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I do have a 35w solar panel on the boat, yes. But even without that, I'm not worried about dead batteries and not being able to get home.
An auxiliary electric motor in a sailboat isn't going to come with the same set of concerns as an electric car.
I never used the gas motor just to "drive around", and I won't be using the electric motor to do that either. It's mainly for getting in and out of the harbour ... to go sailing for the afternoon when there's a decent breeze. So electric "range anxiety" really isn't a big issue.
Also, there's 110v, 20A electrical service ("shore power") at the dock to use for charging (among other things). So the batteries can always be 100% topped up at the start of each outing.
But what if the wind dies!!?
As it happens, my favourite areas for sailing are up-river from where I usually dock, so if the wind completely dies, drifting back towards the harbour on the current before switching on the motor to come in is an option. (Drifting in the current is actually a pretty popular thing for boaters to do around here on calm days).
And there are paddles. And there's an anchor. And a kayak on board. Lots of options.
Sort of like worrying about what happens if an electric bicycle runs out of juice. Well, you could pedal. And what if the chain breaks!!? Well, you could get off and walk it. Several options.
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