38' outboard scarab

[simplyorange]

im looking at a 38' scarab kv i believe by the research i have done so far, it has triple 225 optimax mercurys on it and is sitting on the original dual axle trailer its a project needing the interior recovered and reinstalled and a paintjob.i have a few questions about it...

1)what kind of speed can i generally expect from it
2) what would it be worth after it is finished in 100% restored condition, i think its a late 80s model boat.
3)how is it in the rough waters
4) was the factory outboard cuddy style hull rare?, because i cant find any pictures of any online.

[STV_Keith]

That is one monster boat for outboards...even triples. Tandem axle trailer? Are you sure it's a 38? Even my 30' has triples under it, and I'm sure it's probably 30% lighter. You're probably looking at 15k on the trailer. Can't imagine two axles that could handle that weight.

1. Kim Swang on here has triple 300hp V8 Johnrudes on a 34' Super Sport...sees mid 50's. With 200+ less HP and 4' more boat, I gotta imagine 50 would be a good number.

3. As big as it is, I'm sure it will be decent in the rough...but being underpowered may make it not so fun.
4. I've never heard of a 38 with OB's before personally...maybe others have.

[simplyorange]

its advertised as a 38' scarab, it looks big next to the 27 cigarette next to it,but now that you mention the dual axles, i started looking and havent seen even a 34' with less than triaxle trailers, i know the boat is longer than 30 so i would say 34' minimum.but i cannot find the exact hull online at all.also the cabin is not set up like the other scarabs i have seen, it looks like it has more bracing in the front, it has the wraparound lounge type seating, then past that it has a small crawl through hole and very small bed area, much smller than any other boat of its size.im going to go look at it again and snap some pics.

[simplyorange]

heres the ad pics.

[GTO GEORGE]

The pics aren't too clear, but it doesn't look longer than my '96 302 Sport Scarab, with a triple axel trailer. I have a transom bracket, also.

[simplyorange]

i would love to find out it is a 30'....i guess ill find out later this week when i measure it.

[STV_Keith]

Looks like a 29 or 30 by the pictures, from what I can see.

[Frank Molé]

Looks like a 29 or 30 by the pictures, from what I can see.

:iagree::iagree::iagree::cheers:

[kimswang]

im looking at a 38' scarab kv i believe by the research i have done so far, it has triple 225 optimax mercurys on it and is sitting on the original dual axle trailer its a project needing the interior recovered and reinstalled and a paintjob.i have a few questions about it...

1)what kind of speed can i generally expect from it
2) what would it be worth after it is finished in 100% restored condition, i think its a late 80s model boat.
3)how is it in the rough waters
4) was the factory outboard cuddy style hull rare?, because i cant find any pictures of any online.

The outboard 38's was made for the military. Very good boats in rough waters. Mike Reagan (the Pres son) still has the record from Anchorage to Seattle with of them, he had tripple V8's though. My tripple V8 34SS does 63 MPH loaded with gear, people and fuel. My goal is to get it to 88MPH with the stuff I am doing to the setup right now. The Scarab forum on OSO also have more info about these boats. With the right amount of work you will have the coolest boat out there for sure. Please post some more pictures when you get them, very interesting.

[olmo40]

They also the preferred boat of the Thai drug/car smuggler ,there are pics on the net somewhere of of a 38 with 5 out boards strapped to the back and a Lexus tied down in the back .They run from Thailand to china? i think . ,armour plating around the motors etc etc .When they are caught the boats and motors are sold off thru an international tender process.

[kimswang]

Any updates?

[simplyorange]

i have been waiting on a call from him, we were negotiating a partial trade.

[mjwalters]

There is a 42 with outboards for sale on craigslist in SOUTH FLORIDA

[racer]

I rigged a quad 38 a few years back.

[njthumper]

I believe in '88 or '89 Wellcraft made a 34' available as an ouboard. Maybe Scarab Raider?

[njthumper]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180504244720&viewitem=

bidding ended, but some pics remain

[simplyorange]

well the guy came by my house today and looked at my trade and he seems to know a bit about boats, he assured me it was a 38, and he got it from an auction, he said he thinks its a smuggling boat because it has 2 belly tanks and two side tanks, so it probably holds about 600 gal of fuel. ill get some detailed pictures if the deal goes through sometime this week.seems like he is going to come through.ill probably ride out and measure it after work one day this week. i dont believe it is a raider, because it has two deck hatches side by side and the hull is designd where the motors bolt directly to the boat, it doesnt have a transom bracket like the one shown. it was a hull designed for outboards, not a modified inboard boat.

[AirRide]

Scarab built some 38 O/B's in the 80's. Excalibur made them for WellCraft Scarab as a center-console in the early 80's, marketed as 40's & 38's, then in the later 80's WellCraft made them themselves, mostly sportdecks. Very low volume produced. Most were shipped to Florida dealers.

