KAAMA Drive Boots
 

Does anyone know the status of having new KAAMA Drive Boots modeled? I may be able to help. It is possible that I could make a mold if it is not overly complicated.

Hey TG
This has been batted around for a couple years now. Archer was supposed to work on it but it didn't go anywhere. A couple years back one of the Weismann boys posted that they were sending a boot off to be duplicated but never heard anything more on it. They used the same boot on their early surface drive. Does your 357 have Kaama's? There are a lot of guys that just keep patching these things hoping for the best. The mold doesn't seem to be real complicated but it is a large boot. 10" diameter on one end and tapering down to the other end. About 15" long. It has a slightly thicker ridge on the inside of each end that locks the boot into a groove on the drive case and a groove on the transom housing. Most of the Kaama guys are on the Formula, Wellcraft Scarab, and Stuphen forums. We should have a special forum for Kaama or "surface drive". Lets see what info we can gather.

Kaama drive for sale
 

If anyone is interested I have a drive off my boat that was stolen in October. No hope on finding boat at this time but I had one of the Kaama's off to rebuild it. It has new gears,and 2 sets of seals. Housing is in great shape and it is a short shaft. With used boot in good condition. I will sell complete drive for $1500 if interested. Call Don at 727-364-8531.

I have a boot sitting in my garage right now I can have pictures and measurements in minutes. Let me know what you need.

Hey Guys,
A long time ago ,somewhere on this site there was talk of having a mold made. TG, you can correct me but I remember that it would be a lot easier to make a mold by casting an existing boot. I'm not sure why it never got off the ground before but I'm guessing cost or the fact that nobody was secure in giving up one of their boots for very long. Maybe someone has a ratty boot that they would donate and the mold can be cleaned up after the fact. I'll see if I have some pictures of the boots and post. The guy at Archer told me that "when" he had the mold made , he was going to send it to Goodyear in Ohio to have the boots made. We should consider that in twenty five years the manufacturing technology and materials have changed significantly. Instead of hand making a mold, we should be able to have it done CNC with a decent boot for a CNC pattern???? Rubber materials are much better now and we have 25 years of experience with these boots to know where they need to be reinforced or where they need to be more flexible to prevent tearing and wear. Maybe more like a CV boot on a front wheel drive car than the rigid rubber tube they are designed like now. Not trying to reinvent the wheel but maybe there is already a boot like this in some heavy duty industrial application. Any ideas?

While working in Louisiana last month, I visited one of our Konrad dealers who happened to be a Kaama dealer back in the day. I got a pair of new old stock boots for my bud I'CE here. Give them a call, he might have more.

Roadrunner Marine
New Iberia, LA

Bet the phone lines to New Iberia are smokin!!!!
:eek:

Just talked to Road Runner marine. The guy looked where the other ones came from and didn't see any more. Will talk to previous owner and see if knows of any more.

I recently found out that the company who made the boots for Kaama, closed down about a year ago. Another company has purchased there assets. I have found that company. I will see if they will manufacture the boots.

Does anyone know if a new boot has that waviness to it that they have after they have been used for a while ? Is a brand new boot perfectly straight ?
PS- Road Runner Marine in La. does not have any more boots.

bck

I have ordered boots in the past from Archer and they were perfectly straight and as I remember a little short longitudinally. I had to heat the boot with a hair dryer and manually bend the drive to get it to fit. I would securely clamp the transom side, then heat and rotate the drive side as needed to stretch the boot to fit. I remember calling Archer and they said they are made that way to fit tight as they eventually stretch, then pinch. I still have the drives, trannys, etc. from a 1986 formula 357 in my garage. Can't figure out how to sell them. I have listed in OSO classifieds in the past with a few calls but no bites. Is there any place out there to get rid of these. I would like to sell drives/trannys/bell housings/steering/ etc as a package. Also, does any know what the package would be worth?

I believe this site would be the best place to sell them or possibly ebay. Because they are getting steadily harder to get parts for I doubt you will get many people interested in buying them to use. Most of the interest would probably be from people like me and others on this thread who would want them for spares. I don't really know what they are worth. How much were you asking at the time?

OK- I can have boots made. The mold would be made from an existing boot. I guess to keep things simple I would pay for the mold. Someone needs to contribute a new boot or I can have it done using my old boot. Maybe an old boot would be best, then the new boot molded from it would already be stretched and fit like an old shoe. Any thoughts on using new verses old ? Anyone even have a new one they would offer ? I also have another lead on NOS boots I am following up on. Someone else mentioned before they could have them made and more recently someone said they found the original company and would talk with them. Any updates ? I don't want to start into this if someone else is already a step ahead.

i have one that has a tear that can be patched i will offer up to use as a mold if you need. if you want a pic i can take one and post it to see if will work!

