26 Scarab?
 

Does any body know anything about these boats? Just curious about value, quality, ride, etc...

Thanks in advance!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

What year and model??

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

1996 or 1997

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

my neighbor has 1 that is just sitting and rotting :eek:
good hulls , i believe his is a cv hull.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Chis, I had a 96 with a 525sc Blower motor in it. It was a great boat!! I really liked the way it rode and handled big water! I made alot or poker runs in it and it never gave me a problem. The only draw back to it for me was that there was not alot of cabin space in it. Other than that, I loved it. I could keep up with other boats alot longer than mine, even in the rough chit. Of course I was out of the water alot more than them but it always flew pretty flat and I could always tell what it was going to do. It was predictable and very forgiving for a boat it's size! One other good thing about them is they did not use wood stringers in the boat so they should never rot out on you. I always liked all the Scarabs and never figured out why they quit building them. Maybe they will start again sometime. If you would like more info feel free to PM me. I would be glad to help if I can.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

I looked at a 1996 26' Scarab, and was really disappointed in it, the graphics were stickers, that were actually pealing off, also the cabin was made of really cheap materials. Last the one I looked at had some type of silent exhaust that would have to be removed all togather to even hear the 502. I didn't like it at all, also it had a big winshield that was wobbly.

Just my take

WILL :rolleyes:

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

All Minor adjustments! The integrity of the boat is good though!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Weren't these pretty rare or low production boats? Does anyone know the exact production numbers? I saw one at a marina (on land/trailer) about 20 minutes from me in Tullytown, PA. I am not sure if it was for sale or not. Had aero scoop...so something good power wise should be under there!

Does anyone have pics and info. on the F-29 Scarabs? What years were they built and just how many were made? My interest was kindled after seeing 2 of these at the RTB Poker Run in MD a couple weeks ago.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

I agree with customtouch. The boat if it is in good condition is a great lake boat. Handles the 1-2 chop fine and take some 2-3 foot swells nice. It's like any othe boat, yes even a ciggie will look like chit if not taken care of. I have had mine for two years, easy to take care of, low maintenance and mid to high 60's easy, pure stock from the factory! fun and you still afford to buy FUEL!
Almost all boat graphics are vinyl... they all peel, they all fade. I replaced mine with some SCARB lettering for 100 dollars.
As far as quality of materials in interior, on a scale of 1-10 I would rate them 7. It's small so you ain't going to live in it. Storage and a stabbin' cabin only.
The exhaust is an easy one to fix, it'll cost you about 500-1000 to have it loud, so what. If the boat is in good shape and you can get the boat for 30-35K buy it. Most people that have these entry level go-fast boats don't beat the crap out of them. If it hasn't been abused you could feel safe wit 300 hours on the boat. Check to see if the engine and drive are the original ones. If it has been abused try to get it at 25K. Scarab is a great boat... too bad they don't make them any more.
SAR :cool:

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

You are probably thinking of the F1 Larry Smith 26 Scarab. They only made five of those and they are completly dfferent! Very narrow with a single step. They were very fast but a handfull to drive! I rode in one and it was not a warm cozy feeling at 80 plus!! The welcraft 26 was in prodution from 96 to 98 I think, and they made quite a few but I don't know how many.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

What he says exactly and I have kept up with some of the big guys. :cool:

Wellcraft sold out to Genmar(a conglomorate), who said they didn't think the go-fast market was where they wanted to be or market to. Dummies, because their Thunder mdels are bad-azz and a lot easier on the bank account.
SAR :(

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

These boats were red on one side and yellow or orange on the other and separated by a thin black stripe from front to back.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

right on customtouch, the P-29 was a Larry Smith scarab. Wellcraft used them in their performance driving school. I have seen several different configurations on them. One had a set of Arenson surface drives, came from the factory with blackhawks. :cool:

Those are extremley cool boats, but most folks who owned them beat the daylights out of them. :(

