I am looking for another Scarab. Problem is I want the 38, but I'm not convinced I can afford it. By afford it I mean gas and tow vehicle.
The 29 is appealing because of price and I can tow it with my current vehicle. If I go with the 38 I would need a new tow vehicle and Im worried the gas would kill my budget whenever I wanted to use it.
I would be using this boat in the Southern California coast. The 38 would be the best ride im sure but 29's aren't too bad.
So anyone who has owned a 38 or 29 can you give me any idea on fuel burn differences or cost to run??
If anyone has a figure for fuel burn at cruise that would be appreciated.

my 38 w/ 500 efi's fully loaded with fuel and 4 people gets better than a mile per gallon. in the river last weekend through alot of no wake zones I did 45 miles on 40 gals of gas. cruising 3100rpm's(had family and my son on board)at 40 mph. this week end went out in the ocean and did about 60 miles and the fuel gauge looks at the same point it did when I was in the river on 40 gals.just a guess right now till I fill her up again. cruised most of the day at 50 mph at about 3500 to 3600rpm. full fuel and water and 4 guys. did do a couple of wot runs also.

oh,btw,i am VERY pleased with the MPG.It will only get better whan I can run lower fuel when I really get to know the boat better.

THanks Tcuda499.
Do you think the mileage is the same as the 29 with twin 350s? Mile per gallon sounds ok to me.

Forget the fuel consumption, you will spend triple the amount of money on maintenance and repairs for a twin engine boat than you will in fuel consumption.... if the increased fuel consumption cost worries you, then stay far away from a large heavy twin engine high performance boat. Trust me.... or you can learn the hard way.

Having said that, I think a single engine 29 Scarab could be a good call. Won't ride as well but you will have a good experience and still have some money in your bank account. Resist the temptation to add HP or you'll just break drives and ruin the experience.

Hope this helps. Just my 2 cents.

No,I would think the 29 being lighter will get better mileage than a 38. As far as repairs and maintance goes,yes a twin will be more than a single but IMO twins are more fun and reliable. you always have a back up engine if one goes south on ya. Jody165 I do think about fuel consumption. I would rather go out every weekend and burn 50 to 75 gals than burn 100 to 150 like my old boat did. now I can enjoy more boating on my budget.

Tcuda,
You have a 38 and you can go out for a weekend on only 75 gallons? Thats pretty decent.

ya but I'm not running all weekend. For instance, friday I'm leaving for Block island. its 40 miles one way. I'm staying till sunday and running the 40 miles back. I might blast around a little on sat. so you figure thats only 100 miles. I'll be running slow there and back w/ my 23 month old son and wife so I'll be runnin 3100rpm for around 40 mph. I figure that will be around 80 gals of gas for the weekend. last sat I ran from old saybrook ct. to Greenport LI and then around shelter island and back to CT.about 60 miles and 40 gals of gas. what does everybody else run in a weekend? miles? am I taking short trips compared to everybody else? thanks

I read it that the 29 has twin 350's -- common-- that combo is fantastic on fuel -- you can't even come close with a 38' to the fuel economy of the 29'

That being said there is the capability factor of bigger water/safer ride. If it were me, wife and a 2 yr old, I know i'd opt for the 38', the ride will be worth the extra gas.

If you stay off the throttles on the 38' with a decent set of efi's the 38' will be respectable and will last forever.

Dave

Go for a 38!

I sometimes only burn 20-30 gallons on a weekend, just messing around the local area. Plus for a wave cruncher you cannoot beat a 38.

Find a good one though...or it will $$$$