Re: Talk me out of... err, umm... or into this boat purchase...?
Well just don't get too upset when you get smoked by the 425HP+ Nordic running by you. The checkmate does look a little better in your pics than it did in the stock photos.
Oh... one more thing -- haha -- is that I had the Scarab tuned to run 68-70, but it was much more fussy. Higher idle, richer at start up, just generally more fussy.... so she's actually tuned down a bit now to somewhere between 425 (a base HO 502) and the 475 HP dyno number with all-out aggressive EFI settings.
If I cruise in the lower 50's... no one passes me. To execute a good pass in my waters, you have to cross a wake and punch it, so it's fairly aggressive and you need a 65 MPH boat... but then I could bust your chops and lean on it and if I am running at 65, and you want to pass me, you need a 70-75 boat, some room and some nerves.
I'm not a racer, though. I like to have it on hand, but I really like a high cruising speed. I don't like to be bothered by hot rodders. My boat makes me happy because it's turn-key. She is 100% high-end parts, balanced and blue printed with EFI tuning custom, just for her, for the very conditions in this area, by EFI certified guys. That's where the power comes from, not from any aggressive cams or fat headers. Don't need it.
Trust me... I am more of an iboats guy than a speedwake or other high-performance forum guy. I like having a cool boat, but I've got a wife and four kids. We've got a 17' Alumacraft with 40 HP Merc for fishing and crabbing. I like a high cruising speed, lunch on the water and watching my kids swim and tube. I need to see my wife on the open bow now.
The Scarab running:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpvM3c3dNa8