Nice 29.. What to watch out for??
 

I really like the looks of this 29. I would love to move up. What do you guys think I should look out for in these older boats. I am not really familiar with scarab other than watching them run on the lakes where I boat. I just want to make sure I'm not going to get into a boat that is more trouble than she is worth. Thanks in advance!

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/13338

Hey "B-Dream"... yeah this boat does look nice. I'm also considering looking at this boat vs. buying a $70K to $80K Sunsation 32 (but it would be a 2004 - 2008 boat). It's hard to spend so much $$$ when you can get something like this for this price. Plus I only keep "toys" for a few years at most so...

I didnt' think that you could get 375HP 350 MAG MPI's. If he "rebuit" the motors, I wonder if a "tune" was done on the ECU's as well. ???

Hey Scarab guys... anyone have any info on this type of boat? (mid 90's 29's that is). I would be interested in some info/history as well.

-=Mike G.

Looks like a nice boat for the money. I personally would be surprised if it ran mid 70's like the ad states. Maybe on the dash speedo...but no way on a GPS. :drink:

If you are looking for a 29 Scarab this is what I would be buying. And they do run 75GPS.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1996-...item27bd588d56

Also get a survey

Wow... nicer! I did see some things in those pics that alert me though... like no belts on one of the motors and what appears to be some fiberglass damage in the engine compartment. Also, some water stains in some places... hmmm... wonder what they would take for it. ???

-=Mike G.

Its not really missing a belt. The hydraulic steering functions off of only one pump, which is on the other motor.:drink:

Any 29 Scarab owners with 350's got real world GPS numbers ? I find it hard to believe that it'll run 75 with small blocks. It says in the ad 375 hp motors. I'll also bet it takes at LEAST 425 hp to get to a true 75 mph. I may be wrong....but I'd bet for sure. :drink:

I just looked at the ebay ad you posted sir. Now this guy says 75 + mph with 300 hp motors ? Whatever.

Ah HA!! Drrr... :lolhit:

I'm going to watch that one. I'm not looking for a "Scarab" in particular, but I would like something with some Uniqueness to it... a P-29 is pretty unique.

-=Mike G.

Hmm... I thought the "p-29" boats (29 of them made right?) were several hundred pounds lighter, kevlar in the hull vs all balsa and with surface drives... ??? The surface drives alone are worth several MPH aren't they?

Looks like I've got some reading to do.

-=Mike G.

P-29s were built with Kevlar and are about 700-800 lbs lighter than a standard 29. That coupled with the surfaces drives offers real world speeds of 76-77 mph on the top end all with 300 hp per side.

Hmmmm...interesting. Guess I have to say "I was mistaken". ;)

Yeah they are a different animal. I guess they are one of the best hulls to run the Black Hawk drives on. I also believe Larry Smith had something to do with setting them up and maybe laying them up. Don't quote me on that.

I have an 1994 Scarab 29 with single bb engine merc 525sc.

This is not the fastes boat but handle rough water extremly well as well as a 32 footers. 3-4 foot chop is very easy for that boat. I have run 70 mph gps with a bravo 1 prop 24p at 5100 rpm and now i am runing 72.5 gps with a bravo 1 26 lab prop at 4950- 5000 rpm.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_FUf8qaQI8

is all that crap decals or paint boat would look better 1 color

Airbrush paint i dont think it was look better in one color...

I hope he isn't talking about your boat. I Think yours has just the right amount of color.

no that p29 boat.. just think its too much going on..reminds me of fast and furious

they were all painted like that and i thought some or most of them had 377 cu. in. 360 hp and all had black hawks until later on switched to bravos. black hawks are a weak drive and meant to be "surface pearcing". last time i checked most surface drives were large diameter shaft speedmasters, i guess if you never leave the water with one of those black hawks you could keep it together??

I thought all P-29's left the factory with 350's. Also, most of the P-29 owners here have said they live just fine behind the small blocks. But one behind a big inch BBC and that's a different story.

You are correct. All P-29s left the factory w/ 350 mags/300 hp.

I have a 2000 Scarab 29 with the 350 Mags in it. I really like the boat. It handles the big seas really well. Mine goes 66mph on the GPS and shows around 70 on the speedo. The real treat to the 29 is how it handles the water. I have friends with a number of different 29's most of which are a little faster than my Scarab (they're all lighter) however, when we're running in any chop over about 3 feet after about ten minutes I'm in a different zip code. I also find the boat to be reasonably economical to run with the 350's which is important given the price of fuel these days. Buy it and you'll love it I'm sure.

love my 29 though its only a single 502mag...run abou 63 on gps when the starts and moon and planets align just right! haha

Tinman, where did you see it posted that the hp was 375hp? These are 100% stock 350 EFI's producing just over 600 hp. I have real GPS numbers on this boat, have confirmed with a previous owner and a Mercury racing engineer, this boat hits 78mph all day long. Thanks! Todd M. Sutton
Smith Auto Sales & Leasing
1113 West Maumee Street
Angola, IN 46703
260.665.3440 (Office)
260.760.8633 (Mobile)
260.665.3399 (Fax)
www.smittysusa.com

Tinman, where did you see it posted that the hp was 375hp? These are 100% stock 350 EFI's producing just over 600 hp. I have real GPS numbers on this boat, have confirmed with a previous owner and a Mercury racing engineer, this boat hits 78mph all day long. Thanks! Todd M. Sutton
Smith Auto Sales & Leasing
1113 West Maumee Street
Angola, IN 46703
260.665.3440 (Office)
260.760.8633 (Mobile)
260.665.3399 (Fax)

Its right in the add...lol. Look in the upper center of the add (right under the boat picture). It says "Power...2 x 375 hp". Then it says it again in the description a little farther down. "Description: 1995 29 Wellcraft Scarab is powered by Twin 350 Mag, Mercury Bravo One 3 Blade Props. Equipped with Drop Out Bolsters, Trim Tabs, Fire Extinguishing System, Tab Indicators, Depth Finder, Mercury Zero Effort Throttles, Compass, Drive Indicators, Sony Stereo System, All Accessories Included, Trailer Included, Freshly Rebuilt Motors With Less Than 100 Hours, 375HP Each, Boat Runs Mid 70's, Very Clean Freshwater Boat.

Propulsion: gas sterndrive ( Engines: Twin 375 hp 350 MAG MPI with 100 hours. Drives: MERCURY BRAVO ONE ) "

http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/13338

I was talking about the first boat having 375 hp motors. I saw your ad for your boat with the hp rating listed as 300. You mis-took what I said sir. We were initially discussing the first boat (above). I still dont believe the speed numbers....but, I'm not looking for an older, smaller boat with small blocks. Good luck with the sale. :drink:

See...I never said your boat didnt have 300 hp motors. :drink:

Thanks TinMan. Sorry for the confusion.

Todd M. Sutton
Smith Auto Sales & Leasing
1113 West Maumee Street
Angola, IN 46703
260.665.3440 (Office)
260.665.3399 (Fax)
260.760.8633 (Mobile)
www.smittysusa.com

Sent from Todd's iPhone