4 Common Scarab Boat Issues
A lengthy line of racing boats gave birth to the Scarab Boat, which became renowned in the mid-1980s when actor Don Johnson drove one in the mega-hit television program Miami Vice, which was based on the Scarab Boat.
After establishing itself as a serious racing boat manufacturer in 1975, Team Scarab joined with Wellcraft, which produced Scarab Boats under license. Scarab Boats were very popular throughout the 1980s and 1990s, particularly when they were featured on a famous television show.
A number of acquisitions have occurred, and the firm is currently owned by the Beneteau Group, which is using the Scarab brand to develop and market a range of small jet boats.
The firm’s older admirers will undoubtedly agree that the company is not what it used to be, but Scarab Boats still has a substantial following in today’s entry-level jet boat market, despite the fact that the company is no longer profitable.
The 4 Most Common Scarab Boat Issues (and How to Fix Them)
The earlier Scarab Boats, which were constructed by Team Scarab and Wellcraft, were well-known for their speed, startling good looks, and solid construction, among other characteristics.
Although the brand had a period of decline, Scarab Boats was resurrected as a line of jet boats in 2014 after the acquisition of the trademark by the Beneteau Group.
This article will look at some of the most typical issues that these tiny jet boats, which are made under the Beneteau Group’s array of brands, have to deal with.
1. The engine enters a state known as “Limp Mode.”
It has come to the attention of the many boating forums that Scarab Boats have been known to go into limp mode without apparent explanation.
Limp mode is triggered by a fault with the engine, and it allows you to ‘limp’ gently home or return to the launch place since the engine is reducing power.
If the engine is sucking up debris such as seaweed, wood chips, or tiny stones, the engine may enter limp mode.
These particles might get lodged in the jet and cause it to malfunction or fail. Typically, these items can be readily removed from the scene, and the engine may be restarted.
Other possible reasons include overheating of the engine or a perceived low oil pressure issue in the engine. Occasionally, the switches or sensors that regulate the limp mode malfunction and the limp mode is activated even when there is no serious issue with the vehicle.
If you are having this difficulty and have not been able to determine the source of the problem, your local Scarab Boat dealer should be able to assist you in diagnosing the problem.
2. Water is being pumped into the trailer lights.
When launching or retrieving your boat from the water, getting water into the lights may be an issue, regardless of whether you are using standard bulbs or LED lights on your Scarab Boat trailer.
However, this is not an issue that just applies to Scarab Boat trailers.
Unfortunately, trailer lights are not and will never be watertight due to their design. Try to seal all of the covers with some silicone sealant and drill a hole at the bottom of each unit so that if water comes in it will drain out easily and fast.
4 Common Scarab Boat Issues
3. Screws are loosing their grip
On several boating forums, there are many complaints about screws that are not securely fastened and fall out.
The objections are the same whether the screws are used to secure a through-hull fitting or the bimini top.
“With the bimini top open, the post screws on the bimini top backed themselves out in strong gusts. I presume it’s because of the shaking the wind was generating, but they’re not actually secured in there.”
“Screws through the hull are fastened with silicone that is not molded into the fiberglass, therefore the nuts will fall off the inside of the hull if you need to remove the impeller grate guards.”
There are many more complaints regarding loose screws on the internet concerning Scarab Boats.
Checking your boat on a regular basis and tightening any loose screws should not be an issue if you are a practical boat owner, but this is a worry for novice boat owners.
4. The Lockers Have Water In Them
Water accumulating within storage lockers on any Scarab Boat model seems to be a widespread issue, maybe due to a design defect. Water in the anchor locker and the ski or storage locker never drains away and must be physically sponged out, according to Scarab Boat owners.
Because the drain holes are about 1 inch (2.5cm) above the bottom of the lockers, the remainder of the water cannot flow out until the boat is tilted at an angle steep enough for the water to drain out.
The good news is that no leaks seem to be allowing water to enter the boat. Rather, water has entered the boat as a result of a wave smashing over the bow or by hosing down or washing the boat.
5. Poor Overall Finishing
Individuals assemble most, if not all, boats in factories, and people may make errors.
That’s why, before a boat leaves the factory, most boat manufacturers will have a quality control checklist of things to look for. I couldn’t find any references to factory quality control at Scarab Boats during my investigation for this piece, but that doesn’t imply it doesn’t happen.
However, several boating forums have complained about the general poor finish and craftsmanship of freshly acquired Scarab Boats.
The following are examples of complaints, however they are not exhaustive:
Cable ties discovered in the engine compartment Fiberglass shavings from drilling the through-hull fittings left inside the boat
Screws and bolts that are loose
Hatches, coverings, and openings are misaligned.
Windshields are sagging due to improper installation.
The bimini is crumbling (due to loose screws)
Self-draining compartments are not available.
Stitches in the upholstery are coming undone.
Electronics are malfunctioning.
Any company may make a defective boat or a lemon, but Scarab Boats seems to have some quality control concerns, no matter how little, or the fault is readily addressed.
Scarab Boats: General Advantages and Disadvantages
Despite the issues stated above, Scarab Boats are a highly popular entry-level jet boat. Let’s look at some of their advantages and disadvantages:
Scarab noticed a void in the market when Sea-Doo stepped out of the small jet boat industry to focus on their jet ski line. They created a low-cost line of tiny jet boats that were both attractive and simple to operate.
Scarab Boats are also the first small jet boat with the INR (Intelligent Neutral and Reverse) technology, which increases handling and maneuverability, particularly while docking your boat.
The Rotax 4-TEC Engine is a classic jet propulsion engine that is one of the quickest and most reliable on the market. When swimming, fishing, wakeboarding, or skiing in or around your boat with Rotax® Jet Power, you don’t have to worry about a propeller.
If that wasn’t enough, Scarab also provides one of the finest warranties available. They provide a three-year component guarantee, a five-year osmosis warranty, and a lifetime structural hull and deck warranty that may be transferred to a second owner.
The Negatives
For no apparent reason, the engine enters limp mode.
Water is filling up the trailer lights.
Water inside the lockers, screws falling off
Overall, a poor performance.
What Are the Opinions of the Public?
“The Scarab 165 G is a little boat, but it’s jam-packed with delight and fun, and it’s simple to transfer to and from whichever body of water strikes your fancy on any given day.”
“By the end of the day, we believed Scarab had nailed it. It’s fast, pleasant, and should please a wide range of people. You may upgrade to the 215 HO if you want to do watersports or if you want a bit extra luxury baked in. In any case, you’re in for a great time.”
Scarab Boats: What Is Their Resale Value?
Scarab Boats manufactures six small jet boats with IDs ranging from 165 to 285 feet.
Despite the aforementioned issues, this market sector seems to keep its worth very well.
At first look, these costs reflect an 18.5 percent loss in value for two years of boating.
However, if we dive a little further and look at the retail pricing for the 2020 Scarab 255 ID, we find that the Nada Guide lists the average retail price of the basic boat for that year as $81,550.
Scarab Boats appear to keep their worth very well, even if we make any changes to the now-secondhand 2020 model!
Last Thoughts
Despite the fact that the modern Scarab Boats have little in common with the original boats, they nonetheless have fans who like them.
So, if you’re looking for a quick, enjoyable, and easy-to-maneuver boat, check out Scarab Boats; you may be surprised.
