Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

I'm on the way to buy a 1989 Scarab II with a RS-Drive. I thought that the last Scarab II was build in 1987. Also I can't find something about the RS-Drive - it should be a performance drive. Can someone help me?

Thank's, Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

You must mean TRS drives.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Gerhard

It should propably read TRS and not RS
I am in Denmark are there many powerboats in your area ?

Cigaretteman

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

You sure beat me to it 38KV. How are you doing ? Did you find any headders yet ? If you have them on already we need pictures.

Cigaretteman

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

The TRS came before the Bravo. It has a transmission for shifting between forward and reverse. I would not call it a performance drive but it is a good drive in my opinion.

Cigaretteman

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

I also think that the seller could mean TRS - I know them, but they are heavy and horsepowereating. But did Wellcraft use in 1989 TRS-Drives and not Bravo 1? What do you think about the Scarab II from 1989?

Hy Cigaretteman,
in Austria powerboats are very rare because we have about 400 km to the sea! But for me that's no reason to buy one.

Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Hi Jesper,

I've only found garbage-headers this far, I was actually thinking of contact you in a near future and buy yours if you still have them.

Sorry to hijack your thread Gerhard, back to topic.

Jonas.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Gerhard

You are right they take some horses to run but the trans makes them shift much nicer than Bravos. I also belive they are stronger than bravo´s and if they break you can swap them with the new Conrad drives.

I don´t have any first hand expirence with the Scarab II but it is not my favorite boat. What size are you looking at ?

Cigaretteman

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

It is a 30' one and has two 350 / 260 HP

Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Hi Jonas

I still have them fell free to contact me anytime !
Do you know of anyone in Sweden that could be interested in a 1992 Cigarette Top Gun with Hawk 525 SC´s ? asking 76.000 Euro or even lower on a fast deal. Nice boat with many new parts.

Jesper

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

I know there are a 30 here in Denmark with twin 420´s. 520 HP sounds a little on the low side for a boat of that size. What toop speed are they claming ?

Jesper

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

It should run 95 km/h with 4-blade SS-props.

Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Gerhard, 2x350"/260hp seems like kind of weak power in a 30' Scarab.
I didn't even know they came with small blocks.
Also a strange combo with 350's and TRS's in a '89.

Jesper, I might know some, send me some pics.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Gerhard

I am no expert on this type of boat but the one here with the 2 x420 HP runs about 60 MPH I would bring a GPS to the seatrial cause my guess is it will be much slower.

Jesper

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

What you said.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

I would question the year of this boat. My guess is it is a 1979 as the 350ci 280/TRS package was popular back then.

I do not remember Wellcraft offering the Scarab II in '89 I believe by then it was called the 30 Panther

Also, the last year Merc offered the smallblock/TRS package was 1983.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Jesper

do you know a Scarab II 30' in your area to sell? You have to know that this boat is my favorite. It looks great, hast two engines, room to sleep for two and can be trailered.

Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

I just send you a mail with pictures of the boat.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Biggus

It couldn't be a 1979 because it has the round windscreen and it couldn't be a Panther because it has not the flat front-deck. My opinion is that it is in truth a 1987 Scarab II.

Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Biggus is right the 30 here is a Panther. Make sure you look at the hull number ! Many people in Europe thinks that adding new engines, drives or interior to their old boat makes it a newer boat. I have seen many boats advertised a lot newer than they really where. 1990 hull with 2000 engines does not make a 1995 boat !!! Be aware of this. Look for pictures of other boats on the net and see if it looks the same as the one you are looking at.

Jesper

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Post a picture so we can see it !

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Jesper

I'm only a registered member, I cannot post pics. But if you want I mail you some.

Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

The Scarab II had the rounded windshield back in 1979 I have a friend with one.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

I would run away from that deal.

1. The seller claims it's a '89
-Last year for Scarab II was '87, (you were right Gerhard)

2. The seller is talking about RS performance drives, bla bla bla...
-He is full of bullsh!t, or have no idea what he is talking about!

3. Engine package is way too small for that boat, and probably very old too.

4. The seller claims 95 km/h (60 mph) top speed.
-Again, he is a lier. I don't think she is faster than 45-50.


Gerhard, think twice before you buy it! Have a look at other Scarab II's to compare with.


Good Luck!

Jonas.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

You are welcome to mail me the pictures and I will post them for you.

Jesper

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Hy Jesper,

please post me your email-adress, I will send you the pics.

Thanks, Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Hy Jonas,

thank you for your valuable comments. You say what I thought this night.

I one of you knows a 30' Scarab II between 1980 and 1987 in a good shape, please tell me.

Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

In the mid 80's Wellcraft made a 30 ft Scarab II and a 30 ft Scarab Panther along with a few others. The Scarab II had a raised deck for more headroom in the cabin and a higher windshield. The Panther had a flat deck and a low windshild for the sporting look. I am surprised at the power/ drive combo. By that time everyone was going with 454 Mag/Bravo. Smallblocks were probably available but they would've used Alphas. The 420 was probably phased out by then. With smallblocks they would go 56-58, with 330's 62 and with 420's about 70.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Gerhard

My mail is [email protected]

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Sorry but I don´t know any for sale. Are you considering other boats or must it be a Scarab II. Our powerclub has a few boats for sale you can see them on www.powerboats.dk

Jesper

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Here are the boat

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

Thank you Jesper for posting the pics. A few minutes ago I've upgraded to gold-membership it was unsatisfying not see them (and to be able to post them).

Gerhard

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

That's a mid 80's Scarab II all right. My 86 Scarab 400 came with TRS drives. A friend's 87 Scarab III came with Bravo drives. So my guess is it's a 86 with newer small blocks. The Scarab II's are a little heavier than the Scarab 300's so it probably goes low to mib 50's.

Re: Mercury RS-Drive ??
 

For sure a Scarab II. My first performance boat was a 1987 Scarab Panther and it had factory installed Alpha 1's with 7.4's. Had the Bolsters, K-Planes and Shifters. I never blew a drive, thanks to the fact that the boat planned real easily, but being that we were in the air a lot I was surprised. Had luck on or side I guess. I allways wondered why it was loaded with "performance items" but was coupled to Alpha 1's. Not that they are a bad drive, just not rated for alot of HP. This combo ran around 60-62 on a good day.

Sorry to jump on the thread, but with seeing all the bravo and trs combo's mentioned, I was wondering if anyone had the Alpha setup.

E.S.