26 CV, Sprint, Larry smith
 

Hi guys,

Are all the 26ft boats on the same hull? Just a different deck? Seeing what ya'll think

In the market for a 26ft project and I'm going to make a youtube series on the refit, I think ya'll would really enjoy seeing a build.

Thanks again Alex

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I thank you can add a 28 Excel to that list too. Its the 26ft LS bottom with a molded swim platform.

Call dan at archer marine in costa mesa
 

THE 'GO-TO-GUY' WOULD BE DAN AT ARCHER MARINE IN COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA - HE KNOWS ALL THE HISTORY ON THESE BOATS :boat:

Hi Alex, You still owe us the photos from your mid 90's B-Class race boat resto. What boat was it?

https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...ml#post4565074

This below is the one you hinted at, the 1989 Team Scarab 31 B-79. As far as the Wellcraft Scarab 26 Sprint/Sport etc. and the 28 Excel,(same hull as the 26 as mentioned), they all had a slight hook and a few feet of a running pad. The 1985 and on Team Scarab boats are straight with twin strakes, from the transom forward, creating a slight delta pad along the keel. The 26 CV is therefore the only Wellcraft 26 Scarab that's like the first generation Team Scarab 26 boats. Not 'till Larry helped Wellcraft design the 26 F1 step boat did things change dramatically. First one with a unique deck for Bob Christie, and then Team Scarab layed up 5 more 26 F1 step boats in 2000 for Wellcraft. If looking for an I/O project or budget choice with potential, I wouldn't take on anything except an early Team Scarab 26 or a Wellcraft 23 SCS, due to the sad build quality of all the other Wellcraft 26 models or the 28 Excel. Since it's tough to find a first generation Team Scarab 26 boat, most guys try to find a good condition 26 CV, but even such an example gets expensive to do right since a lot of structural strengthening is needed.

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The 28 Excel is the same as the Wellcraft 26 Sprint etc., with hook and pad.

Hi guys,

Yep Definitely looking for a project for a 26. I want to do an exact replica of my Hero boat from when I was a kid.

B-79 Originally owned by Jim Gregg in Sarasota with Innovation engines. I have stared and drooled over these pics for 30 years.

All paint done by the Magic Brush in Sarasota. Here are some pics for ya'll, I've got more of the build I'll dig out later. These are on my wall in my office.

The art work done on the engine hatches was a K boat on the port side, kinda like a Rat Fink Tribute, and a mermaid with diver on the starboard. Both done in Ed Roth Style, very very very cool.

The project I originally had found wasn't this boat. So I backed outta the deal. It was a 31 viper, but not a LS. Not to mention twin engines is outta the budget and I need something the Tahoe can pull. SOOOOOOO
I want to do a Project 26 with all old school stuff, Back when the transom of a race boat looked like a damn hardware store of stainless, and there weren't any mufflers. SSM Drive, Massive K planes, oldshool Stack injection. And duct tape to hold the gauges in when it was rough out, This will be the theme. Let me know what you guys think and if you have any old school pics for reference let me know, I'd love to make this a project we could all contribute to. Kinda like a throw back boat. I just need to find the right 26 for the right price and we'll be underway.




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Dan at Archer might know, and/or Michele Weismann at Traction Products: Weismann - WEISMANN TRANSMISSIONS

Great photos of B-79.

As far as Your vision of a 26 I still think that You have to do an original Team Scarab 26 in case you one day decide to sell, and need a few dollars for her. A good condition Team Scarab boat will always hold value. Trevor's 1994 Team Coyote Racing is all white with a wrap and would be ideal. He wanted to sell a couple of years ago, but he's probably keeping her it seems. Brad's red 1987 is probably for sale still and a really really nice boat for $29k.

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Back up for sale - 26' Larry Smith Scarab - Kevlar - bought a brand new ACE aluminum I-Beam tandem trailer $10,500 - no motor, drive or transom assembly - 380 K-planes - full interior
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Yes Larry, this 1986 Team Scarab is naturally the best choice for the very handy guy. The racing history and she being a Kevlar49 boat makes her special. The Werners' can be seen heading out for a race in Seattle 1991 in this video. They idle by at the 9:33 mark:


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Amazing footage!
 

Wow!!!! AMAZING FOOTAGE of them!! I also caught Bob Vila in his 23' Warlock!! Thank you for sharing!🚤🏁🇱🇷

The paint job on the B-79 was over the top. My dealer sponsor changed the paint. It was a 468 stagger boat ran well but had a hard time competing with new speeds in the mid 1990s unless rough. The competition was tough with the likes of Powerplay, Sutphen, Fountain . Craig Archer bought the boat from me and changed to side by side and 502s. Boat did well with Craig's awesome talent at throttling. I liked the LS 31 so much I purchased the newer LS 31 Finney racing and use it for poker runs today. Great ride. The B-79 was a non cored Kevlar boat where the Finney is a composite boat. Both very tough just personally like the rigid feel of cored composite.
There is a LS 26 here in Houston that was bought from a very LS knowledgeable elderly gentleman in the Arizona-New Mexico desert. It is a composite blank hull that appears to be very sound. Owner is Ray Haro 713-366-6139

The 1985 Gentry 26 was sold in Arizona about 10y ago.
 