[simplyorange]

Scarab built some 38 O/B's in the 80's. Excalibur made them for WellCraft Scarab as a center-console in the early 80's, marketed as 40's & 38's, then in the later 80's WellCraft made them themselves, mostly sportdecks. Very low volume produced. Most were shipped to Florida dealers.

i believe this is one of them, i believe he said it was an 89..im waiting on him to get his paperwork straight then im going to pick it up.

[Todd D]

This boat was for sale on boattrader around a year ago up north. The guy had it in a paint booth in his barn. They were asking $2,500 or $3,500

[OJwerks]

I have a buddy with one... on twin 300s, it tops out at 50+mph

[simplyorange]

This boat was for sale on boattrader around a year ago up north. The guy had it in a paint booth in his barn. They were asking $2,500 or $3,500

really? that must have been the original guy who bought it from the federal auction, because he bought it from somebody else and the paperwork was not present, so he has to gather all of the legit paperwork and sell me a useable boat before i can go through with it.

so what would it be worth fully restored to like new condition?

[kimswang]

A restored Scarab - Priceless..

[simplyorange]

here are some more pics i took yesterday...it is actually 38' long.the side pic is me standing up shooting from eye level

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg314/simplyorange02/El%20Camino/0607101718.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg314/simplyorange02/El%20Camino/0607101731.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg314/simplyorange02/El%20Camino/0607101732.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg314/simplyorange02/El%20Camino/0607101728.jpg

[kimswang]

Looking good, post more pictures.

[simplyorange]

is this a good buy at $16000?
it needs paint, interrior recovered.steering helm and overall just assembly and cleaning.motors run.

also the sides are wavy, are all of them like this or is it just not noticable if it is white, i just dont think whit would hide that much wave.

[kimswang]

is this a good buy at $16000?
it needs paint, interrior recovered.steering helm and overall just assembly and cleaning.motors run.

also the sides are wavy, are all of them like this or is it just not noticable if it is white, i just dont think whit would hide that much wave.

$16K isn't bad at all. During my restoration I found the fuel tank to be the biggest job to replace. The upholstery took time but is very rewarding kinda job as it makes such a big difference. The waves is a different animal, mine is white but have no waves whatsoever. This could be a tidious job and I suggest long boards with sandpaper and lots of beer / good friends. This is a very interesting boat, it will definately get attention anywhere and be a blast in rough water. Keep us posted with pictures and updates. Lots of people here and on OSO has restored these kind of boats and have lots of advice we are more than willing to share.

[simplyorange]

i was thinkiing of glassing some strips of treated wood inside of the hull to get the waves straighter before doing any bodywork(making it look factory of course), right now its just wavy because of lack of support from the factory, i have never seen anything like it.it just looks like the boat was build extremely lightweight.i am a painter so the bodywork and paint is nothing new to me,but i know that itll be pointless unless it is stiffened up and just because i know how to fix it doesnt mean i really want to. i plan to go back white to make things easier :D.... if i end up building it, ill do a progress thread.the seller is just horrible about returning phone calls.

[javad]

a 38 scarab raider for sale on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1985-38-Wellcraft-Scarab-Fountain-Formula-Baja-Hustler-/170514294042?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Power_Motorboats&hash=item27b371a51a

[simplyorange]

i was told by wildlife and fisheries that i could never put the boat in the water so i passed on it, i just bought a 29' 1996 scarab with twin 350 mercruisers that needs minor work to tidy it up.

[kimswang]

:D
i was told by wildlife and fisheries that i could never put the boat in the water so i passed on it, i just bought a 29' 1996 scarab with twin 350 mercruisers that needs minor work to tidy it up.

What was their reason? Sounds too weird....

[simplyorange]

the owner has a bill of sale only, and it has been sold that way 3 times, it has never been registered in my state or at all since it was bought from federal auction so it has no numbers on it, the only record of what the the boat is comes from the hull id number and i would have to track the past know registered owner whom i guess was the one that got caught using it to smuggle drugs...

[kimswang]

the owner has a bill of sale only, and it has been sold that way 3 times, it has never been registered in my state or at all since it was bought from federal auction so it has no numbers on it, the only record of what the the boat is comes from the hull id number and i would have to track the past know registered owner whom i guess was the one that got caught using it to smuggle drugs...


Shouldn't really matter. Do a title search, take the search with you in and register it. Or register it as a homebuildt. Why are they giving you a hard time? Lack of knowledge from their side?

[Forkin' Crazy]

Now that sounds like the ticket if you have the pocket book!!! Come on LOTTO!!! LOL! :D


I rigged a quad 38 a few years back.

[biohzrd]

That is too bad. Would not mind getting the power and rigging off of it and putting on the back of my Velocity.

[FUJIMO]

There are two hull number locations on all boats manufactured in the U.S., since 1974. U.S.C.G. requirement. Locate the 2nd hull number location.