85 Scarab 1 project questions
 

Hey guys i purchased a blue 85 scarab 1 running and "driving" for $1600. The gel coat is pretty faded and the interior its shot, other than that the boat is pretty complete and i cant wait for my first trip to the lake with it.

My first question is can someone send me pictures or a link to where i can by the engine cover hinges that these came with. Someone put some home cheapo barn door hinges on it that rusted out. I would like to keep everything as factory as possible (besides the radio and the engine)

thanks for you time

I doubt they are any kind of factory special hinges... Bill at diamond performance, cp, harden all gould have stainless hingess for it

Sounds awesome. Post some photos of it. What kind of power are you running?

Just curious how you found the boat so cheaply? I'm looking for a decent running boat for the summer while I build my engines.

And if your looking for parts contact Smokin gun or Sick Stinger on here or post in the wanted section with what your looking for. I would not be too worried about trying to find the original exact hinges for it. Just find something that is designed for the marine environment (chromed brass or stainless) and use that.

http://i67.tinypic.com/2r2olqs.jpg http://i68.tinypic.com/2l808w.jpg I found it behind a repair shop and asked the owner about it, it was a project of his and he lost interest. Unfortunately the trailer has no paper work and the id tag is long gone. I'm trying to deal with that nightmare before the weather warms up enough to work on the boat.

Can you apply for a home built title for the trailer? If not what about doing a history search on the boat and seeing if any of the previous owners of the boat had the trailer titled at the same time. I like those colors on the hull. Have you checked out ScarabKV's Scarab 1? His is a George Barrris modified boat that was used at Universal Studios and has all the documentation on it.

Jkrum, Where in NJ are you at, or is it just an NJ boat?

Had one of those boats and loved it. Fast hull with the right power. Handles well too.

I'm up in north jersey around wayne, the shop i bought it from is in haskell and the owner on the title before me was also nj so i assume so.

Nightmare on the trailer is over. Many get plates / titles for there trailers from Maine. I believe, In Maine, any trailer over 15yrs does not need a titlle for plates.

Here is two popular sites:
https://mainetrailerregistrations.com/

http://aceregistration.com/

Do a search on here and other places to verify what I'm saying about registrating in ME for trailers. Pretty cool deal for those having title issues and/or huge sales tax for trailers.

My biggest problem with it is there's no Id numbers to register it by. I may try and go the homemade route but nj is pretty strict

anyone have a good idea what the weight of this boat is with some fuel and gear on board? im going to buy a aluminum venture trailer good for 4200 lbs my guess is that is sufficient

Popular mechanics reported the weight of the boat at 3100 lbs back in 87 so I think a 4200 trailer would be good. What are you doing with your old trailer?

Popular Mechanics test article from 1987

https://books.google.com/books?id=Qu...ab%201&f=false

trailer sold before i could get a chance to look at it, damn. the old trailer will go up for sale but it has no paperwork or markings so idk if anyones going to buy it

Call one of those places from ME. Those co's don't do funny business, if that's what is bothering you. It's that ME trailer reg's are that easy, is why many from across the country uses ME reg places.

Tell them straight forward what's up and they will set you up.

It's the third time I've mentioned it.

I've got an 87 Scarab 1 O/B, weighs about 5200lbs on the trailer with the original motor (Merc 2.4L 220 Laser injected) and original EZ Loader roller trailer. New custom bunk trailer and 03 Optimax 250XS probably weigh about 200lbs less (-300 for trailer, +100 for engine) so right at ~5000lbs. They're tanks, every time I look at the fiberglass inside I think "Wellcraft got bored and just sprayed more gelcoat everywhere". My parents bought it new in spring 88 and have run it yearly since. About 5 years ago the original motor blew and finally landed with a freshly rebuilt Optimax 250XS to add some more displacement, TQ, and reliability.

Gelcoat was faded pretty badly after sitting out in the sun all summer for years, I went with Marine31 products, DeWalt rotary buffer, and went at it hard for about 100 hours. Took a total of 6 passes I believe to get it where I wanted, 3 or 4 with heavy compound then worked my way up with the last being a wax/sealant. Looks much better now!

I ended up buying a much newer trailer with four wheel disc brakes and sold the old one for a few hundred. Projects coming along have almost all the electrical components worked out and I'm getting ready to take it did a test ride soon I can't wait to throttle it up for the first time!

My first question is can someone send me pictures or a link to where i can by the engine cover hinges that these came with. Someone put some home cheapo barn door hinges on it that rusted out.

These are the hinges I found that match my '86 Scarab Panther perfectly: http://www.sailorsams.com/Whitecap-T...34_p_9353.html
http://www.sailorsams.com/Whitecap-T...4_p_9353.html#

Awesome! They look like they'll bolt right up exactly what I was looking for.

Had the boat out last weekend she's running good! It has a 13x21 prop on it and I was only going 40 on gps with 3/4 a tank at 5k rpms wot. From what I'm reading online it should be faster. The prop isn't in the best shape. Would a 14 1/2 X 21 cleaver be too much for a stock 260?

Bigger diameter in the same pitch isnt likely to help your top end. A cleaver style prop will also likely be hard to get on plane as the were not really intended for deep set outdrives. Your best bet might be a Merc Lazer style in a 23 as a next step to try.

They came stock with a 19p cleaver. 21p will work, but will be tough to plane with 4 people and a lot of fuel.

Have had one of these boats in the family since '84 and it is still around and used every summer.

Note sure what modern prop will work better, if it does. The 19p and 21p are still used to this day. 99% of time it has the 19".

So my summer ended with a bad riser locking up my motor. im building a 355 and im trying to find some upgraded manifolds. i was looking at eddie marine thunders but they have a 26" center to center spacing. my thru-hulls are 24" center to center. Is this because its an 86 or what? I cant seem to find any answers searching the inter-webs to death.

A high perf aluminum manifold will likely be wider than the old merc iron anchors as they are designed to flow more.. A muffler shop could bend you up some offsets to allow your downtubes to mate up with the thru hull tips.

I'm going to repower my Scarab 1 with a 410 Ford SB next year and will end up with similar issues. I will be using GM LS manifolds with an adapter.

That's an awesome project. I ended up going with Hardin marines seaward manifolds they are only 7/8 of an inch wider instead of a full 2" of other brands hopefully I'll be able to make it up with the rubber joints

Good job! Hope they work for you.

As for the project, I have everything I need for my new motor except exhaust. Its tougher with a Ford than a Chevrolet, as there are no decent marine manifolds that fit the twisted wedge, TFS 11R Ford heads. Fortunately, the LS shares almost the exact same bore spacing, so IMCO or Hardin manifolds can be adapted to fit.

I'll have one of, if not the only Ford powered Scarab 1 around. I have a blown 509 Chevrolet in my Nordic, but wanted to be different with the Scarab 1.

Mini radar arch
 

I saw a couple of these boats with a mini radar arch. Was this an option?? If so does anyone know where to get one?

Thanks!

Join the 38ScarabKV.com forum and their Facebook group. They will most likely give you good advice.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...d06a4ee45e.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...9602dc427d.jpg