WaveRunner Papa Neil Kobayashi's Design Room

The plans I will be introducing in this series of articles are a summary from my viewpoint as a boat designer of themes that have been incubating over the years as I have visited marine markets around the world and chatted with customers about their thoughts on the marine industry.

These plans are not intended to be finished products with immediate marketability, nor do they directly represent the customers’ feelings.

However, though marine recreation around the world looks to be in an age that has run out of ideas, I believe that we must take on the challenge to pursue new dreams and break existing molds. Hidden within the marine world that our forebears built, there still rests great opportunity to touch the hearts of many individuals.

Keeping that firmly in mind, I have written my pet projects to now in a more coherent form, in effect letting us all think of the possibilities together, in the hope that it will bring growth to the world marine market.

Personal Data

Career summary

July 6, 1947

Born in Tokyo Japan.

1969

Joined Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

1985

Design Manager of Water Vehicle (W/V), Design department, Boat Division.

1995

General Manager, W/V & Jet Boat New Project department, Boat Division.

1995

Vice President, YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION U.S.A(In charge of Marine Engineering)

2003

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. In charge of advanced technology for the marine general.

2011 / Up to now

Establish KOBA-Concept / Representative

Memberships

1974-1995

Japan Boating Industry Association/Technical committee

1984-1990

Japan Marine Standards Association / Technical committee And so forth.

Awards

1980

Japan Boating Industry Association/Testimonial from the chairman

1990

Chubu District Transport Bureau/Marine Affairs Contributor Award And so forth

Patents

Number of Patent Registrations in Japan, US and Europe 170

As a chief designer of boats and water vehicles, he invented the world's first sit-down type Personal Water Craft and the twin engine driven Jet Boat.
Almost 400,000 boats of his design have been delivered to 145 countries in every region of the world.

Pickup

Unmanned Water Vehicle

Unmanned Water Vehicles are small craft intended for carrying out emergency operation on the water in areas where human access is difficult, or patrolling the water without need for personnel.

Past Topics