On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 11:31:27 +0200, "Edgar"
wrote:

Have you ever looked at an engine that will turn a big ships propeller at
80-100 rpm with direct drive?
They do not come cheap.

It is a universal, applying to all sizes, that the transmission costs
a much as an engine. All the biggest engines have long been direct
drive. As for price, the big marine engines are cheaper per horse than
the smaller ones. By the way, gears suck up power. So does electric
drive. The family runabout, a jet boat, has no transmission. In fifty
years, I never missed it even once.

Casady