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Satisfaction, I don't believe the P-29 was a Larry Smith boat. It was a special edition Wel-craft. The F-1 that was raced off-shore was the Larry Smith. Almost all of the race boats were made by him. He actually owned the name Scarab and Welcraft had to pay him to use the name!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Satisfaction, The Scarab that was used in the Welcraft Trainnig School was a Special Edition 31' Scarab that was solid yellow with a single red and black stripe down the middle of the sides. It also hade six stand-up bolsters in it. They also are pretty rare.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

customtouch
I heard that the P-29 was built by Wellcraft but it was a Larry Smith hull desgin unlike the regular Wellcraft production Scarabs. My source could has mis spoken
all said the Well craft 26' Scarab was a great boat for the money. :drink:

I do plan on getting another boat about mid-winter but I will miss this little Scarab.
SAR

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Satisfaction, It could be true that he designed it. I only know Welcraft built it. And yes, even now I still kinda miss My 26. It really was a pretty good boat!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

The P-29's were limited to 29 boats and I believe they were only made in 96. A friend has one that runs low 80's with the bumped up 350's/Blackhawks.

Another friend is selling a 26...
http://www.lscn2.net/classifieds/ind...age=out&id=113

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

I have had a 1997 Scarab 26 for about 5 years now. I really have not had any problems with the boat at all. It rides real well and it is very difficult to get in trouble with it. It's very predictable! I believe the 1997 and 1998 thru hull exhaust was Corsa at least the ones I have seen.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Yea, Same with me! I had my 96 for about four years and it was as good as new when I sold it. I bought it, painted it and used it as a demoboat for my shop. The picture is not top quality but you get a general idea.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

customtouch ... very nice looking Scarab.
Sweet 26'rs.

My '96 looks just like yours except for the graphics on the hull. The pic I posted is from last year and I have since changed the graphics, but other than that all I have done is changed oil and drive lube regularly and she just runs and runs and runs.

I'll downsize some of the pics I have and post them later tonight.
SAR

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

pic's of my '96 scarab

Ist pic is my Scarab in the foreground, the Searay is my son's.
2nd pic is on Grand Lake.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Satisfaction, That is exactly what mine looked like when I bought it. The vinyl graphics on the Scarabs was one of the best things for my buisness! The dealers would order the boats in and I could just peel off the graphics and paint it for them. I know alot of people didn't like the vinyl but it was great for me!!! No extra stripping, just peel, sand, and paint! Do you go to Grand Lake alot? There are several boats I have painted there. I was just there for the Grand Slam Poker Run. That is a great lake and a great poker run!!!! I know alot of people on Grand. Can't wait to go back but it is a long haul for me from Austin!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Customtouch did you disassemble the windshield to tint it? Always wished it had a windscreen but the tint looks tough.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

tjscarb, No, I did not have to dissasemble the windsheid, I had a tint shop do it with limo tint. I tried to get one of the aluminum windscreens from Welcraft but they just laughed at me. At first they denied that there even was one until I showed them a picture of the very first one produced. It had one on it but evidently I wasn't suppose to have the picture!! It did look cool but they said they didn't put them on because of how much they weighed and it cost them 3 to 5 grand to build them. After that the tint looked ALOT better.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

customtouch - yeah I get to Grand Lake a lot, I practically live there year round 4-5 days a week. I have a house right by Hammerhead's shop. I work from home via cell phone and internet, take a drive to KC usually on Tuesday/Wednesday.

The Grand Slam was a cool one but I couldn't make it in the run. Got out late and watched the Radar run then the storm came and so I took my small azz boat to the dock just in time.

