| CPC H02K 7/14 (2013.01) [B63H 1/14 (2013.01); B63H 21/17 (2013.01); B63H 23/34 (2013.01); H02K 1/16 (2013.01); H02K 1/22 (2013.01); H02K 7/003 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |

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1. A marine propulsion apparatus comprising:
a motor housing;
a propeller configured to be rotated on an axis and disposed outside of the motor housing;
a drive shaft coaxial with the axis and connected to the propeller to drive rotation of the propeller coaxially with the axis, the drive shaft extending from within the motor housing to outside of the motor housing;
a rotor configured to rotate coaxial with the axis, the drive shaft connected to the rotor to be rotated coaxial with the axis by the rotor;
a stator disposed within the motor housing and configured to be electrically energized to generate magnetic flux that causes the rotor to rotate, the stator comprising at least one coil disposed within the motor housing; and
a seal assembly extending around the drive shaft to form a seal with the drive shaft, the seal assembly separating a dry interior of the motor housing from a wet exterior of the motor housing, wherein the seal assembly is disposed axially between the propeller and the rotor;
wherein the seal assembly is disposed axially closer to the propeller than any bearing of the marine propulsion apparatus.
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