boat advice
 

hey guys, I need your opinions on a few boats. would you rather have a 1999 22' powerquest a 1997 22' scarab or a 1997 24' outlaw? all have 454's. why?

thanks!

the outlaw

bigger, dropout bolsters

Where do you boat?
Do you plan to overnight?

I'd probably go with the Baja given those choices as it's definitely bigger. Make sure you "use the same yardstick". The 24 Outlaw is a true 24' long boat. Other boats have a molded in swim platform and count that as overall boat length when it's really not.

Get the outlaw. Best of both worlds you can use it on big and small lakes. It also has the old school offshore look to it. It'll become a collectors boat as well.

I don't really know about that, they made a ton of them.

The one that is the cleanest and most well maintained, with service records to prove it. All three are good boats, the Baja and Scarab will probably have better name recognition among the new boaters that will buy it when you get the dreaded two-foot-itis.
Now if all things maintenance-wise are equal, I'd personally choose the Powerquest. I've looked at all three (and ridden in the PQ and Scarab), and the PQ seemed to have the best build quality of the three.

My only hang-up on the Scarab and PQ is the tiny cabin opening. You have to be a contortionist to get in and out of the cuddies on those things! The Baja wins hands down in the comfort category, but comfort isn't really what it's usually about.

I don't know what your budget is or where you are located, but I'll add another option or two anyway.... there are 2 Sunsation Agressors listed in the Midwest, one at a dealer in Lake of the Hills, IL, and another at a dealer in Harrison TWP, MI. I haven't checked out either in person, but Sunsation builds a helluva boat, and both are around $27k. There are three Active Thunder 25 Tantrums listed, one in New York, one down south, and the location of the third escapes me right now.... All three are listed high 20s-low 30s, and AT also builds one helluva boat.

..... And before I get flamed, none of the listed boats are mine, I'm not a broker or salesman, I just got 2-foot-itis already and have been bouncing around the Internet lately.

good info guys! I figured the outlaw would be first choice. I also think the PQ is the better built boat but would like the size of the outlaw better. I just wish the outlaw was a 25 so it had the bigger door going to the cuddy. I have 2 outlaws located. one has a wrap but the interior does not match the new colors on the wrap. that kinda bugs me but it really doesn't hurt anything. the other outlaw looks brand new inside but the exterior looks a little dated due to the 1997 graphics but I can deal with that no problem but more worried about the power plant which is a 540 / 550hp and its reliability.

Not only is the outlaw larger than the other two, it also has more deadrise. Both of these factors will make it ride substantially better. I'd also be all about the one with the 540, a 454 in that hull is really not enough engine.

one of those AT's is near me and I agree with you on those other boats but my budget isn't that big. I would have to sell one of my other boats, which I don't want to do at this time. I had a killer deal on a sonic 260 but while I was trying to find a trailer for it, someone else snuck in and snatched it up.

You do make a good point. I was just going to say that I don't see too many of the 24 outlaw's anymore.

I'm guessing you are concerned with speed.

Shop for the hull first.

24 Outlaw, SLOW, cabin sucks.

22 Scarab, maybe a little faster but you will get killed in rough water, cabin sucks.

22 Power Quest, don't know enough about it.

Already mentioned was the 24 Aggressor. The 24 X 7 Hull is spectacular. Of course I'm partial to the Superboat, but love Pantera too.

You will outrun the other boats in flat or rough water, better cabin with the Sunsation or Superboat.

I owned a 24 Superboat for 10 yrs. I can count on one hand how many times I got outran by a similar size / powered boat on ANY water.

Don't just buy because it's close to you. A little road trip may will be worth your time.

Had the 22 Scarab. Get the Outlaw.

Of course if you can pull off a 25 AT, that's the ticket!

I have to disagree with this.

If you are new to boating and NOT a mechanic, I would stay away from modified engines.

As far as a 454 not being enough, like I said, shop for a FAST HULL. Don't add power to a SLOW hull. My 24 Superboat ran 78 MPH w/425HP.

thanks for the advice Dave M, not really concerned with speed. I have an STV that runs 113mph and an Allison that isn't far behind it, but my family is scared of both lol . I need something to satisfy them and had a crownline for that but there was nothing cool about a bowrider.

^ This..... I wasn't new to boating on my last purchase, but I don't exactly enjoy being upside down in an engine compartment. I bought the cleanest, newest boat I could afford, with a moderately fast hull (not a real offshore boat, not enough deadrise), and stock Mercruiser power. Bonus points for a semi-walk-in cabin, EFI, and fresh water cooling w/the single point drain system

Sound like you need a center console or cruiser!

My wife is not impressed with the speed thing either. She wants space....A CC is in my future.

There is a 22 scarab in the classifieds priced reasonable

I had a Baja 240 Sport, which became the 24 Outlaw. It had a nice ride even in the rougher stuff and decent performance with the 454 Mag. top speed was about 58/59 mph gps. the cuddy was decent for overnight stays. Ive been in a 23 Powerquest and it was a nice boat as well. Not sure if it would be comparable to what you are looking at. ChrisK used to have one. the 22 Scarab would definately be the smallest out of the three of them.

I had a 22ft Scarab that I just sold, great boat but just isnt large enough - go as big as you can afford !

Go check out 24 Outlaw for sale at Performance Boat Center...make an offer :party-smiley-004:

Which model Powerquest are you looking at? I had a Spectra 222 XL, which was a 22' boat. Quite a bit more roomy than the scarab. Not as big as the Outlaw. Had a 22 degree bottom. Really liked the boat. Would do 60 mph with a 454 mag.
I believe powerquest had a couple different models over the years that were 22' long.

That's a ship compared to a 22 Scarab ! Granted with a 330hp 454, 24p Hydromotive 3blade I ran a best of 67mph gps.


If I were to do it again I would go with a boat like pictured forsure.

24/7 is faster for sure but very small. If you want room look for a 24 Baja or a Powerquest as mentioned above. I like my 24/7 but it is small. I never have more than 4 people on it and will eventually be getting a bigger boat.