Formula 382 vs. 38 Scarab with 500EFI
 

OK guys help me out. Wanting to add a 2nd boat to our saltwater location and looking at getting one of these two clean boats with the same engines and want to know which will be a better wave crusher and distance cruiser for the ditch or calm Gulf use. Ride quality is more important than top speed. Drivability and docking manners also important. Can those with experience on these two boats help?

Both are stepped hulls. Scarab AVS, and Formula Fastec.

My buddy keeps his 382 at my house and I have drove it a few times, he has the 500 efi's and its loaded with a gen, it's a 70-74 mph boat. I don't like it much for a few reasons to me there is no feedback to the driver when driving it does everything fine but you cant tell whats going on and the cabin is too small. I have only drove one 38 avs and just for a short time it had 575 sci's with boxes and was a much better feeling boat the cabin seems bigger in the Scarab too but not much. In the price range your in I would look at 38-42 Sonics too, to me ride better than the others in big water and are about the same speed without a step hull and the cabin is huge.

Scarab vs Formula
 

I really don't think you can go wrong with either of these two choices. In my humble opinion, I think the Scarab will be a little more nimble in the water than the 38 Formula. I've driven both and the ride is pretty awesome from both boats. For my taste, the 38 Formula was a little underpowered with the 500 HP's. I didn't get the same feeling from the Scarab. I'm not sure of the weight difference, but that may have something to do with it.

Most high performance boaters would love to have this dilemma!

GOOD LUCK!

:coolcowboy:

You already know my opinion and you missed out!! :party-smiley-004: :)


Never been in the scarab but I understand what was said about the Formula having "no feedback". It's a big wave crusher and compared to my 312 it's not as nimble.....just pounds over the waves without that fast skipping across the water feeling.

The Scarab will give the better ride when it gets snotty. The Formula will be faster on top.

Also make note that the Formula has a windshield that works versus a fairing on the Scarab.

Sonics. Didn't think about those.:coolcowboy:

I think you should buy a 63' sundancer and join the booze cruiser club also. But that is just me.

Sonics have great head room but the bow gets SOOOO skinny you can only sleep one person up there (or 2 double stacked!! :))

Thats why you get the fillers for the couches that make it bigger than a king size so you can sleep 3+ with toys and you can still see the porn on the tv.:party-smiley-004:

But I have slept 2 up front in my 42 and I am 6'5" 225# and my wife is 5'7" and 120# and we were fine.