System and method of hybrid marine propulsion

A hybrid marine propulsion method, comprising:

• rotationally driving a drive shaft and propeller using an engine;
• shifting the engine into neutral;
• turning on an electric motor by manually activating a motor toggle;
• disengaging the engine from rotational driving engagement with the drive shaft and engaging the electric motor in rotational driving engagement with the drive shaft;
• and
• turning on a fluid sub-system to supply fluid to the drive shaft by manually activating a fluid sub-system toggle.

A marine vessel comprising a marine propulsion system, the marine propulsion system including:

• a drive shaft secured to a propeller to rotationally drive the propeller;
• an electric motor selectively coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft;
• an electrical energy storage unit coupled to the electric motor to supply an on-board electrical power supply to the electric motor, the electrical energy storage unit configured to be recharged by an on-shore electrical power supply from an on-shore electrical power source;
• an engine selectively coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft, the engine not coupled to the electrical energy storage unit for use to recharge the electrical energy storage unit;
• and
• a control system coupled to the electric motor and to the engine for selecting one of the motor and the engine to rotate the drive shaft, and
• wherein the marine vessel and marine propulsion system are configured such that the electrical energy storage unit is only to be recharged by the on-shore electrical power supply.