Whose boats did you paint on Grand? There are a lot of nice go-fast boats there. If you ever get back up to Grand let me know.
SAR

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

customtouch --- did you paint Card SharK? He was in the poker run and I think he made a radar pass? He also had the fella who painted Card Shark with him. Would that be you?
SAR

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Satisfaction, Yes I did paint Card Shark and I was in it at Gramd Slam! I actually have some pictures of it in the photo gallery here on OSO in the custom paint thread. I also painted Cost Plus a 42' Fountain and CircumScism a 42' MTI. There also was a 32 Skater there called Junkman that I painted. They were the one's that did the crazy 120 plus run in 2 to 3 footers. LOTS of air!!!! There were two or three other smaller boats there with my paint but these four stood out the most. We made our radar run and when we went through the traps we just kepted on going to try and beat the rain!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

customtouch - I was one the people who help yall put Card Shark in the slip at Hammerhead marina during the rain storm. I was working with Gertie on the port side. Awesome boats Card Shark and Junkman. :cool:

Your work is excellent. Hope you can get back to Grand sometime.
SAR

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Thanks for the compliment and Thanks again for helping us get the boat in that tiny azz slip!! That was one hellova storm!!! I don't think we even got a scratch on it! AMAZING!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

I really liked that Vee bottomed Nortech, it was a Nortech wasn't it? :cool: I was telling my girlfriend about the Card Shark and your crew later that day. She was impressed with the boat as well. She loves to go flying in the lil' Scarab and she is starting to learn how to drive it.
SAR

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Yes it was a 43' Nortech with 1100 hp Teague's. Like I said there are some pictures of it in the custom paint section of the photo gallery on pages 1 and 2 if you want to show her. There are a couple of others there I did too.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

BTW Chris, SORRY!! Didn't mean to highjack your thread!!!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

customtouch -- I checked your gallery out last night. Card Shark is awesome.

Chris, are you going to buy that Scarab. Do you have any pics of it?? I'd like to see some of them. And I'm sorry for hi-jacking your thread as well.

:drink: :drink:
SAr

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Satisfaction, I know you said you changed your graphics so it may not be any use to you but I still have the side air intake decal from mine, still in the box. I ordered mine without it so they boxed it up and sent it with the boat. It nas never been opened and is exactly like the one on yours. I don't know what kind of shape yours is in but if you think you need this one let me know.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

roger-that on the F1!..I raced with Ben Walker in Sarasota this year..crazy little boat...very fast though.. :cool:

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

Chris,
I agree that the 26 CV can be a great boat. I spent a lot of time in my brothers. I built a 454 blower motor for it. Custom touch is right on about the way they handle. My brothers boat was very comfortable running mid 80's. However, I would caution you to check the hull very carefully. Wellcraft had problems with the hulls de-laminating. It happened to my brothers, and Wellcraft stepped up the pump and warrantied it! They put a new hull under it. My brother talked extensively with Donny Wadock while the boat was at wellcraft and they mad several changes to beef-up the hull for more power. Unfortuneatly we could never get the boat to handle the way it used to. After trying everything under the sun to get back what we once had, he finally gave up and traded it. I know he still misses the way that boat once was. Just be carefull.

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

I have a friend in Houston that runs a fiberglass repair shop and he had to re-do 2 of the CV26's because of delamination on the bottom. I have never heard of any of the other Scarabs having any problems though. I forgot all about that untill wrenchman brought it up!!!

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

I was curious what kind of top speed most of you were getting out of the 96-98 26 ft scarab and what modifications you had done

Re: 26 Scarab?
 

I owned a 1998 26 Wellcraft Scarab. This model of the 26 Scarab is not built with stringers and is not a very well built boat in my opinion. This model of the 26 Scarab ran from 1995 till 1998. I had a lot of stress cracks on the swim platform and on the hull side above the rubrail next to the passanger and driver. Also have stress cracks in the corners of the strakes and hull running legth wise with the strakes. I kept getting these fixed and they kept coming back due to the amount of flex in this boat. Wellcraft finally discountinued this model of 26 Scarab after all the warranty problems I was told from the head of the Scarab sales dept. Then I really screwed up and went and raced this boat in a local class APBA race and then 2 E Class races. The boat about fell apart!
Another local 26 Scarab owner (1997) had the same problems as I had. He used to post on here back around 2000-2002. We had our boat in the same high and dry marina, bought from the same dealer and so forth. Our boats spent a lot of time in Clearwater FL at VanWagoners boats getting authorized Wellcraft hull repairs.