Wonder if this Arizona gentleman was the seller of the 1985 Gentry 26 boat? Do you happen to know the year of Mr. Haro's blank hull, mid-'90s?

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1988 I think. beginning of cored LS

Boat is in California (pictured sitting on old Continental trailer - now has a NEW ACE tandem I-beam trailer)
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The Gentry 26 was an 85 it was the first one that Larry ever built. Hull number 1

Late Tom Gentry's Team Scarab 26, still going strong!
 

Glad to see that Tom Gentry's 26 is actually in excellent shape still, running as a jet boat in ski races in the South-West. The Mason family, Team Imcor, did well in this year Annual Catalina Ski Race in her.

(Photo courtesy of the talented Daren Van Ryte of OCphotographics.com)

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Nice to see it in action. I always thought that Tom Gentry's boat was squirreled away somewhere in Hawaii. Not sure I understand the I/O to jet conversion thing.

Open Jet is a classic class at the Catalina Ski Race.
 

The boat ended up in Arizona after Tom's passing, and been in Phoenix with Billy Mason for quite a few years. It was for sale less than 10 years ago, see photos above, but then re-done with twin jet pumps. The Open Jet class in ski races is a classic one, and this boat is now one of few that run in that class in the Annual Catalina Ski Race. The Mason family has raced her in Parker, Arizona, and other races too, but I hadn't seen the boat up close 'till this year and now realized that she's Tom's old boat, without GENTRY in red on the hull.
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Thanks for the insight.

Single motor with twin jet pumps???

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Interesting, any more info on that setup

Dual jet boats.
 

I know hardly anything about jet boats, but it looks like an Aggressor set-up on the Scarab. Boat supposedly got a very big blower motor. Below is a video of an Ultra 23XS with a dual jet by R & D Marine and Dual Drives Systems of Anaheim, California. Most of these duals were popular 10-15 years ago and Billy Mason had a dual set-up on a Spectra 19 they raced in the lakes before. When he went for the Catalina Ski race several years back, he converted the Gentry Team Scarab 26 boat from I/O to this dual jet to set a record in the Jet Open class. Here's the old video of the dual jet set-up Ultra 23XS, blown 572 and 1000 hp. The acceleration is supposedly serious, but you loose top speed with equal power I/O or V-drive.

2017 footage of 1994 Team Scarab 26, Team Coyote always running strong!
 

Race or fun run, nothing like a Larry Smith Team Scarab!

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Team Scarab 26 fly by at 1m 6s mark:

where is this boat located? Anyone have contact info for the owner?
what drive is the transom cut for? SSM?
what would be the best drive set up a 3a or a 5?
thanks for any info RM

She's being restored by the best in the business, Team Archer Marine, the custodian shop of Team Scarab history.

https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...-restomod.html

What engine and drive are you going to run? What hp? Thanks

Not my boat. Dan at Archer hinted in the resto thread that it will be a special mill in her. All of us Team Scarab fans are excited to see this one come back to life.

whats the best drive to rig a hi hp 26 LS scarab?
i saw one with a number 3a. I also saw a 28 pantera with a number 5 on it. They look like very similar hulls.
i want to buy boat early next year so doing so research now while I have lots of free time. Thx for any info

I wouldn't wait, 'cause a LS26 is too difficult to find. Call Joe and arrange for a low simple interest loan on the 2018 with driveline. Priced way under production cost now. You'll never regret it. https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...159420388.html

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Another photo of the 1985 Team Scarab 26, (ex. Tom Gentry boat). Image courtesy Speedboat Magazine 2015 September issue.
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1988 Scarab 26 with twin Tommy Morrison built 4.3 liter V-6 IMSA GTO-class Camaro motors.
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Team Scarab 26 Archer Marine A-5 during 1993 season. Chevy 468/Blackhawk combo.
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We won the National Championship in 1994 with that combination we won all but one race that year . Regards Dan

I miss A and B class racing...

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone have more information about that boat? Is is a 24 or 26?

It was a 26 Scarab with the CV deck that Larry built for a GM project to show off the ne V-6 4.3 Liter they did 3 boats a 30 Shadow Cat a Silver Wing tunnel boat and the Scarab.

Thanks, ya the 26 looks amazing. The article said 24 that's why I was confused.

The late Tommy Morrison is a very big hero in my motorsport book. David Stollery was also a very multi-talented fellow whose life story should be better known.