It sounds like you'll be wanting a Brushed DC motor (for simplicity). You should read up on H Bridges (allows forward, reverse and brake) and PWM control. A stamp, Pic, or AVR would fit the bill nicely (I like AVR).
You can get as complicated as you like. Add a magnet and hall effect sensor, and PID control becomes possible. Sense resistors on the input rails and you can report back current usage. You'll probably want to just stick with simple PWM control, and read a potentiometer off of an A/D on the chip for speed input.
Others have pointed out arduino, which is fine too (never used it myself but it looks interesting)
You're unlikely to find an integrated H-Bridge on an IC at the current required for the motors used here. You'll likely need to design your own. It can be done with simple relays but I wouldn't recommend it. Mosfets are a better solution IMHO, but watch the internal resistance closely (RDSon [HEAT]), and pay attention to back EMF.
There are some open source projects out there (openservo comes to mind) that you can look at as a guide. All of the projects I've seen seem to be geared toward much lower current (not that 10amps is that bad).
I don't think you'll find just the "controller" portion by itself. Why go to all of the trouble of putting the hardware together, and not slap a uC on it?
Dual control could be possible. Two H bridges and two PWM lines. You will want PID control, since if you get them out of sync speed wise, your boat would turn. The reprap project has a neat 1024 bit magnetic encoder (open source), that might be useful here.
sparkfun, pololu, and avrfreaks are probably better places to get ideas.
I hope this helps.
James
--- In electricboats@
>
> No doubt, but since I don't have the motor, if you can point me at one that does allow a basicstamp to talk to it (or any other micro) then I can always buy the motor that matches.
>
> Thanks
>
> --- In electricboats@
> >
> > What kind of motor? Brushed, Brushless DC, AC Induction? It makes a big difference.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > James
> >
> > --- In electricboats@
> > >
> > > I've been digging through the various controller circuits and while I am finding more than a few excellent controllers, I am not finding one that can be controlled by a microprocessor.
> > >
> > > Anyone know of a good one ? I've got everything running on my test setup so I don't have the real motor yet either, but I need the controller to get the software written. I need somewhere around 48V / 300-400W.
> > >
> > > I thought I saw one that could control 2 motors but that may have been in a parallel universe.
> > >
> > > Thank you all
> > >
> >
>
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