any thoughts on a Scarab Excel??
 

Bentboat.com has an 1988 28' Scarab Excel, that sounds like an interesting project.
Anyone know anything about these boats?
It only has a 454 Mag, but it's apart and might be a good time to rebuild it and put a blower on it.

Any thoughts?

i havea 26' excel (1987) its actually form what i heard 27' loa.

NADA is showing that this boat is 4600#.
Has an average retail value of only $12,700. That seems low, is it because of only haveing 365 hp?

Will this boat even hit 50 mph?

Maybe it's not an atractive project.

i just finished a "project boat".take it from me if you cant steal the boat dont buy it. just my $.02 good luck
:)

jim what kind of project did you finish? don't you have a bertram sportfish?

as for hitting 50 you shoud be able to. I am having some engine problems now (rebuilding this winter FYI JIM it had nothig to do with the head gaskets and the "steam" in exhaust problems) as i result i could only spin a 19p mirage up to high 3000s sometime low 4000s and even at that i was getting just about 50. I am pretty sur emy roller trailer has also created a nice hook which is also slowing me down. As fo rteh weight it handles rough water pretty well because of it. Better than alot of other boats its size. Mine is rapidly turning into a project. I am pretty sure i am re-doign my cockpit as wel as the dash engine and maybe even drive upgrade.

Jim on another note. How is Jon doing?

I had an 89 28 Excell, with 7.4l not Magnum. It did have a bravo though and would hit about 55 on the speedo. It was always a solid and reliable boat. The only problem I ever had was a leaking fuel tank. I found out the supplier had some quality control problems that year. This hull won a Powerboat magazine award the year it was introduced. My biggest complaint was the lack of stand up bolsters.

puder john doing great!!
you are right it was the bertram and it nickled and dimed me to death,it's going to put off buying another speed boat for 1 year or so.it started out as a "steal" it faded real fast
see ya soon jim
also if you are going to repower and replace your drive maybe you should talk to john about a complete package it will save you money

[ 10-10-2001: Message edited by: JIM H ]

Remember, When your 30 years old you want a Scarab that will do over 90.
When your 60 Years old 60 is fine.
When your 90 "Move to Florida" and
drive under 30 all the time.
Mike J. :D :D

Payton

I looked at that boat also, I would suggest passing on it. Unless they give it to you, after a new motor ,interior, eletronics and rigging. You will spend more just in parts than you could ever get out of it. Not to mention if it has some rott in it. :confused:

My 2 cents

I have the same boat. I purchased it with a 400 hp motor and it went around 68mph. I am currently doing some major improvements. I'm installing a 600hp blower motor. hydraulic steering, k plains, gaffrig gauges, noses cone and other drive upgrades. I am contemplating on a drive box extension but I don't think it will be in the budget this year. Mine was already equipped with bolster seats, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The boat is excellent in the rough but I couldn't think of driving it with those sit-down seats. I am looking to try and push it in to the high 70mph range. another member on the board had one that did 94mph. If you are looking for a project just make sure you get it at the right price. good luck

Thanks guys.
Hot Boat, is it measured 28' including the swim platform?

I'm not afraid of replacing some wood as long as it's not stringers.

jim glad to hear johnm is doing well. I was bummed he wasn't at the race in NYC in sept.

As for my boat i am pretty sure i will be lettin it go for a steal in the spring, just rebiuldind the engine back to stock, cleaning up the current interior and dash and selling her cheap. I'm still not sure of what to do after that. I am considering a anotehr scarab (larry smith 38') and a few 24' skaters, but then again i might justy e without a boat for a season or two. That woudl suck but i could hold off and save fora 2 years and get exactly what i want in the future. Maybe even a 30' superboat for racing purposes!!! I just have to get john to teach me exactly how to drive the thing!!!

[ 10-11-2001: Message edited by: puder ]

Yes, that's 28 including the swim platform.

i also had a 89 28 scarab . ive seen pictures of that boat, its been sunk , u can see rear seat is rotten,engine is apart so prob rusted and junk,no cover gel coat will need repaint,prob gages faded cant read,if sank prob hit outdrive,front interior prob bad , prob cant get insurance prob a salvage boat, no trailer,i am glad iam not trying to sell it ,been on that web over 1 year,keep hunting

if it sank STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Only the stern sank. Dash and cabin stayed dry. REar seat is rotted, I think rear deck cover as well. There is a cover, It shows in the engine compartment pics.
Last night the bidding was almost $6k. That was about the limit of what I'd spend for it.

I can get an engine, 450hp, I think that would be about perfect for it. I still think it would've made a nice project but it's looking like someone else wants it more than I do.

if you interested i am sellign mine for around 16k and it will not need any major work. I am puling the engine next weekend for the winter. It is being re-built. Not sure if it needs a total rebuild or just partial. I will see what the deal is once i get it apart. I might wind up getting a short block and using the rest of the current parts on it (they are in good shape all accesories are pretty much new). I just had the heads cleaned up. I also had a valve job done on them. If your interested let me know. I was planning on doing some work this winter and am not sure how far i am going to take it. I might redo the interior. I haev a bunch of new gauges and am getnga new dash made. I was even thinking about putting an arneson on it and biuldin up a real blower motor. I put a blowe ron my 454 and ebverything shoudl have been cool but i was getting low oiul pressure. My plan was to pull the engien remove the blower, rebiuld the engine stock and sell it. Hopefully i can move up to bigger boat soon.

if you want a sweet boat i have one for sale--1988--fresh custom paint-job--new stand-up bolsters--spare bravo drive-new carpet--461ci 450hp (30hrs on it)--new gil exhaust--new imco hydrolic steering---turn key on trailer---17k----john

JFM311, is yours a Scarab as well? what size?

I really was looking for a winter project. I already own a 26' Mirage w/ 700hp and a TRS. I'm not sure which one I would sell. I really want to move up to a 28-30 foot boat. It's looking like that might be another year away though.

If that 28' Scarab is measured with the swim platform, than my Mirage is the same length. It's 26'2" w/out the swim platform.

payton---it is a 28' scarab--blue lightning marine built the engine

payton mine has no swim platform, if yu are interested in it as a project i would sell it cheaper with out any ofthe work done to the engine. and would leave all the interior as it is.

My otside looked about as bad as that one when I got it, but now:
http://skunk.net/Scarab-28-Excel-Hargs/hargs.htm

[ 10-12-2001: Message edited by: NJScarab ]

28 excel
 

Ive got a 1990 28 Excel for sale. The boat is perfect, if looking for project boat this isnt it the boat is 10 times better tha na new scarab. I have over 65 grand in receipts for parts that ive bought for it, not including labor or itnerior work. If anyone is interested email me
[email protected]

Hey I've got a 28 Excell, 1988 with a new 502 in it and its fantastic.
Some mods that are important: new 502 with headers, thru transom exhaust, gaffrigs!

With the stock market fall of today, this is the boat to buy, you'll see alot of high priced go fasters for sale soon but: when it comes time for repair I found the excell to be easy to work on and clean. Its a dream at the launch ramp and to trailer plus the hooters girls love it as much as any 42 cig.
check it:http://www.geocities.com/terryga/P28Scarab.html

Make sure you get a good base boat to start on!!

I just got a 22 scarab, I love it