Anyone know the 357 Kaama 'Thermo Nuclear'
#1
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Somewhere in Ohio
Have a good friend very interested, didn't know if anyone knows the boat.
Also are there any other 311's or 357's out there for 30k on a trailer that aren't listed?
Thanks!
-Artie
Also are there any other 311's or 357's out there for 30k on a trailer that aren't listed?
Thanks!
-Artie
#2
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 315
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From: Kissimmee, Florida
Artie: Don't know the boat, but I had a 1987 357 Kaama boat with re-built Kamma motors for about 2 years. One motor hydro-locked the second time out due to the stock log style exhaust leaking, just can't remember who made them. Ended up building a pro-charged set of 502 crate motors for it and equped with stainless marine exhaust and custom dry exhaust tail pipes through the transom and into the silent thunder exhaust system. Boat sounded great. Also, had the twin disc transmissions re-built as when they break, they lock up in forward gear. Almost plowed a bridge piling that time. I also would recommend he put all new seals in the kamma as I had to re-build one when the prop shaft seal let go at 70 mph and melted a set of gears in the drive (that was the fastest it ran before I pegged the engine rpm). As I remember, the bearings and seals are standard american made and readily available. The neat thing about the kamma drives is you can buy different ratio gears or swap the gears from input shaft to output shaft to change the ratios, either over or under. You can get straight 1:1 gears, 8% gears or 13.5%? gears. The ratio is over or under depending on where you put the larger or smaller gears. The gears are pretty easy to swap out. I think the best place for parts is Team Archer Marine in Costa Mesa, Cali. There is also some experts in the New Hampshire area, if I remember correctly. I loved that boat as while it was not that fast, it looked like it ran 100 mph with that rooster tail. Post pics when if he gets one.
#3
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Somewhere in Ohio
Artie: Don't know the boat, but I had a 1987 357 Kaama boat with re-built Kamma motors for about 2 years. One motor hydro-locked the second time out due to the stock log style exhaust leaking, just can't remember who made them. Ended up building a pro-charged set of 502 crate motors for it and equped with stainless marine exhaust and custom dry exhaust tail pipes through the transom and into the silent thunder exhaust system. Boat sounded great. Also, had the twin disc transmissions re-built as when they break, they lock up in forward gear. Almost plowed a bridge piling that time. I also would recommend he put all new seals in the kamma as I had to re-build one when the prop shaft seal let go at 70 mph and melted a set of gears in the drive (that was the fastest it ran before I pegged the engine rpm). As I remember, the bearings and seals are standard american made and readily available. The neat thing about the kamma drives is you can buy different ratio gears or swap the gears from input shaft to output shaft to change the ratios, either over or under. You can get straight 1:1 gears, 8% gears or 13.5%? gears. The ratio is over or under depending on where you put the larger or smaller gears. The gears are pretty easy to swap out. I think the best place for parts is Team Archer Marine in Costa Mesa, Cali. There is also some experts in the New Hampshire area, if I remember correctly. I loved that boat as while it was not that fast, it looked like it ran 100 mph with that rooster tail. Post pics when if he gets one.
Thanks, Ray! I'm sure he will chime in. It was my friend Ryan, who you met when we came to look at the 419. That's all great info. I think the KAAMA boats are cool as heck.
#4
If he is interested in a project I was considering selling my 357 Kaama. No power. Would consider selling with or without drives. The hole in transom for Kaama is just a small circle so I guess it would be easy to put any drive you want on it.
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Straight bottoms and flat decks
Straight bottoms and flat decks
#6
Is (or was) that boat in VA? Seems I remember seeing a black 357/Kamma boat on the water with that name down the sides a few years back.......but very rarely seen. Don't know anymore about it though.
#7
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Middle River, MD
Yup, sure was. I bought it a couple years ago from a gentleman down in the Richmond area and brought it to Baltimore....he had it trailered and stored in his garage, which is probably why it wasn't seen much. I took the name off the sides because the decals were starting to fray around the edges, plus I liked the look of the boat better without the graphics anyway.
#8
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From: Greensboro,NC
There is pretty nice 357 with Kaamas here in NC on Lake Norman. Sits on a Myco trailer. Red Factory Graphics. I think it could be bought somewhere around 40K. Pm me if interested and I will see if I can get you the number. Jeff Wurl
#10
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: WINDSOR ONTARIO
That is or was 1 sweet boat. I painted the red on it about 12 years ago. It really didnt need it.



