2 small blocks or 1 big block
 

what would be a better package in a late model 29 scarab ?
small blocks = 350 mpi's = 300 hp x 2
big block = 540 ci. 575 hp

thank's
mike

I will stick with my favorite saying (there is no replacement for displacement)

2 350s=750 cubes
Or 1 540 cube

The single should be faster.And less weight in the rear.

better dock'n w/ 2! spare engine if 1 goes down!

Ya, im no pro but pretty much from what i understand is that your gonna get lighter faster and cheaper upkeep no the single but with twins you will have a back up easier docking and i am probably some other stuff that im missing about twins and singles but this just off top off my head. Good luck!

I'd sacrifice 3-5mph for two motors. Getting stranded is no picknic.... Especially if your doing some ocean running.

Does it really..? :lolhit:

play nice Bubba!!!:evilb:

29 feet is alot of boat for one motor, since it is a performance hull. If it were a cruiser, one motor would suffice.

That's how we do math in Ohio ;)

I'd respectfully disagree. 30 Activator, 2750 lavey, 29 kryptonite, 28 pantera, 28 howard, 30 velocity, 30 phantom, 30 Y2k Superboat and ill even jump the gun and say 28 OL. kryptonite, activator, phantom, and superboat all at least into the 80's with a stock 525.

***

You might want to check in the Scarab forum but in the case of my twin sbc 29 vs the 29 single Fountain my twin will beat the single engine version out of the the hole so badly its not even funny (especially when loaded with people).....like I am GONE! but then they come back and beat me on top end if the race is long enough.....the docking is better with the twin as mentioned as is the reliability.....the single will most likely handle better/fly flatter with less weight on the rear.....if all out top speed and handling is the only concern go with the single but a 29 is a lot of boat for any normally aspirated single to get on plane..D

if you get the twin race everybody from a dead stop!!

Mike,
If your going to be boating in south fla, I would advise the twins, almost anywhere you go here, you will want the peace of mind that twin engines will give you, 2 small blocks is the difference between, being the average boater headed to bimini, or that cowboy who tryed to get there with a single, you might make it in most cases, but if your family is on board, your fingers will be crossed the entire way. Having twins may also be the difference between drifting into that mega yacht in the miami beach marina current, or being able to limp your way out of crisis on one engine. just my 2 cents, I hope it helps.

Now if your planning on doing lake and freshwater boating, where you can see land most of the time, then the single would be a better choice.

I looked at buying a 29 scarab. If you do a search on here you will find that a 29 with stock 502 does about 62 mph and the twin small blocks goes about 68 mph stock.

Just a couple more points on this topic.

Bravos behind the 350's should last forever. A Bravo behind a 540 not so much. It's the torque that kills gears.

The Scarab 29 is a narrow beam boat. So, the twins will be tight and more difficult to work on than the single.

The P-29 Scarab runs mid to upper 70's with the twin 350's vs upper 60's for the regular 29.

The P-29 Scarab runs mid to upper 70's with the twin 350's vs upper 60's for the regular 29.[/QUOTE]

Has the blackhawk drives, duo prop and surface piercing.

If you need peace and mind when boating and therefor twins...you shouldn't boat !

A single is less maintance, lighter, easyer to work on, and if comparing a 540 to twin 350s..the 540 will be faster and even out of the hole.
On the Bravo i agree that its pushing it . but any drive can break.

I am glad to own a single engine 30 foot boat ..i had twins before.........way more money then single.

the 27 Carrera (just as heavy as a 29 Scarab if not heavier)
run 67-69 with twin 350s and 62-63 with single big block.
Mine runs 69 with single HP500..
The fact you have two drives dragging instead of one
negates some of the extra hp of twins.
If you have to work on your on boat the single makes life a LOT better.
Twins are a royal pain to work on by comparison.
If someone else does your work for you then its just a matter of preference..
Only way I would own a boat with twins is if they were staggered
but thats mostly because I am always tinkering with my toys..
:D

Go 2 350's bravos with shorties, don't go Blackhawks, I had a P29 great boat aside from the drives. The only boat I ever had a drive problem with and I had a bunch of problems. Plus like said before you can limp home on one better than none.

