mistress or kv scarab
 

If you were "investing" in a classic flat deck which would you choose? I couldn't decide. Both such classics.
ps sorry couldnt figure out how to start a poll
opinions appreciated.

KV Scarab will always be a legend due to Miami Vice. I mean the Miami Vice scarabs are 25+ years old and are still going for $40k+ now. Considering everything costs 4 times as much as it did back in the 80's I would say that hull has done pretty well and dont see any reason why they wont be worth even more as time marches on...

I would vote for the Mistress. Classic boat! And yes, I love the scarab KV's too!

My vote is always the Cigarette. I bet it holds its value better than the Scarab......

Both great hulls. For all out speed down the road, I'd give the nod to the Scarab. They will run with some power. The Mistresses seem to hit a wall.

Start shopping, and go with the one that is the cleanest, well cared for, solid power package, and passes a survey. You'll need to watch for Rot on both models. The 86-88 KV models had some jazzy cabins in them. I'd also look into a 38 Flat Deck cigarette from 1983-1986 if flat decks are your thing.

Nothing cooler than a 38KV with factory race style engine hatches with some nice power, IMO.

KV, the coolest Scarab ever short of Smokin' Joes but get a good survey.

Cigarette or Scarab.............A question I struggle with every weekend.:drink:


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...atkocin019.jpg

that's probably the most honest answer on OSO - LOL

i would go with the KV ha.....go with the boat with the biggest/best power package...you will regret not having enough power in either boat.....i know were their is a KV for sale.....please let me know if your are interested.....PS its not mine! ha

I love them both, I have a mistress love the cleaner bow over the KV has the raised center, also almost every KV has the double bolster, I would have to think they both would be near same speeds with equal power...

KV is longer with a great classic look..
Cig is a tad shorter but man they have a look sitting in the water also...

I woulkd be torn to what is the cleaner boat at a better price.... or which has bigger power!!!!

What do you have? I have a friend who's looking, cash buyer!

Being partial to all of them, I would struggle to single just one out. They all require a minimum of 625 HP a side to really shine.


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...dn/83cigad.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...dn/scarab2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22..._brochure1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...1dn/scarab.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...a311dn/DJs.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...abBROCHURE.jpg

Awesome adverts for the boats. The KV will always be great because of Miami Vice and it's great lines. But there is a reason most people not in the know call ALL offshore boats, cigarette boats. I love them both. For equal money between a 35 Mistress and a 38KV I think I might go 51/49 KV, but like everyone has said. The one with bigger power!

Cant go wrong with either. I love em both... This one is Killer. Nice hardware for that price........

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o41930-en.html

I owned and rebuilt three Scarabs, Raced the older Scarab, Worked for a Wellcraft dealer for six years in the 80's and worked on and ran them both. If your looking for style I think its a wash. If your looking to beat the sh-t out of the great lakes I would say the Cig. They both had decent mat lay-up but if I recall the Cig had a better Bulkhead structure for a more solid landing.

I have not been on a kv but I can tell you the mistress is amazing on the great lakes... I have yet to take a hard hit off a wave in it .....the amount of bulkhead under the floor is amazing..I used to brace myself for side hits from waves in the Baja.... the cig pounds it solid as a rock and I don't feel chit

It also depends on the particular boat... In terms of The appearance's. they can be altered greatly by a different wind screen, fairing etc. A mistress with blower hatches will have totally different lines to a misty with a sun pad

Agreed, blower hatch is bad azz!

Isn't a Wellcraft a chopper gun boat.

Not mine......I don't believe they shoot Kevlar through a gun.

Some of the fishing, pleasure and newer stuff was but the Scarabs where designed and built by the racing devision. Same complex but different buildings and teams in the 80's. I remember taking the tour when i would go down there for school and they would show us the plant and then walk us over to the racing devision of Scarab and make it clear that the Scarabs where built with more care and better lay-up. Now after my main pine stringers in my dry 38 Excel vanished under the mat roven i wonder about the better lay-up. But still a decent ride for the money if you land off the big one's level. It's all what you want. Speed or a strong design like a kevlar or carbon Top Gun and the light lay-up cats of today. All the big names where good or you could have went the Raven Countach route on saturday and church on Sunday. Everything depends on the mighty dollar.

scarab KV for inspection and approval.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200824708855...84.m1555.l2649

Not without a triple axle trailer!!!! :lolhit: Your asking for trouble with only two axles.....

I actually splashed a copy of that boat and made a few back in the day, looked great cruising around with trimmer power in back. Ah, memories.... :hijack:

Brian

Both are sexy boats.

Buy the boat you find in the best condition.

All of them need some work.

I know the Cig takes more power than you think to crack 70mph.

I don't know if that is the case with the 38KV?

There is a 35 here in Michigan that is very, very nice. Jim is a member on OSO.

You can see some pics of it in the "old school reunion" threads.

Thanks toprop good analysis i think I know that boat.
original models which I am after have similar or same drivetrain trannys, engines etc i.e 454 TRS boats
I am super torn between the oldschool charm of the misty especially teak cockpit models
But the iconic and symbolic look of the scarab with its great lines and black race fairing.
I think the cig is a tiny bit more tasteful and classy and the scarab is a tiny bit tacky in an 80's way dont get me wrong i mean in a cool way!

The cig also seems to have a little bit more of a lower profile when it is sitting in the water no idea just my perception

which 35??

The Cig has a lower freeboard that I used to not like until I owned my Mistress, I actually LOVE the way it looks and it is not mistaken for any other classic...

I think the flatter deck on the Mistress is much better looking then the raised center on a KV, most Scarabs have the "homo" bolster as I call it, only a couple Mistresses do...

I have not ridden on a KV but I know how the Mistress rides, I was told the Mistress is a tad more solid in big water but I have no proof of that... just what I read...

Are you referring to where the deck is raised just at the very prow so that the rail slots in cleanly? the whole deck is flat as a pancake...??? Also on the cig is the freeboard lower just at the stern or midships and forward??

The raised part where the bow rail is...a friend has a 38 flatdeck scarab and the center where bow rail is raised some.

The whole free lard is lower on a mistress....I love the way it sits in water...looks sweet

a side view............

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...river10-12.jpg

Good lookin' boat.

Guess the Freeboard is similar...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...-30-39_223.jpg

Thanks.........she's old but I like her.

[QUOTE=Full Force;3792486]Guess the Freeboard is similar...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...-30-39_223.jpg[/QUOTE


Kinda what I was thinking. That's why I posted my pic.

[QUOTE=28cigarettess;3792601]I thought the Scarab had more... ooops lol

kv

Does anyone have good enough skills to post a create a pic of the two hulls above or below each other from the same profile same direction etc to get a good comparison..
ps this is killing me :argue:

:greenchainsaw:Scarab. Just leave the arch tied up at the dock.
Based on looks alone.

There is a certain old school feel my Mistress gives me over other old school boats, the main thing is that the deck contiues nonstop into the helm and the fairing is set on top, very much like the old aranow race boat "the Cigarette" 32 Cary, I am betting that also helps in the less flex the Mistress seems to have... man when she pounds into a wave you donbt feel chit.... such a solid hit and never had that "ouch" moment yet in that boat...the dash is old school... the completely flat bow is old school, man I love it