Scarab 302 C.C.......thoughts.
 

Looking hard at this idea here soon. I know there is always good and bad so let's hear both.

Looking at twins with newer 4 stroke power.


And go......

Very hard boat to beat for the money. Myself and two buddies bought one as our first boat when we were all around 19 years old. I think we paid $5k each for it and still to this day it was the most fun I've ever had in a summer. Beat the crap out of it, party on it, hook it to the ball in front of the beach house, hose it down, and leave it until the next weekend without a care in the world. Those were the days.......

The one thing you have to watch for with that particular boat is rot in the floor.

Those are the days I want. I know you know the drill but taking out my Sonic is a chore every time. The towing, docks, clean up, and all. I love it but I am looking for more carefree right now.

I will def look for floor rot. Thanks brother!

Honestly though coming out of your 35 Sonic with big blocks, a 30ft outboard boat is going to feel very small and flighty in any kind of seas. What are you looking to spend? If I were you I would be looking at 35ft and bigger center consoles.

You don't have to look for it, I've come to the conclusion that most of them have it......It just depends to what degree. Look around the center console and near the cabin entry. Not that big of a deal unless it's really bad, just put gas in it and go!!

For $50k you will be able to find a Donzi 35ZF cuddy with trips, which is a hard boat to beat for the money....

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...5-ZF-102010426

$40 - $50k would more than likely be the budget. I can get a bit more the Sonic and have some pocket change again after buying a home lol.

I just don't want to go too big. I tow everywhere and that is a big hassle with so much boat back there. 2 docks here I can't even use cause they don't accommodate my boat/trailer.

this 34 is 19,500 with fresh power

Driving this around busy ass Clearwater gets old fast lol.

I won't go under 30' but need to come down a little to make life easy on myself.

That is a lifted Excursion on 35's too for size reference.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2rn7pz8.jpg

Going 100% outboard. Beautiful boat but not what I will be wanting.

Where's that listed?

This was anchored off the beach this past weekend in front of my resort. Sharp. Had twin 4-stroke Yammies.

That's it man.

I know I am losing some cool stuff with the Sonic but I would not be disappointed at all to see that floating in her place.

Get your Sonic sold first. There are lots of Scarab 302's around to buy and don't be afraid of 2 strokes. They are a great boat and with OB's pretty easy to maintain. I bought my Scarab Sportster for not much $ in Tampa= came wioth an owens & sons trailer. It's my Florida boat...

Wannabe

Did a run (boat kids) with Statement Marine and them 2 weeks ago and this is their good buddies. I fell in love with it. All redone and done perfect in my opinion.

http://i58.tinypic.com/315cpit.jpghttp://i62.tinypic.com/mtb8nm.jpghttp://i62.tinypic.com/iqeb01.jpg

Sonic will be listed in a month or so. Want to enjoy another run or two but I know in the long run it's time.

Love the Sonic but I think I jumped into more than I wanted and needed. So get a little summer fun with her and then it's time. Next season I would like to be in a sport CC.

It looks good, easy to maintain. If the price is good there is alway a demand for these boats. The hulls ride great, mine is the 26 ft version.

Wannabe

Is there a reason you have decided on the Scarab and 4 Strokes? I just picked up a Concept with Optimax (2 strokes), and so far I have been blown away by the acceleration the two stroke 225s have. Makes my Velocity feel like a mini van pulling out into traffic.... I was also very impressed with the Ride quality of the hull. The Concept 30 is really a 28' hull Is the Scarab a 30' hull or do they count the platform too??. I took it out in some nasty stuff last weekend (sustained winds of 20-30mph), ran her up to 60 and was amazed at the ride. They are other brands out there with similar "go-fast" looks in that price range. I guess what I am saying is I wouldn't narrow your search to just the Scarab and 4 strokes. Mercury EFI's from what I have heard are kind of fuel hogs, where the Optimax (later models) are fuel efficient. I am loving the idea of filling up oil tanks every now and then and never having to do oil changes.

You will love Outboards (I am in love and have only had them a very short time) for serviceability alone. No more contorting yourself in positions not humanly possible to change an impeller of an oil filter....

The Seadeck in that Scarab looks great. I have had thoughts of doing the same to my Concept.

I am not stuck on Scarab just easy to find and enjoy the look. I like Concepts a lot too. An 8' ish beam CC with small cuddy is the guideline. As far as engine I do like the hands free of 4 stroke but I am betting like most I see for sale i will start with a 2 stroke and I guess evaluate from there.

Fwiw too that flooring is money. I will 100% be doing that. We took his scarab and 2 Statement CC's out after the run that all have it and I wonder now why I don't.