I owned a 29 Scarab with a single big block. A friend of mine has one with twins (and is for sale in Austin, TX). The answer is they are both great boats. If you find the boat you like, either engine package is fine. This is one of the best handling, and most fun boats that I have ever owned. It looks great, easy to tow, and has a decent cuddy. If you want a great boat in the 30-40K range, you can't beat one of these! Pictures are of the one for sale. Good luck with your search...

I was just going to mention the outdrive situation.

A bravo one hooked up to a 540 wont last, however a bravo one on a 350 should last forever.

I also agree with the docking situation. Much easier with twins.

Peace of mind with having twins. You can always limp home on one.

I have never seen a documented report showing the maintenance expenses of singles vs twins. Some say because twins dont work as hard, they are cheaper to maintain. Others say a single engine is easier to maintain because there is only one motor. I guess this would depend on the situation and circumstances. To each his own. Very hard to draw a conclusion here. I would think twins are more expensive though.

The twins drive better. Perform better. Great center of gravity and weight distribution. Probably handle the rough better.

Fuel seems to be another gray area. Some say twins dont use a lot because they dont work as hard while others say a single drinks less because its only one motor. I would think twins use more but its probably not 2x more. More like 1.5x more.

Not all twin 29' Scarabs have Bravos...not sure what year that they changed, but some have Alphas.

thank's for all the reply's and info .

as stated above twin's for ease of docking in the strong current and wind we have down south here and also if one motor goes south i would still be able to limp home on one motor .
i have owned a few boat's with twin's and a few with single's and twin's are better for the statement's mentioned above . but like whats also been said a single is easier to work on .
there seem's to be quite a few of these boat's for sell, one with twins over at sun coast on the west coast of florida look's nice .
i guess i will have to go check them out and make a choice .
thank's
again
mike

For the most part a single is better balanced, the weight is centered over the keel instead of towards the outside, same reason raceboats have staggered engines, to get weight closer to the center.
A single also doesnt have all the weight in the ass end like a side by side twin so it should fly flatter..

If i were to build a new 28-30ft, it'd be twins.
Plus, you can build on those sbcs if you want more speed, and the bravos will still be fine... not so much on the single.
The maint on the HP BBC will be more than on the stock SBCs; re: oil changes, top end rebuilds etc... plus constant work on the drives...
A pair of 400-450 sbcs would be real nice in that 29.

oops I was drinkin 700:coolcowboy:

For the most part , a shorter (30 and under ) v bottom is way more balanced with 1 motor..

Why not twin Big Blocks?

I have 2 fountain 29''s. One with 575 and one with twin 377 scorpions. The twin boat is 2mph or so faster. But the single handles 20 times better. also they are within a year of one another.

+1
i think a lot depends on where you do most of your boating.
Ocean,, i prefer to have twins.

Thank you
Jim

Twins!!!!!

I don't think it is fair to compare this boat to any of those light layup, shallow cuddy boats on your list. That Scarab is more the size of a 29 Baja OL, 28 Sonic, or Donzi 28 ZX. My friend has a single 29 Scarab big power with a 420 blower and just gets 80.

One is better then two here..

so i used to have a 28 pantera single 750 hp how doe's the 29 scarab compare in ride ?

thank's
mike

AGREED!!

Im getting 90 out of a single engine 28.8 foot boat.

I also get 2.2-2.5 MPG at cruise speeds.

A modern built light layup setup can deliver astonishing performance from a single.

Bravos dont last period- regardless of what they are behind and yes redundancy is great, but the cost is severe.

Much like single engine planes a well maintained single is better than an ignored twin.

Uncle Dave

i had a 28 active thunder single and a 28 saber with twins. both have pros and cons and i am sure you can argue any point. i prefer the twins.

Next question- having 2 boats that compare size wise with a scarab 29

would you not buy the single engine package if it were a good deal?


Im concerned that a scarab 29 is a resin bucket and isnt comparable to a modern 28/29 in weight at all but likely at least thousand or more pounds heavier.

UD

I believe the weight of the twin 29 scarab is around 6300 hundred pounds and the single is 5500 hundred pound and this is the dry weight