Baja Scat Cat

[KonaKustoms]

What do ya guys know about the Baja ScatCat? I think it is 12' long and it has a 50 hp on it. Anyway I got one today just because it looked cool.
Are they unsafe to turn my 13yr. old son loose with? He is verry good with a boat but I am concerned about it getting away from him.

[KonaKustoms]

I am thinkin about throwing a small 4-stroke on it for low maitenance but have never messed with one of these and the one a guy at the river has is way to fast for a kid but it also has twice the motor this one has.
What size mota you guys think is good for it but not overpower it?

[stvhelm]

mine broke several times. they are fun but weak. i had a omc 50 and then a 80hp merc. the 50 just wouldnt plane off good, you had to lean over the front where as the 80 rocketed out of the hole but eventually finished it off. I had to put a new transom in to hold the 80 and after that the bottom imploded:eek:
if i had a chance to do it again i would put the gas tank and battery up front to balance it out better. dont worry about the forward weight it has plenty of lift. well at least at 65mph it does:eek: good luck post a pic

[Baja16]

I had one... They are rated for 25hp and will run high 30's (aleast mine did with a 30hp Evinrude). Later on i put a 50hp Evinrude on, it ran mid/upper 40's. If it doesn't already have it Power trim/tilt really helps the planning on these boats.

The one i had, somebody cut a little bit off the transom (about an inch) and probly help the hole shot and low speed cruising. Also it was a Comp version and it was thin and light but i never had a problem with the hull cracking or breaking. I was around your sons age when i had mine and i never got in any trouble with it, i even ran it in Lake Ontario. If your son is good with boats he should be fine.

[Michael J Giesler]

my rating plate stamped 40hp and it is for sale fun little boats:)

[fast fun 2]

Off topic..but...thats my dad racing in your avatar :D

[KonaKustoms]

Just got it home. Drove 3 hrs. in the snow....lol Anyway, pulled it in she shop and the old 50 jonnyrude fired rite up after being pulled 120 miles in the snow....wow
It has a max HP plate for 25HP on it, Looks to be real clean and no cracks. Someone has put a alum plate on the back with about 2" of wood to raise the transom height on it. I think it will be fine for him. We will put a new interior in it this week or next and paint the trailer and he should be good to go, I may put a fuel tank up front and relocate the battery also if ya think it needs it, I was guessin it would plow water the way it looks, nothing like my Mirage but he should have fun with it.

[KonaKustoms]

FastFun2 I love this pic, It is good and if that aint STYLIN I don't know what is dude...lol

[stvhelm]

with minimum power and no power trim i would leave the tank in the back and the battery on port side. if you have some decent power and power trim then put them up front. it will help plane off alot better and be little more stable for top speed.

[KonaKustoms]

Ok I got lookin closer it does not have a jinnyrude, It has a Tohatsu 50 2-stroke on it painted white 1988 motor, I did not even look at the motor when I got it because I did not cre about it, But the darn thing fired rite up when I backed it in the shop tonite after being in 5 deg. weather .....wow Anyway it does have power trim, a whale tale ,stainless prop but has no #'s so I have no idea until I remove it and look.
I have a guestion, Did these boats have bucket seats or a bench, it had a seat from there jeep in it and I told him to keep it so they did(I have a upholstery shop so no biggie)looked like sht! I got it for 1000 cash so i am not hurtin.

[KonaKustoms]

Pictures of it

[KonaKustoms]

What Ya think guys?

[David]

The Tohatsu is a good motor. It will take Merc props. I'd have killed for that rig when I was 13.

[Michael J Giesler]

why are some scat cats rated for 40hp and some with 25hp I saw an 1986 that was 25 mine is rated for a 40 and there is another one by me that is 40 also:confused:

[WharfRat]

:eek: Oh man, paint the trailer or that boy will never hear the end of it :eek:

;)

[KonaKustoms]

Good question, this is a 25 hp hull and honestly I don't think with a 25 it will do anything but plow water. Anyone know the differance?

[KonaKustoms]

Anyone want a Tohatsu 50, power trim, all guages Tohatsu, with control box, it will fire in 5 deg. weather after settin....lmao
I have a new Yamaha 50 4 stroke for it I got for 1200 bucks with 5 hrs. with controls 6 months old!

