Yamato surface drive ?

[Tomtall]

This rare unit may be only one of two ever made. Interesting. Lets see what it brings at the auction block.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RARE-...QQcmdZViewItem

[JohnsonM50]

Thats neat, wonder how much extra speed youd get?? Looks like the extended propshaft angles a couple degrees downward.

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

One very similar to this, only I believe "homemade" by Dan Kirts, set a 500CC Kilo record in the mid to high 120's I believe, in the mid 80's in Moorehaven Fl.
As I remember the downward angle of the prop shaft was more pronounced to really lift the tail of the boat and the gearbox which was just a square billet of aluminum was completely above the bottom of the boat. Prop shaft was similar in length if not maybe longer. I may have a picture. Will see if I can find it.

[Mark75H]

Konig made one like this around 1961, too

[F-12]

I was down in Moore Haven and helped Dan and Tommy get the boat into the canal when he made an attempt at the 500 record. Dan's lower unit was MUCH more streamlined and about a foot longer than the unit pictured. Dan also had a foot operated 'tilt and trim' so he could get a majorly huge prop spinning during his approach. It worked great (even though I don't know what the outcome was) but you have to know that putting Danny into a boat is worth an extra 10 MPH by itself. John Stevens and I hauled down to towards the end of the run to see him make his return. It was beautiful.........................