Is yours all stretched out from use. What are your thoughts on using new vs used for the mold ?

I do not think it would matter on way or another as long as it worked:drink: i will get a pic up for ya!

I have contacted the company that acquired the assets of the Kaama boot OEM manufaturer They will look for the mold, and get back to me with a price. When I hear from them, I will post the info on this forum.

I'll hold off a little bit and see what happens with the originals you are trying to get.

Bellows
 

I'm A Rep For Gortite Mfg Out Of Detroit.
Gortite Can Make You A Bellows Cover For Your Drive. Everything They Make Is A One Off Custom Cover At A Very Reasonable Price. You Can Check Out Their Web Sight At Gortite.com
Make Sure You Put In All Of Your Contact Info, They Will Want To Talk To You.

I just talked to the company. They are still looking for the mold. Hopefully, I will hear back from them today.

Sorry guys. They can't find the mold.

After talking with them you are sure that was the original ? So they won't be made again? I am ready to go ahead and have another one made but I think it might be best to have it made from a NOS boot rather than my used one. Maybe someone will come forward with one. Can we get some idea of how many people are going to want them?

I used to work for Kaama. As far as I know, this is the only mold ever made. The company said, they could make a new mold if they had a boot to copy. I would think they would need a new boot that is not starched. I know that Wiseman (shifter) were using the Kaama boot on there surface drives. You might want to contact them, and see what they are doing.

Kaama Drive Boots
 

Hey Offshore2,

What Company were you trying to work with for the original drive boot mold? I have been in touch with Dan at Archer Marine recently, trying to track down the replacement mold drawings that were done for the mold that he had made years ago, that was "thrown away" when the mold company that he worked with went out of business. Dan said that an engineer buddy of his that lives out of state has the drawings. They are of the modified "short" boot design.

OK, this is the story as I know it. Kaama had there original mold shortened a 1/2 inch, because when it strecthed, the u-joints would pinch the boot. It made for a more difficult installation, but it solved the problem. Kaama had the boot made by D&D Rubber in Corona Ca. This is the same company Dan used to get the boots from. As far as I know, Dan has never had a mold made. The owner of D&D Rubber passed away a little over a year ago. The company has since dissolved. Goodwest Rubber in Rancho Cucamonga Ca bought there assets. I have been speaking with a Mr. Ryan Sears. Feel free to call him. 951-288-5570.

Kaama Drive Boots
 

I spoke with Dan at Archer Marine yesterday. An engineer friend of his made detail fabrication drawings for a mold that was used to make drive boots. It was either originally designed to be the short version or modified to be that. That mold was lost during the transfer of assets of D&D Rubber (he has verified that). Dan had gotten a $15,000.00 estimate to have a new mold made some time ago. Dan is trying to track down the old mold drawings from his friend. If I can get a look at them, I believe that I could make a mold for substantially less money.

Hey guys,
Got your PM TOPGUN. Looks like there is a lot going on with this finally. Just wanted to ask. Wouldn't a shortened version tend to rip or pull loose more easily? BCK and I talked about having a bulb or bellows in the boot right about where the gimbal joints are that would articulate when trimming or steering. Just like the boot on a CV joint in a front drive car. Kaama's don't move at anywhere near the angle of a front drive half shaft so maybe only one or two "bellows". Any thoughts on this? If the money is going to be spent for a new mold, lets engineer out the problems if possible. Can we talk to a company that designs or makes those bellows type boots? Maybe they have some fresh ideas or technology.

Kaama Drive Boots
 

I don't have any direct experience replacing the drive boots. I am a new Kaama Drive owner. I have seen old posts describing that it takes three sets of hands pulling, and a hair dryer or heat gun to get the "short" version boots stretched into the receiver grooves on the drive housings and clamped down. I am all for doing this right. Who ever knows what is best, or what length the "new" boots should be, please let the community know.

earlier in the thread someone said they worked for a company that could do custom bellows for a reasonable price. I was going to talk to them but haven't done it yet. I am also ready to go on having a new mold made. As it stands now it would be made using my old boot as that is what I have access to.

Any updates on this?

I was waiting to hear if the original designs for the mold were found or if someone wanted to contact the bellows company. I could still have mine duplicated as I mentioned earlier.

Kaama Drive Boots
 

I'll call Dan at Team Archer Marine again and try to get a status on the original mold drawings.