Kaama Surface Drives

[don]

How dependable are these surface drives? I just bought a 302 SR1 with them and was wondering if I should change them out or keep them. What is a good price to sell both of them for or how much will it cost to swap them to a bravo type. The boat has twin 450 horsepower engines.

[SHAWNA]

Originally Posted by don

How dependable are these surface drives? I just bought a 302 SR1 with them and was wondering if I should change them out or keep them. What is a good price to sell both of them for or how much will it cost to swap them to a bravo type. The boat has twin 450 horsepower engines.

Did you get the yellow one from the swap shop? I was thinking that one looked like a pretty desirable purchase.

[cuda]

Originally Posted by SHAWNA

Did you get the yellow one from the swap shop? I was thinking that one looked like a pretty desirable purchase.

Nope, I own that one. The main reason I bought that boat is because of the Kaama drives. I've been fascintated with surface drives since way before I got into this silly sport.

I love the drives, and haven't had one bit of trouble with them. They are probably ten percent faster than a conventional drive boat. There is no way in the world, I'd change them to a conventional drive.

Keep in mind, if you change drives, you will also have to change the full hydraulic steering that came with the Kaama package.

This exact same boat set some kind of kilo record for it's cless in 1986, and 78.xx mph. I bet back in it's day, there weren't many stock powered boats that went past it. This was with 454/420's.

The only reason I have mine for sale is since we moved nearly three years ago, our boating needs have changed, and business sucks for me. There are signs of businass coming back around, and if it does, I'll damn sure keep my boat.

Here is a picture of the one that set the kilo record off Sarasota in 1986, and a couple shots of my boat.

[don]

From what Formula has told me, There were only 7 total in 1985 and 1984 302SR1 with this set up of 450 hp and KAAMA drives with twin disc 502 ( 1 to 1:54). I was lucky enough to find this one in as good a shape as it is in. Both engines are new rebuilt by a pro and he assured me thatthese are a full 450 hp. My problem is that is hard to find parts. I will be needing a boot for one drive and can not find it.

[Audiofn]

Archer Marine is hopefully going to be making boots again soon.

Most other parts are available at your local auto parts stores. The only thing that would really suck is if you broke the case...

Jon

[Audiofn]

Oh ya check in the Formula area. There is a thread down there that has a list of guys with KAAMA boats.

Jon

[fast fun 2]

KAAMA drives are great!! We work on an 83' 302 with 750 blower motors a side and they are VERY reliable! The boat will almost do 100!

[otis311]

Originally Posted by don

From what Formula has told me, There were only 7 total in 1985 and 1984 302SR1 with this set up of 450 hp and KAAMA drives with twin disc 502 ( 1 to 1:54). I was lucky enough to find this one in as good a shape as it is in. Both engines are new rebuilt by a pro and he assured me thatthese are a full 450 hp. My problem is that is hard to find parts. I will be needing a boot for one drive and can not find it.

Don, Internal parts for the Kaama are readily available at most machine and gear shops. They are standard parts.

I rebuilt one drive with all new parts for far,far less than what a Bravo rebuild would have cost.

[otis311]

Originally Posted by fast fun 2

KAAMA drives are great!! We work on an 83' 302 with 750 blower motors a side and they are VERY reliable! The boat will almost do 100!

Johnny, Ive got a few real good pics of that boat from a few years ago. Nose was A LITTLE HIGH in the air that day. You guys did a hell of a job to save that boat that day

[Car Biz]

There is a gent on here that has a 311 with the same colors as mine with KAAMA drives,420's and the silent thunder. If i ever wanted another boat that would be it. Seems to me that setup is preety bulletproof