I guess this explains the noise.......from an old article in Boater's Life Mag.
Toyota Epic 22
By Staff (more by this author)
Much of the talk about Toyota's entry into the marine market has centered on the engine. And for good reason. The 4.0-liter dual overhead-cam V-8 used to power the ridiculously refined Lexuses -- or is it Lexi? -- is something of a technical marvel. In fact, it was named one of the "10 best engines" by Ward's Auto World and Ward's Engine and Technology Update.
Idling through a no-wake zone during testing of the Epic 22's stablemate, the Epic 21, a passenger asked about a whining noise coming from beneath the engine cover. It was the transmission. She had never heard the sound before, because engines on other ski boats she had been on usually drown out gear noise. That's how quiet the engine is.
With these kinds of accolades, people sometimes forget that there's a boat wrapped around the award-winning engine. But Toyota also put considerable thought and engineering into its two models.
Bow seating on the 22 ups the capacity from six to eight people. It comes equipped with a transom-mounted pop-up cleat for recreational skiers. This allows passengers to sit in the rear seats while someone skis. For the hard-core, the 22 also is fitted with a center-mounted pylon to concentrate the skier's pull to the boat's center of gravity where three tracking fins help ensure a straight run.
Toyota designers also thought to make the boat easy to use, which includes an oversize observer mirror and a padded armrest, tilt steering and a throttle that tilts back 30 degrees for comfort at skiing speeds. In addition, the helm seat rises in forward seating positions to give shorter drivers greater visibility.