Is Scarab Boats Reliable?
Sonny Crockett blasted across the screen on the program Miami Vice, and Scarab Boats were once among the most renowned on television.
The firm that now owns the brand is a manufacturer of jet boats.
So, what went wrong? Is Scarab Boats any good, more importantly?
Scarab Boats are excellent in the following ways:
Scarab Boats began as a line of entry-level jet boats designed to compete with Yamaha. They have a huge following in the jet boat industry, despite not being of the finest quality.
Scarab Boats: A Brief Overview
Larry Smith founded the manufacturing team in 1975 as Team Scarab, a solely racing design. Smith joined with Wellcraft and Scarab became a line under its management after a few years of tremendously successful racing designs.
The strong racer 38 Scarab KV was the most well-known model. From the second season of Miami Vice, the 38 Scarab KV was featured, boosting Wellcraft’s popularity tremendously. Many of the Scarab KVs, which totaled 38, were quite popular.
Wellcraft was purchased by Genmar Holdings in 1984, during the pinnacle of Scarab’s success. Until the early 2000s, when many maritime firms were suffering, the brands fared well. Even before their financial issue to a head, Genmar’s quality started to deteriorate.
In 2009, Genmar declared bankruptcy and auctioned off its assets. Platinum Equity purchased the majority of the boat brands, including Scarab and Wellcraft, and established Rec Boat Holdings to handle them.
Scarab boats had been out of production since the late 2000s, but the brand was revived in 2014. They evolved into a jet boat range that was designed to compete with Yamaha’s.
Rec Boat Holdings was purchased by the Beneteau Group in 2017, allowing the company to grow even further.
Rec Boat Holdings and Beneteau revealed intentions to sell their brands in the following five years in 2020. Scarab is one of the brands that will be sold, however as of 2021, Beneteau will still hold it.
Scarab Boats: How Reliable?
The jet engine is the most important aspect of Scarab boats’ dependability.
Scarab is powered by an Austrian-made Rotax 4TEC jet engine. Using two blocks, the 4TEC offers four power levels.
The closed-loop engine cooling system used by Rotax is touted. This system makes use of a specific cooling fluid that transfers heat from the engine to a heat exchanger, which is then cooled by outside water.
There is never any external water in the system, such as corrosive saltwater. Most jet boat engines have a one-year guarantee, but this one has a three-year warranty.
What Do Rotax Engine Owners Have to Say About It?
The Yamaha jet engine is the principal rival of Rotax and Scarab.
Yamahas have always been the best, but many people believe Rotax has narrowed the gap. According to a Scarab owner,
“My 2020 255open with twin 200’s is fantastic.” So far, I’ve been awake for 83 hours. It was 35 hours old when I bought it. I completed my 50-hour maintenance and would want to know what I need do for the next 100 hours. I’m glad to learn that the supercharger doesn’t need to be maintained…”
Is Scarab Boats Reliable?
Is Scarab Boats Reliable?
Jet engines need more maintenance than typical boat engines, therefore this observation is notable. On forums, there is a lot of helpful advise along such lines.
However, not all jet boaters think that Rotax engines are comparable to Yamahas in terms of quality. It is simple to locate complaints on the internet.
Scarab Boats: How Long Do They Last?
This is another point of contention on internet forums and boating websites among owners and observers.
On their first excursion away from the pier, several owners have posted lists of failures. Others have experienced no troubles with their Scarab for the last five years.
Scarabs are made at a huge factory that also produces numerous other brands at the same time. While they aren’t really cookie-cutter, they aren’t created with the highest-quality materials or craftsmanship.
They are produced to a budget, and this may lead to certain issues.
Scarabs aren’t the most durable boats on the market, and Beneteau’s revelation that they’ll aim to do rid of the brand doesn’t give us much hope for the future.
What About Scarab Boats from the Past?
The earlier Scarab boats are the ones that helped to establish the brand, with Sonny Crockett’s 38 Scarab KV being the most famous.
On the sea, these vintage Scarab boats were built for speed and aesthetic appeal. Wellcraft later obtained the Scarab moniker and constructed numerous boats under that brand during their partnership with Larry Smith.
These were mostly offshore fishing boats, as opposed to the cigarette-style racing boats. They were not as well-liked as the racing boats.
The quality of these boats has been described as ordinary, similar to that of mass-produced fiberglass boats of the time.
The Wellcraft facility in Florida produced these Scarab boats.
Is it still possible to get parts for older models?
As far as the Scarab website can tell, components for all of their models from 2014 forward are likely still available. This is the most recent version of the brand.
Replacement components for current versions should be obtained from the dealer.
Because the firm has changed management and production sites, parts for the former brand are no longer accessible.
Older Scarab owners may have some success hunting down former vendors, who may have some components in their stores. However, internet OEM parts dealers such as greatlakesskipper.com are your best choice.
What Are the Most Common Scarab Boat Issues?
While they haven’t been around long enough for difficulties to be classified as normal, owners on forums have reported certain reoccurring issues.
Electronics that aren’t working have been mentioned. Navigation displays and depth finders, in particular, have proved troublesome.
Some of the boats have a shoddy fit and finish. Some screws were not properly fastened or bedded, and some hatches were misaligned.
Within months after delivery, some owners have experienced fractures in the gel cover. Windshields have sometimes been shattered or improperly fastened.
While it’s impossible to say how common these problems are, they are indicative of the mass-produced nature of these vessels.
When compared to similar brands, how long do Scarab Boats last?
Because the boats have only been in production for less than a decade, there is insufficient data to evaluate their lifetime.
Given the problems that some owners have had, you can expect them to survive at least as long as most entry-level boats. No complaints of fiberglass or other serious construction flaws, such as delamination, have been made.
Beyond routine boat maintenance, the jet engine will need to be properly maintained. The process of winterizing these engines is more extensive than that of other motors, but it is required for good operation.
Can Scarab Boats Appreciate in Value?
Despite the aforementioned flaws and internet critics, Scarab boats retain their worth well. Surprisingly, their worth grows in certain circumstances.
In 2015, a new 165 model cost $22,653. The average resale value of such boat is now $23,000. Although the low resale value is $20,270, this represents a 2% increase.
The 255 model, for example, sold for $58,267 in 2015. That identical boat now has a resale value of $60,630, indicating a small increase in value. The lowest price is $53,380.
This level of praise is unusual for a brand that isn’t deemed premium.
Is it still possible to buy Scarab Boats?
Scarab Boats are still being manufactured as of this writing.
They’re built in the Rec Boat Holdings company in Cadillac, Michigan, which also produces Glastron, Four Winns, and Wellcraft.
Scarab presently offers six different jet boat types. The 165, 195, 215, 255, and 285, which vary in size from 16 to 28 feet and are all deck boat designs, are among them.
The 255 Open, which is comparable to a center console and gives more open space in the boat, is the sixth model.
Pricing is not available online; instead, interested purchasers should contact their local dealer.
Rec Boat Holdings and its parent company, Beneteau, have announced that the Scarab brand would be phased out over the next several years. The length of time that manufacturing will continue is unknown.
Last Thoughts
The current Scarab Boats line is not the same as the one seen in Miami Vice. Scarab is currently a range of low-cost jet boats with a bleak future.
Scarab Boats, on the other hand, has a lot of happy customers, so if you’re looking for an entry-level jet boat, this is a company to look into.
