I must be spending too much time in the Admin CP. Somehow I missed this? Surprising to see a production-oriented company building in alloy, but it's just the hull, using rolled aluminum. Interesting approach... Toyota Marine: http://www.toyota.co.jp/marine/language/english/index.html Tech PDF: http://www.toyota.co.jp/marine/language/english/pdf/ponam_35.pdf Video: (turn down volume to avoid ridiculously epic music)
I wasn't aware of that either. They sure do sit low in the back on the photos. A lot of other interesting things in the brochure. Common Rail Toyota Engine. A lot of information on righting and rolling. Comes with bow thruster. Decent space for a boat that size. Most people don't realize that Hyundai once built boats. 1988-89 I believe.
May have seen some on a cruise, somewhere. https://www.google.com/search?q=hyu...a=X&ei=TQw8VLnZDvePsQSQ04GoAg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ http://financerider.com/tag/hyundai/
One of the builders is Circa Marine in NZ. In the last 15 years they have build more than 800 of them. The boat does not squat as much as it seems, the stern is low and the angel of the rub rail exaggerates even more.
I believe the 31 is a stern drive design. There was an article a way back in Professional Boatbuilder that featured NZ boatbuilding and the Toyota production line
I remember years ago Yamaha was to build boats this size in South America. Anybody remember? Witnesses a final product? It was after they tried to bring a I/O (Z or stern drive) into the states.
My understanding is that problems developed on the I/O vs. OMC. I know some Chaparrals had their inboard outboards around 1996. I think they had more success in Europe. As to the larger boats, I think part of the thought was a whole package, boat with their inboard outboard and when the I/O went by the wayside then so did the boat. Yamaha has done so many things. They've built auto engines and regularly they tune engines for Toyota. They built sailboats from 24 to 37' in the 70's and 80's. In 2005, they built a 64' powerboat in Japan. It had CAT engines and was Yamaha No 1. Very interesting boat. As of now, I'm not aware of anything other than their jet runabouts up to 24'.
It was a cool drive. wet clutches on the top. It was a couple years after the BMW drive package failed in N A.