i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

[bad influence]

hi im a newbie here have had smaller boats but am looking at a 28ft sleekcraft 89,454 stock ..and a 31ft scarab excel twin screw 502 ..obviously the sleekcraft is 21 degree more lake oriented ,awesome looking haul smaller beam height,and the scarab of course is bigger.but more beam ..im almost exclusively on the lakes or rivers but would love to run in tahoe ...i am getting mixed ansewers around..question is the haul... the sleekcraft is more stable as far as rocking but doesnt cut as well given boats are same length ..will i really notice this at what point ..how big can a 21 degree go chop wise without beating it and you to death...obvuiosly there must be benifits..i hear there faster when it is mellow ..ready to drop the hammer on something this week ,,looked at a carrera 24 ss7 and a donzi black widow(omc king cobra 454) seemed small ..please any advice from the masters ..the scarab is 24 like most donzi ec..

 

[shrew]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

????? Punctuation and complete sentences would really help you out here.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

????? Punctuation and complete sentences would really help you out here.

And it might help to know the difference between "haul" and "hull".

Grouse

 

[Philster]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

Hi, I'm a newbie here. I've had smaller boats but am looking at a 28ft Sleekcraft '89, 454 stock, and a 31ft Scarab Excel twin screw 502.

Obviously, the Sleekcraft is 21 degrees of dearise, more lake oriented, awesome looking hull, smaller beam, while the Scarab, of course, is bigger, but more beam. I'm almost exclusively on the lakes or rivers but would love to run in Tahoe. I am getting mixed answers around. My concern is about the hull: The sleekcraft is more stable as far as rocking but doesnt cut as well versus boats of similar length. My question: Will I really notice this? Also, at what point will I notice? Further, how big can a 21 degree go chop-wise without beating it, and you, to death? There must be benefits. I hear they're faster when it is flat.

I am ready to drop the hammer on something this week. I've looked at a Carrera 24 ss7 and a Donzi Black Widow (OMC King Cobra 454), which seemed small.

Please, any advice from the masters?

P.S. The Scarab is 24' like most Donzis, etc

I've edited your post to help you out, and to welcome you to the forum. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume English is not your primary language.

The answer about the best hull is... the Scarab. I'd take more deadrise every time, even on a lake. In today's world, flat water is a rarity. Honestly, you'd be fine with all types of V hulls and differences in deadrise with popular performance boats, so really and truly have the mechanicals inspected.

Oh, it's either a Wellcraft Scarab or Wellcraft Excel. Sometimes people advertise Wellcraft Excels and drop in the Scarab name to lure you in.

 

[bad influence]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

i just love the advice...how funny i didnt know i was under the microscope for grammer it was late and i was searching for some good advice..and actually i am a writer and have been published at least 16 times ..

 

[bad influence]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

the 91 scarab was advertised as a 31' scarab excel..... it says scarab right down the side.... the sleekcraft is 28ft 21deg. obviously smaller....i really am concerned about a 31' boat for hauling distance i do have a f350...just huge...i will trailer these boats occasionally...

 

[shrew]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

i just love the advice...how funny i didnt know i was under the microscope for grammer it was late and i was searching for some good advice..and actually i am a writer and have been published at least 16 times ..

Please don't take it the wrong way. If you're offended, then you're probably taking it the wrong way. I don't think anyone is actually criticizing your grammer. All I'm saying is, if the post looks like babbling nonsense, you're not going to get many replies. A well thought out post, drafted clearly and concisely will obtain far more replies. People have a tendency to put as much effort into it as you do. If they have to read it three times to translate, then many are apt to simply go to the next post. I'm just trying to help you out with some friendly advise. Again, no offense intended.

 

[shrew]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

BTW- Since Philster is one of the more active poster's here and more experienced with fast boats than most, I would be looking to him for advise on this topic. IMHO

 

[Philster]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

Whether people should expect clear, decently-written board postings is open for debate. It's a social issue we're not going to solve now. In the real world, especially on these boards, it matters. And I was serious. We get posters from all over the world, and some don't use the best English, but they know more languages than I do.

As for the boats: At around 24' or bigger, performance V-bottomed boats will usually have enough deadrise for a fair amount of chop height. Most will absolutely flourish in chop. Their top speeds will be recorded in light chop. You'll see various degrees between Scarabs, Bajas, Donzis, Checkmate, Formulas, etc. 21 vs 23 degrees? I don't think it matters too much, but I am glad to have 23. Then again, I am offshore a fair am't. Check the beam, which is the width. At 27', I am at just 8' ! That's it. Payback: Speed, from less resistance. At 27', I don't feel cramped. Most 27' boats are 8' 6", but don't seem bigger than mine in the cockpit.

