Exactly what kind of motors are used, and where can one get them?
Electric motors are used for propulsion and pumping. Generally people use 6 volt or 12 volt motors, depending on your battery preference. Motors can be acquired from surplus catalogs for a couple of dollars each. (The best price reported so far is $1.00 per motor). The RS550, RS540 and RS600 types are widely available and provide a range of torque and speed combinations. Many ships are now driven using 3-to-1 or 4-to-1 gear ratios in order to get more torque and less speed. This helps to turn the boat faster and gives better acceleration.