[KonaKustoms]

I was thinkin leave it pink just to pizz him off

[STV_Keith]

I wanted one of those in the mid 80's...I always thought an OMC 45ss would have been the ticket on one...but I guess STVHelm's suggestion of something in the 75 Stinger range would be fun too! :D

[KonaKustoms]

He is only 13 now, I have a 300X we can hang on it for a pic......LMAO

[David]

The Tohatsu 50 will be better than the Yamaha 4 stroke 50. Better acceleration and less weight.

[MODVP22]

Not sure about a 50hp, but a local guy here had one with a 25 and it was a turd, so they turned it into a MODVP style tunnel and it gained 10mph becasue it could finally get air through the tunnel. Cool looking little boats though. Should be a lot of fun.

[KonaKustoms]

I never had a Tohatsu, So they run pretty good huh.

[Baja16]

Thats weird i had a 30hp on mine on it ran real well, like i said though it was a comp version and the transom cut down so maybe that worked in favor with the small motor. I always wanted to put a SST0-60 on mine:D

[KonaKustoms]

How does a guy know if it is a comp. edition hull? This one has a low transom or maybe they just raised it because the shaft on the motor, Anyway it should be fine for a 13 yr old's first ride.

[Baja16]

I'm pretty sure mine was a comp model because it was setup as a center-steer from the factory, the hull (especially the deck) was thin and light and their was no built in foam flotation. Someone added height to yours, i don't they changed the transom height between the comp and pleasure versions. Looking at the pics of your is the floor in your original or do you think some one added it later, because on mine you would just on the top of the tunnel and just put your feet down on either side of it (they would be on the very bottom of each sponson)... Anyway their a fun boat ( it was my first boat too), i think your son will love it!

[KonaKustoms]

It has a flat floor, looks factory to me and also has foam in rear I can see. I was gonna remove it (foam) and try to lighten it up a little Maybe put airbag flotation in it.

[KonaKustoms]

Anyone have some interior pics of how the seat is supposed to look new? I have to build a new seat. I riped the carpet out and seat last nite. It had a jeep seat in it

[SCT]

If I remember right, Baja actually contracted with Molinari to design the ScatCat for them.

[KonaKustoms]

Yes that is what I read on another site

[stvhelm]

mine originally had a bench seat and a vinyl padded hatch that covered the bilge area. when you get it going fast you tend to slide your weight over to the center so i left the bench for that reason. My hull was Blue metalflake

[KonaKustoms]

I have found a few pics but if anyone has one can I get some detailed pics of bottom and back seat and the way they are installed? I can make new ones if I have a good example otherwise I will just build something and make it look good.

[KonaKustoms]

Looks like there are hinges for the hatch cover u were talking about and also hinges for the bottom seat to fold forward. But original seats are missing

[fast fun 2]

FastFun2 I love this pic, It is good and if that aint STYLIN I don't know what is dude...lol
You should see the new boat ;)

[KonaKustoms]

Send a pic dude, And anyone find a interior shot of there scat cat? I need some ideas so i can get started on a interior

[KonaKustoms]

I removed the big whale tale they had on it and was thinkin of making a smaller plate for the lower, do these things really need it or not?

I measured the mid on the tohatsu and it measures 17" which seemed odd to me but it is 17" but book says 15" and 20"

I also got a PM about the screw on vent for the cowl but there was NO text in it so could this person please resend it or e-mail me ?
KonaKustoms@hotmail.com

Thanks for all the info guys and if there is anything else on it please let me know

[KonaKustoms]

Ok im trashin the 50 Tohatsu. I was thinkin like a 40 johnyrude would be a good mota for it! Short shaft w/trim. What ya guys think?

[KonaKustoms]

it has a bad piston, the top is starting to burn on th piston. the motor is in st louis, mo. now

[KonaKustoms]

Well this thing is a tird! So I am gonna rebuild it for him. Here are some pics of the progress. Got a short shaft 40 evenrude for it today so thats a done deal. Now for a recore, new transom, new interior, ect., ect..

[KonaKustoms]

All the wood is water loged and it has no dry wood in it.....wow

[KonaKustoms]

Well it is stripped and ready for a major rebuild....lol it will never rot again!!

[KonaKustoms]

More pics, time to hang on the back of a grinder now!

[KonaKustoms]

The only good wood in it was the balsa in the floor!!

