coils, and super magnets glued to the rotors. The switching controllers
are a different matter. The motors were first developed as wind
generators.

Batteries are where it's really gonna hit the fan. Fast charge lithium
ion cells are the best around, but who knows what will turn up next.
Meanwhile, what do we do with dead lead-acid, nicads, etc. chuck 'em in
the dump? I can't find a way to recycle carbon-zinc, or alkalines
around here.

Whatever happened to aluminium / lye cells, with replaceable aluminium
"fuel" and recyclable / rechargeable carbide crystals "exhaust?"

Whatever happened to fusion power?

A small trolling motor can be run from a small generator, using only a
small battery to smooth things out. A balance between electric motor
power / recharge capability, battery capacity / weight, range, and
generator requirements will serve different recipies for daysailors,
voyageurs, racers, campers, cruisers, whatever. Those who want to run
bass to death will always want more power than any battery that we can
see today could provide.

Why no pto on these little gennies? A prop could sit at the end of a
rooster tail rig, just for efficiency and long range, at idle. Every
genny should have a pto. Why are not all air conditioners switchable
to heat pump mode? (Flip the control panel around?) Think of the
national savings in energy if all a/c could provide cheap heat.

Prudence ignored.

As far as I am concerned, being on the boat is where it's at, and where
the boat gets to is secondary.

That's why I am a cruiser, sailing nowhere special at economical speed.

It's relaxing.

Terry K