1988 Scarab Excel
 

Opinons hates tell me what you like dislike how do you know wether it has the kevlar hull option i would assume that would be a hard find.

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Are you talking about the 28 excel ????

If so I love my boat , but it took a lot to make it in to something worth keeping.

You need at least 600 hp to get in to the 70's

you need to set the drive back and raise the X dimension if you want to get close to 80 mph

Make sure the stringers and bulkheads are not rotted. and check to make sure the hull is straight. dont be surprised to see stress cracks. Scarabs are known for them.



I hated the interior . I replaced mine. now everything in the boat is custom. Its hard to tell its a 1988 boat. you almost would not recognize it as an Excel.

I got rid of the bow & side rails and installed pop up cleats. Custom graphics, high back sit down seats, Gaffrig gauges. and all sorts of custom stuff from Trick Marine. Imco 2" shorter drive, Stern jack, external steering, 280 K planes....I could keep going on and on

The hull and deck have been bonded and through bolted. the wood stringers and bulkheads have been replaced with a composite material.

The boat is solid as a rock and loves rough water. Its a great single engine poker run boat that will hang with the big boats. You just have to work the throttles more.

I love what the boat is now. But it was a lot of work.

Some day I will get around to posting photos.

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Not a good photo.

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

I have had great luck with my 1988 28ft Excel. But as Paul mentioned the boat did take a lot of work. It was worth it! I think I lucked out when I got mine, the hull was fairly straight with very sharp edges on the transom and strakes. I have next to no stress cracks and I run the boat in choppy water all of the time. I did thru bolt the deck to the hull and added additional stringers in the engine compartment from the transom to the firewall between the larger main stringers as well as cross bracing. I felt the boat was pretty well built but I run a 550hp 502 and I do run it in rough water so I felt it would be good insurance to add the stringers.
I think because the hull I have is so good is the reason that I haven't had as much trouble making the boat run. I get a solid 75+mph on gps with 2 people in the boat and over a 1/2 tank fuel, running in the salt water with a little chop. The boat is stable and predictable and it flys nice.
I also redid a lot of the cockpit, new rear bench to dived 3 person bench and installed solid bases for the front seats as well.
I did away with stainless steele grills that were on the sides of the engine compartment and fabricated some real nice vents out of Corian. Filled the old holes and painted that whol area. I also added a scoop on the engine hatch. It's my little hot rod!! :D

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

That is good to hear I just bought my first boat and it is a 1989 excel. Unfortunately a have more stress cracks than I realized when I bought it. What exactly is thru bolting the deck to the hull? As far as the stringers and the cross bracing were those just fabricated? What do you use?

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

i would like to see some pics of what tom has done to his

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

I have 89 28 Excel as TomR and Paul [Hot boat] said bond and bolt the deck to the hull. As far as the stringers go I have had no problems running a 540ci. at over 800hp. :D

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

28Scarab - what kind of speed are you getting with the 800 HP? What prop?

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Scarab28 We are running a true 30 bravo 1 at 6000 to 6100 rpm. done by Throttle UP . We use to use Hydromotive they seemed to work good to about 700hp.

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

has anyone fiberglassed and faired the bottom portion of the swim platform???? I am in the process of doing this and was wondering what you used in the seams.

oh by the way I have a 1988 scarab excel.

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

28Scarab - What speed are you getting out of the Labbed 30.
I've tried a B1 - 28p and 32P and both seem to hit a wall at about 77 MPH. Sounds like we have about the same power - Mine is a 540 with procharger.

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Here you go!! I'll try to add a couple of other photos.

Hello Tom,

How is the racing season going?

I looked at a 1988 28' Wellcraft Scarab Excell in Hyannis back in 1998.

It was at the Mobil at the corner of 132 and Yarmouth Road.

Looked exactly like yours.

Was that your boat?

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

I remember seeing that boat also, but I don't think it's mine! I bought mine in 2000 from a guy up on Winni. He had had it for a few seasons, so I was told.
When I bought it it had a 330/454 in it! It didn't even have thru hull exhaust. It did have a brand new Bravo Drive on it as though. I never even ran the boat that way! It came home to me and took it apart right away!! :D

How is the racing season going?

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

We have run three times, Cape Cod (broke in the third lap), Ortley Beach (third place) and Cambridge (2nd place). We are moving in the right direction!

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

I think that hull won an award from Power Boat mag the year it was introduced 87?

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

It set a speed record in 1989 or 1990. They crashed on 1 attempt, but I seem to recall the top speed was around 96mph. Definitely in the 90's in terms of mph.

Never had any issues with mine, I just didn't like the bucket style seats. A more comfy and secure bolster would have been preferred. The 28 Excel is a great boat. Until your post, I'm not aware of a Kevlar version. Mine was a 1990 model year. Picts below.

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Picts

I was the turn 3 judge at the Cape Cod race. That was were your boat made a loud "Bang" and slowed to a stop.

What broke?

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Tom what boat did you run. The 28 scarab?????

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Hi Paul,
I race in a 28ft Pantera.

Air Dog, We actually lost a fuel pump in the Cape Cod race. I didn't hear a bang, must have been a slap from a wave!!
I finally convinced my partners to go with the Mallory electric pump. It's been great ever since!

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

ttt

Racing?
 

Hi Tom,

Are you racing the Pantera in 2006?

I was planning to run my Banana Boat with OPA, but my team is not coming together in time.

We are now planning 2007.

:drink:

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Yes,
We are getting things together so we can go out and have a real good season in 2006. You still have time, never give up!

Re: Racing?
 

Are you really keeping it on those stands?! :eek: If so - it will for sure look like a real banana boat pretty soon. :p

Yes I am...

Those stands are actually better than jack stands.

The boat was only raced one season, then put on those stands. Then it sat for 10 years with out falling.

One more year should be fine... :drink:

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

That boat looks like the brochure boat for 90.I have it somewhere .

I think I still have all the Power Boat mags on the 88-89 Scarab Excell Ill look and see.

On my 28 it would chine walk bad above 80.

I belive the speed record was made by Dan Archer at Archer marine .It was a 28 with out the swim platform which was the same as the 26 Scarab hull. It was a race hull.had a Paul Plaff 780hp in it. He told me X dim was raised . I think he told me 15 inches???

rob


Rob :drink:

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...e/095eb80b.jpg

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Rob, I still have that brochure, that's the one!!

As of 2 years ago, it was still here on the Chesapeake down in the South River, stored at Liberty Marina and Boatel, owners name was Jorge if I recall correctly. It still looked good, but was in need of new vinyl.

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

When I bought mine new I allways wanted the wing . it was a 2800. opt.and the dealer said that it gets in the way . But it looks cool.I like that year because of no bow rail . It cleaned the boats looks up alot!!At the 12th year my back seat started spliting at the seams . Too much armorall I guess :rolleyes:

I wish they still made Scarabs

Rob :drink:

Re: 1988 Scarab Excel
 

Don't we all. A great looking, handling, and running boat for the price.