From what I have been told, the Optis (aside from adding oil) are pretty much trouble free (no oil changes with 2 stroke) I dropped the lower units and replaced impellers on both. Each lower unit takes about 3/4 quart of oil. So that's only 1.5 quarts for both, My single Bravo took twice that. In my little experience with outboards, It appears they are much easier to work on. I think the Concept has a slightly larger cuddy (Concept 30) than the Scarab. If you jump to a Concept 36' The cabin is much larger. (The 36 is actually 33')

Not that I do any fishing, but I wonder how easy that seadeck is to clean. I also wonder if it is stain resistant (will it look worn out after a few years)... Those would be my only concerns. Right now I am loving the fact I can walk around without bumping into things. I can bend down to pick something up without banging into a seat. Also loving the ease of hosing the floor down.... After taking mine out for the first time on Sunday, I have been thinking to myself "why did it take so long to switch to a CC?"

Wannabe--- you have twins on your 27?

The 302 is a true 30. Nothing molded on. Dad has one that is almost about to get wet. Little older at 93 but just hung 300 hpdis off the back. Should run. The efi 2 strokes no better than carbs it's about the direct injection like Optis and hpdis and etec. Fairly fuel efficient motors.

Nate go check out the hull truth, you'll find a lot of info there as its mostly a fishing forum full of cc's

I might peak over but stay away so far cause it is a fishing based forum and though I want a CC I can promise a single pole would never see the deck.

My friend here in TN has a 2001 35'Cig with twin HP500's, He just bought a 25'CC with a 351 True inboard. It goes 30mph tops...Guess which on he uses more??? Yeah....There's Lots of Fun to be Had just cruisin around :)

How about a chrome one that gets danced on??

Now I like were this is headed.

Brad, the foam on your bracket is Sea Dek. I told you the accelleration is crazy in that boat.

The Scarab is a little larger then the Concept, 30' hull versus 28 and the Scarab has a couple inches more freeboard. The Concept is all composite so no worry about rot, I would check very careful on any old 302.

I went with a 32 Dakota, it's 31'8" x 8', cuddy is a lot larger than the concept or scarab and it has a head in console with about 5' headroom, maybe not as sleek and sexy as the concept or scarab but I think they are cool boats, it's the same hull Sonic is making as their 32 CC.

I have a 98 with 98 merc 225's carb, while the gas mileage sucks, the boat is awesome I use it as a shooting platform at various events. I took it to the race in englewood this past weekend, as well as chase boat for Broadco while testing in 3 to 4 ft seas on the gulf. My motors still put out about 110 compression and they have 400 plus hrs on them. Verados will not work on a 302 as they are too heavy, optis is the way to go.

Only issues for me with them and I run one a lot... Narrow beam tends to lean a lot with people moving around and rotten floor. Most of these boats have wet wood some were.

+

How about a brass pole?

Great thread BTW

The sea deck on my motor bracket already looks pretty dirty from climbing in and out while working on it. That's where my concern with a cockpit floor comes from...... On another note, I figured out the banging sound I emailed you about..... The water tank in the console was completely empty, while it sits in a channel, it isn't strapped down. So when I was in heavy seas, it was slamming down on the floor...

The sea deck is pourus so I can see it getting stained from grease etc, the water tank only had a small rail to keep it in place, I never drained it so it didnt bang around too much I guess. The front coaming pads you were asking about have no access so you have to cut them out to replace or gain access, I think they installed them prior to installing the cap.

There is a guy on Hull Truth re-doing one of these with 3 of the old Evinrude V8 outboards, he's replacing the transom, (go figure)

That is the only accepted pole on board brither .

I too am enjoying this thread.

I went from a Top Gun to a Scarab 302. Of all the CC I've been on, the Scarab rides closest to the Cig. The ride is solid and better than it should be for a light CC. From all the folks I've met or read about with 302's, it looks like the best motor is a 2 stroke 225 hp. Mine will run 60 any day and got 62.9 out of it with a light load. 250's seem to run the same speed and 4 strokes are too heavy upsetting the balance of the boat.

Main thing to look for as others mentioned is a soft floor. This starts around the console and if soft either run or buy it cheap.

Good boat though and easy to maintain. I use my CC way more than I used the Cig and work on it about about 90% less! Btw - they updated the boat and console for the 2000 year boats.

Any questions - PM or this thread - glad to offer any insight or help.

Here are pics of boat and a pic of where I re did the console. Ext is upholstery and need ideas on how to add color and make seats look better ( more go-fast like)

Man that is a BEAUTIFUL boat. Exactly what in would like and how I would like it to look.


Thank you all for the what to look for and things like that verybhappy I made this thread.

I was a phone call away from putting an offer in on a 302 cc before I got my 33ol. I wanted it pretty bad, we have kids so head, space, twins for security when we go offshore was criteria. It was a 00 with 05 300xs's!!

That Sunday, I told wife it was what we needed and I was calling Monday morning to put offer in and start process. THEN she developed an opinion after looking at the pics. She wanted a sunpad so she and kids could climb up the back instead of climbing around engines.

Oh well.. I was pretty close. It had the bolsters and back bench and supposedly ran 68-70.

A 302 with 300's will run in the low 70's if setup right . Heard 72 from a couple people.

there is one for sale on www.thehulltruth.com for 11,500 minus the existing power.