[KonaKustoms]

I knew i SHOULD HAVE NOT had a beer before I got it....lol
It will be neat when it is done! Now I need to decide on the Gel Coat graphics or custom airbrush job for it.....anyway I have about 4 weeks to decide on that. Now just serf the net until I find a cool color I like for him

[stvhelm]

a weak point is the bottom of the sponsons at the rear. thats where mine imploded. I would reinforce that area along with the transom. I would also flip the deck over and put some cross supports under that. looks good :thumbsup:

[KonaKustoms]

Yep deck is getting a core to stiffin it up, verry flimsy deck!
I have already made a plan for the floor and transom and will look closer at the rear of the tunnel

[stvhelm]

Im talking about the running surface on the very bottom of the sponsons. the tunnel seemed to be ok on mine. all this makes me want another one. i had so much fun with that boat.

[KonaKustoms]

Any suggestions for a trim unit for a 40 evenrude? 84 to 87 model I think. I have never messed with these little motors but this is a fresh shortshaft motor with 0 hrs and it was cheap.
Or any suggestions while it is off the boat to make it run better? I thaught these little 40's were raced. Does anyone know anything on this?

[stvhelm]

http://i46.tinypic.com/hwzk11.jpg

[assetsinwater]

OK, I want one now. That is cool little boat.

[KonaKustoms]

http://i46.tinypic.com/hwzk11.jpg

I like the idea of it and the weight savings but the ones I looked at did not look that strong, I guess im just used to big v-6 stuff.
How do these work...seriously?

[Baja16]

we've used alot of CMC units on customers boats and they work great...

[KonaKustoms]

I have had cmc plates but never a trim/plate.....I will look closer at one, Thanks for the info.

[fast fun 2]

I have it on the mini hawk...love it

[KonaKustoms]

I have it on the mini hawk...love it
How big is ya Mota?

[assetsinwater]

Are there any other hull's that look like this Scat cat?

[KonaKustoms]

Yes, there were a few others. U-tube has a few video's on them

[scat cat owner]

I have one that needs some work picked it up for $500 w/trailer no motor. Do you have any updated picks of your rebuild? How did you find the condition of the floatation was it waterlogged as well?

[scat]

I also have a Scat Cat. Yours certainly is different inside than mine. I have no foam, flooring etc. just a simple shell. I am doing a mini restoration - seat, dash, buff, and motor. I am setting it up for my 10 year old son, so not interested in the highest speed. I have a '74 40hp johnson but have not run it on the boat yet. Would love some tips on getting it to plane out correctly. I have no T&T.

[stvhelm]

try putting the battery and gas tank up front. add a whale tail to the lower unit too. this helped alot when i had a 50 omc on mine. you were able to sit down and plane off.

[Michael J Giesler]

just put mine up for sale on here

[JrCRXHF]

Mine is kinda like it. We put all new wood in it when i was a kid. I am looking for a stinger 75 for it soon.

It needs some more power and i need to be able to find props. But the little cats are alot of fun.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_N4yenoX55yI/SNWUtXaUtOI/AAAAAAAALOM/ZI3GxV3deFY/s640/DSC_0099-1.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_N4yenoX55yI/SNWUYuO3yUI/AAAAAAAALLw/xCtzkIa70sk/s640/DSC_0092.JPG

[Maciek]

So how your project end up? I know, is 9 years later. Asking because right now I'm in possession of Baja Scat Cat and looking for many answers. Have got mine recently, towed from Florida to NY and planing how to bring it back to live. Boat in poor shape, with numbers of small cracks, repaired many times. Looks like will need separate both halfs to do the work inside. Need to choose correct engine too. Tend to go towards more powerful ones, but afraid not to cross the weight limit which is to me unknown. Searching the net found people using engines from 20 to 140 hp. My consideration is the weight. How the boat will drive with 90 hp 2 stroke Yamaha and 260 lb which comes with power tilt and trim? Will need to rebuild transom anyway and plan to use carbon fiber for strength. Also have some silly idea to split transom and move engine 12" foreword, in order to unload back of the boat. Moving tank and battery foreword is good idea but what when tank is almost empty? Beside plan to use lithium battery which weights close to nothing anyway. Another question would be position of propeller. Someone adviced to keep propeller shaft even with the bottom of the sponsons.
Any advice and suggestions will be highly appreciated. Thanks