Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

[haulnazz15]

Just for fun, there's a local boat shop with a 1980 Wellcraft Scarab - 30'. I haven't seen it other than in a couple of photos, but it looks to be in average to above-average shape. It has twin 454's (330HP) with the somewhat undesirable TR drives (possible TRS, but the ad wasn't specific). That being said I obviously don't know if it has the B-W tranny or MercII version. The asking price is up around $12,500, but NADA books the boat around $7K. I know they've had the boat for 6 months or more, and it was likely a trade or forfeiture; so I bet they would take close to $9K for it. Any known problems (aside from general hull/stringer/transom issues?

I don't know anything about the TR/TRS drives aside from the fact that they used two different transmission versions on them, and the outdrives are pretty much universal. I would imagine putting in Bravo I's wouldn't be too much of a stretch if I had to on down the line as the bolt pattern should be the same aside from the need for an additional two holes and supporting transom assemblies.

I'm not looking for a high-performance boat, so the fact that it is heavier than modern offshore boats and runs in the low-to-mid 60's is of little consequence. It will be an inland lake boat with most water being light chop to 3' waves during windy/busy lake days.

Thoughts?

 

[oops!]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

that is a steal of a price for the boat. in canada that is a 20k boat.

i have not worked on the tr drives....so i cant comment....

but an 1980 boat is an 1980 boat...... it all depends on the po.

you could part the boat out for more money than they are asking imho.

the drives are 2k a pop....the bbc's are 4 each....thats 12 right there....and a 30 foot trailer.....is an easy 2500....now the controls...ect

keep in mind.....if you use it on a lake.....the burn rate is somewere between a swimming pool and the exxon valdees an hour

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

Lol, the fuel burn would be significant if I were running it wide-open a lot, but aside from short bursts once or twice an outing, it will be at cruise speed most any time it is moving. Never more than about 1-2 minutes of no-wake speeds at most of the area lakes I frequent, so it won't spend much time off plane unless we're on the hook.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

you may be shocked at how much fuel it uses at cruise too.... Mine is a lil heavier and has small blocks..... tops out in the high 40's and makes my wallet smoke at 25-30 cruise

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

Well, that being said, I'm not too worried about the fuel consumption being as though we don't normally cruise more than 20 miles in a weekend. Even at 1mpg it's only 40 gallons of gas @ $3/gal is $120/weekend. Heck, during 3 outings of a couple hours each (mostly with engine not running) the 351w didn't go through 20 gallons of gas, so that gives you an idea of the actual consumption I'd use on average for a single engine, multiply it by 2.5 (for BBC twins) and we're still okay. Either way, it's really the only variable expense of having a boat for us as storage, etc, isn't an additional expense.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

you'll probably average 3/4-1 mpg but yeah... not saying it's a deal breaker.... big boats are great for hanging out on.... just wanted to make sure you didn't get surprised... I had a pretty good idea going in on mine but it still always amazes me how much fuel I goo through... I usually stand at the pump adding up the miles in my head and finish up with "screw it I had fun and I'll run slower next weekend".... so far that theory has never worked LOL

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

Lol, yeah lucky for me this one will spend its life on the trailer, so it would be filled up away from the $4+/gal marinas! We will still have the runabout and the jet ski for watersports, and the parents are looking at a 30-34' cruiser, so we may just have an armada in the making. I assume the TR/TRS drives shift a little smoother than a normal alpha/bravo would? I've never owned an inboard, so I'm not privy to the workings of the "transmissions" in a boat.

 

[Tahorover]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

Lol, yeah lucky for me this one will spend its life on the trailer, so it would be filled up away from the $4+/gal marinas! We will still have the runabout and the jet ski for watersports, and the parents are looking at a 30-34' cruiser, so we may just have an armada in the making. I assume the TR/TRS drives shift a little smoother than a normal alpha/bravo would? I've never owned an inboard, so I'm not privy to the workings of the "transmissions" in a boat.

There very smooth, just look at the number of clutches and steels:

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

I was thinking the stock 330 hp 454's each use 37 gallons per hour at full throttle. While these boats look like offshore racing boats, the actual racing boats were far, far lighter. These boats are relatively heavy--thus limiting top speeds.

I would prefer this same style boat @ 28' using a single 454. Sea Ray's comparable boat was good for 60 mph with far better fuel mileage.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

I was thinking the stock 330 hp 454's each use 37 gallons per hour at full throttle. While these boats look like offshore racing boats, the actual racing boats were far, far lighter. These boats are relatively heavy--thus limiting top speeds.

I would prefer this same style boat @ 28' using a single 454. Sea Ray's comparable boat was good for 60 mph with far better fuel mileage.

That may be true, but I wouldn't be running the engines at full throttle for more than a minute at most on a given weekend I'd imagine. Also, the issue would be finding a 28' SeaRay with a 454 for less than $9K. Again, I'm not looking for an offshore powerboat, and running 65mph is more than enough as I've spent my entire boating life topping out at 50mph. I have a jetski capable of 75+ if I feel the need for speed.

Here's a link to the boat in question:

http://afterhoursmarine.com/usedboats.htm

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

It looks pretty nice for the age. They're really high quality boats. Check carefully for soft spots, however.

Who am I to speak about using gas? We often just start our pontoon up, back it out of the boathouse, run 1/2 mile out in the middle of the river and float around all night. You don't always have to go far to enjoy yourself in the water. I don't probably spend $100 a year on gas.

We have a bunch of late model 37' Fountains, Donzi's and Cigarettes on our lake. They come blasting by at full throttle every Saturday and Sunday. I just don't know how they could physically stand up to carrying so many 5 gallon cans from the car to their boathouses. I call it noise pollution--with no mufflers on their boats.

Fuel is just a minor expense of owning a boat anyway.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

Yes, our lake has plenty of them as well. If you wanted piece and quiet on a major lake, you should know better than to boat on the weekends. I enjoy the sound of a throaty V8 at idle or screaming down the lake. As long as they aren't revving the engine at 6am at the dock/in a cove for no reason, they don't bother me.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

THAT IS a really nice looking boat !!!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on a 1980 Scarab II (30')

I agree, it looked pretty clean in the pics, limited as they were. It's only 10 miles from me, and I've had that shop work on my boat twice in the past year or two. They're a father/son type of place and do good work, so I wouldn't be too wary of purchasing it from them after a successful survey/water test.