Opinions on Wellcraft/Kaama Cat
 

There's a 31' Wellcraft Cat with Kaama drives I could pick up very cheap. Engines are supercharged 454s, unknown builder. Drives are Kaamas, one is locked up. Dont know if it's a drive or tranny problem. It had run over 100mph a few years ago.
I know the problems associated with Kaama drive parts and resale of Kamma equiped boats, but what's the story on this hull. It has a single very small step and sort of a pad at the rear of each sponson. How does the Wellcraft Cat's construction, speed, and handling compare to a Chris Cat/American Offshore/Awesome hull?
Gary

I know about the drives, but nothing about the boat. I'd love to see a pic if you have one (or even a link to one).

Gary. I have a 1986 Wellcraft Excalibut KAAMA Cat 30 with the original engines and drives. Although I've not had it up to top speed yet (have a small ignition problem this year on one engine for some reason, go figure...), I've been pleased with the way the boat runs though thus far. Its a damn tank when it comes to rough water, and very stable. (also considering its a 9'8" beam). TOMCAT on this site has the same boat, but with 502's and TRS dirves and would also give you good great input on the hull.

Here is a link with some pics I have.

http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.js...id=85309071303


When I do get it running (again) I will give you some better input. The guy that had it before me got it to just 90mph with the stock setup thats in it now.......you know how that goes, runs perfect before you put-it-to-bed for the winter, and it wakes up cranky.

Bob

kaamacat
Interesting that it doesn't use a tie bar. I assume that the stock location would be in the water at non-planing speeds. I noticed the drives were not aligned parallel, not sure how they maintain alignment wit just the 4 rams.
I noted that the steering ram mounts look to be steel with a black coating. On the one here, the coating is coming off and the steel rusting.
I used to have a 31' chris cat with 525SCs and SSMIIIs. That was a very heavy cat compared to many current cats. I assume from your comments that the Wellcrafts were heavy as well.
What engines came with it originally, 420 Cyclones? I'm assuming the previous owner probably bolted a blower to the existing engine. Also what trannys were used?
Gary

Gary. Those pics were taken in Aug99 when I first got the boat (but its still just as clean). Now, for the tie bar. The inner rams are actualy the tiebar. They are just reverse looped to each other. What I did was made sure all the air is out of that system and they seem to stay even. (but probably not as good as a regular tie-bar). Thats one of the other things I will let you know about. And yes, the large oval transom plate is steel, and I've since sandblasted them, and repainted. The ss lines rub against it and causes that.

The boat, yes, is very heavy, and thats why the nice ride. My engines are the original KAAMAs, which back then, were either Hardin Marine or Innovation. Mine are Hardin's which start with a HP GM setup, rollers...etc, Hardin headers. Think its rated at 450hp. I will say they run awsome. The transmissions are TwinDisc 502's which are also beefy. (i bought mine with one trans blown, ONLY, because the oil cooler line that was previously replaced was "sub standard" , kinked and leaked).

.......soooooo..........If I figure out this stupid ignition miss, all should be well for a better report.

Funny you mention the blowers. The guy I bought if from was gonna go that route so he could break 100mph. But, heck, 90mph with that heavy of a boat, with 450hp aint bad at all.

kaamacat
A little help for your ignition problems.

http://www.actron.com/cgi-bin/web_st...=8970336_23364

Just bought one of these kV testers. It works like an old time garage oscilloscope. I looked at one last year for about $100. The $39 price directly from Acton was too good to pass up.
It took me 30sec to diagnose a fouled plug (incorrectly gapped) on a friends boat. Also picks up all secondary ignition problems, low compression, etc.

Gary