Boat engine for propelling a boat

An outboard engine for propelling a boat, comprising:

• a propulsion unit having an electric motor and a propeller driven by the electric motor;
• and
• a water detection means configured to detect whether the propeller is submersed in water, wherein the water detection means comprises one or more of:
• a rev counter that determines a rotational speed of the electric motor,
• a power meter that determines a power of the electric motor, and
• a torque meter that determines a torque of the electric motor,
• wherein the water detection means is further configured to detect whether the propeller is submersed in water during operation of the electric motor on the basis of characteristics of the power and/or torque of the electric motor in relation to the rotational speed of the electric motor;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the power and/or the rotational speed and/or the torque of the electric motor, wherein the control unit communicates with the water detection means and the control unit maintains and/or limits and/or reduces the power and/or the rotational speed of the electric motor and/or the torque of the electric motor, or stops the electric motor upon detecting that the propeller is not submersed in water.