Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Fantastic ship you have , and a lot of detailed craftsman ship in its construction ! I have seen similar electric motor configurations in Seaworthy and Jacrim toy boats of the 1920’s  converted to electric. Builders oft used a vertical style Kendrick & Davis (K&D) or possible a scarce Knapp vertical mounted sideways like yours. Sorta carved a space in the hull to fit.  Your motor looks possibly modified near the brushes at coupling end to be better robust ? Hard to tell.
Less powerful toy wood boats of the 1910-30s often used upside down 6v Gilbert P38 , or an Ajax/ LiittleHustler mounted upright.