Now, to me, 24' always seems a wee bit small for a closed-bow, deep V performance boat. The way the cockpit is jammed in between the V taper and the engine bay, it just gets cramped in there.

454 and 502 are the same externally, and both should be all forged internals. Still, at the age you are looking at, you've got to really know marine engines, or pay someone who does. I'd not consider an OMC product.

Bravo upper unit gears are known weak points. Gear set is 1500 US Dollars for parts. I'd have someone check the upper on a Bravo from the 90's. Check for wear and slop.

 

[bad influence]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

thank you for the advice.i have looked at a couple 24' "offshore" boats ,ie carrera,donzi.The 1989 sleekcraft (second owner 80yrs old immaculate boat,2yr old bravo 1 installed, 400 hrs on 454 )is a 28'enforcer basically built for lakes, elsinore etc.. it has a 21deg hull the beam height seems low to me when your in the cabin sitting in the bench there is just a few inches above your head (i'm 6')
my concern is just hammering the hull when i'm in choppy water. the shape and lines of this boat are super sexy, i do love the idea of a single screw for the normal reasons,although i have the ability to score a 91 31'scarab with 502 fi twins 250 hrs on rebuilt motors,bravo 1,stelling drive extentions,twin lantham power steering,kierkaufer twim tabs,gaffrig gauges,drive showers with trailer for the same money....i am hesitant about the twin screw as far as the investment involved ,upkeep etc. any thoughts im looking at the scarab in a couple hours...200 miles away ...thanks

 

[bad influence]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

the beam is 8'5" on the sleekcraft...the scarb is 8'9" with a 3' draft? i am trying to find the draft on the sleekcraft

 

[Philster]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

Cabins are there as a consequence of closing off the bow so water doesn't crash into the boat. They're an afterthought. Never worried much about headroom. Maybe Sleekcraft made the effort and worried about the cabin. Most makers just dressed up the cabin, made it passable and called it a day.

Beam is the boat's width.

TWIN 502's?!!.... Twin ANYTHING and you'd better have one serious cash reserve on hand (as in 10 grand plus).

I'd go twins if having a bigger boat was a MUST. In other words, if you needed to run offshore and were going on long poker runs, or needed to battle the Atlantic or some mighty sea like the Chesapeake for great distances, man oh man, you might need 31' and twin 502 Mercs.

I'd opt for a single-engine boat any day. Those big 31-footers don't necessarily outrun the smaller boats (heck, they might top out at a lower speed), but they can outrun a faster, single-engine boat by wearing them down in medium chop that would knock a 24-footer's crew into oblivion.

 

[bad influence]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

thanks for the advise ..i guess i should pass on the scarab ..my gut is to grab this sleekcraft it so nice ..the cabin i agree is not any priority for me i was saying it seems more cramped then a deeper v style boat...im under the impression the the 21deg.hull should be faster then i deeper hull is normal conditions...and it's dam near the original owner two slips down never been in sun unless it was being used dry docked almost since birth never seen salt...i just dont wanna go to lake tahoe and get hammered ,while i watch my buddy blow past me in his 27ft donzi ,i actually grew up on the chesapeake bay in maryland and in ocean city,then moved to fla.so i got some offshore time in many boats and when its rough ,cutting the water is certainly the ticket...i live in northern california now,and 2-3ft chop is pretty hefty here,although tahoe can get just huge very quickly,very quickly.

 

[Philster]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

Get a 23' Scarab SCS with a 502 and run circles around him!

 

[bad influence]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

i tell ya captain i just like the bigger boats, 27' -28' .my wakeboard boat is 22' and does 50mph lol....i realize the smaller boats boogie but i just like the larger ones.speed isnt an issue i was doing 83mph in a 19ft flatbottom this weekend 600hp..swapping in a blown bb with 900 hp next weekshould be in the 90s +..the balance between style, and function along with something rolling in the mid 60s would make me very happy,add in a sexy girl or two ...lol...you have been a big help i greatly appreciate your time i will post whatever i get asap...any more advice is welcome please..as for the scarab man there tough out here unless you got bookkoooo loot...which i dont have.. i would love a 1987 donzi z26 just special to me ...as for the omc a guy in the bay out here has a black widow 90' 25ft 460 black widow drive he cant give it away its at like 14k obo beautiful boat ..but....who want it with that power plant

 

[Philster]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

Hey, All I want is a Sunsation 288 with a 525 EFI! Is that so wrong?!

 

[bad influence]

Re: i need some advice 21* or 24* offshore/lake

now thats just serious buddy...one day when i grow up maybe ill hit the lotto,then a twin screw shouldnt be a problem...lol.. im 43 now and dont see it coming anytime soon ..thanks again ,sometimes i sure miss the ole east coast, and boy do i miss the italian food and of course big ole' blue steamed crabs