1985 Scarab II
Info
Please disregard the leaves that my buddy left in the boat as the mooring cover was removed. As shown all upholstery is intact and in good condition. It has been a long time since I was in the boat but its condition for its age is "excellent". It does need TLC. A good cleaning is in order. I used to do the vessel every spring with soft scrub, carnauba, and whichever vinyl stuff I was using at the time.
Absolutely Needs:
Port Long Block 454 Mercruiser 330 Standard rotation (trs change rotation in trans)
2 TRS Lower Gearcases
2 Batteries Marine Deep Cycle
Mooring Cover (It got some tears and may be fixed but I figure...)
U Need 2:
Summer fit-out:
I used to go over my vessel every spring. I did not get to this before my accident.
I check:
Hull and deck: soft scrub all. Carnauba wax on top. Silicone slippery go fast stuff on hull.
Teak: Walkways in cockpit, swim platform, hatchway, misc trim all get oil
All fuses for corrosion. clean and replace if needed.
Check all guages. (how come the speed pitot always gets clogged or bumped up? slo boat, fas boat, ro boat, they NEVER LAST LONGER THAN A FEW DAYS an you are pokin at em again)
Check Alarms: Temp, Oil Press.
Filters: Gas, Air, Oil.
Batts: of course!!
All screws, everywhere. This is a high output vessel. That beautiful humm of twin 454's is music, and, vibration! I go over the whole boat every month. This was kind of a pain in the first years I owned her. I still always find one or two that dont have locktite, yet. I think most of the boat is done by now.
Optional Needs:
I would also replace the impellers in the sea water pumps. I always kept a spare pump aboard just incase. Sucking up some silt eats the impellers. It just pops on under the alternator. It is much faster and easier to fix than come home 50 miles on one engine.
I kept this boat in top form as I used it every week and was on it most days throughout the summer.
The boat includes:
"Cleaver" SS High perf props (2) R + L 15 1/2 X 21?(I think) These are cruising and speed props. If you were pullin skiers a different pitch would be needed but this is only for very experienced skiers!!! This boat does not go slow enough for most and throws a big wake.
Sea water pump "spare"
Has a teak swim platform off the aft. (needs oil)
Power trim tabs (not the 24" long "offshore" tabs, the 10" stainless
ones). Can get down to about 20 mph when "trimmed out".
Air conditioning (used and enjoyed on 90 degree days at the marina) used with shore power only. You can get an inverter if you want, but, I would suggest two more batterys if you do. That way you are never stuck and it could be used for any type appliance.
Power spotlight (kinda different on a speed boat but I found this to be great fun and of great use for "spottin on our City River Front Park.
Anchor and 150' rode (i think it is that long) Good old style "navy" anchor, not a cheap "folder". I went through about 4 different types until I got this. It holds well, is easy to "set", and comes up easy. It is shorter than most newer types and fits right under the back seat.
Stereo with in cabin / out of cabin control. Out of cabin with amp and 4 speakers to hear over engines. All controllable to cut power drain while anchored when you dont need the extra sound.
Through hull stainless exhausts. Manifolds are in great shape as they were not exposed to salt. If you are a boater, you know what kinda cost is involved in manifolds.
(I think all this is still on the boat if not in my garage)
Life vests (6), fire ext (2), flare gun, bouy, throwable aid, first aid kit, amd misc items for boating are included.
Planin and Runnin:
Honest top end around 68-70 mph.
Cruises best at 32-54mph
32-3500 rpm and pops up on plane in a few seconds. This boat was never "drag raced" out of the hole. It is more fun to glance over your shoulder and adjust throttle and trim to "just keep ahead" of them "little" boats trying to show "how fast" they are. My wife says it is a "guy thing". I actually had a Baja 24 follow me for 20 to 30 NM. The seas were about 2' when we started and he was really "hammering" at about 45 to 50mph. I would let him get to within 100 yards and edge up the throttles. When we passed the Phila Water Front Park the seas went to over 3' due to heavy boating traffic and I was runnin 3600rpm( 50+ ). I went to about 4000 rpm and.... ByeBye. I think he really though he was "catchin" me. The beauty of 28 and over is in how they ride when it is other than smooth. they actually "like" 1-2 footers and are most fun in this kinda water.
You can Putt around at 26+mph. Slower and you are workin the tabs, throttles, and drive trim. Can get to about 20mph if you are a "captain".
I did a movie for the Philadelphia Police. They wanted to show that they "needed" a helicopter and that it could be used by the river police also.
I had to "hold" the "Excitable Boy" at about 18 to 19 mph (the top top speed of the police vessel). What a pain. I would pop onto plane and move out of the camera shot or up the bow and they would "catch" me. We went up and down in front of the City Waterfront Park and had quite a crowd. A police helicopter shouting "Stop your vessel" over the loudspeakers. A river police cruser, all lights goin. A movie helicopter. Me and a policman dressed up as "bad guys" pretending to be "trying" to escape, wavin our hands and makin motions on the controls. What a great day.
The twins and their placement make slippin this boat a pleasure. I could get between pilings in Fortascue with a 8 knot tide goin out against the starboard side. Try that with a single. It does the "spin on center" thing easily and this is great for "scanning the horizon".
This vessel was involved in the great "Goin Down" caper in NJ:
On a bright summers day, about a mile off the Eastern shore of the Delaware river at Fortescue, we received a "Maday, ship Goin Down"! We and the USCG responded with repated calls of "What is your position" "What is the Emergency". Silence. Then, another "Goin Down". This went on for 10 minutes while the USCG got their vessel ready. We moved several miles up and down the coast reporting that no vessels, flares, smoke, was in sight. The Cutter was pullin out and saw the "sinker" at the same time we did. Some guy and his family had pulled over to the jetty at the mouth of the Fortescue river, about 500 yds from the USCG. He had one foot on land and the other in his little 18' bow-rider. He had "holed" the boat on the rocks and was "goin down". The Cutter dropped off power as soon as it had begun to plane and the radio operator started muttering "there he is. Tell him to go get his trailer and pull out on the beach". True story. This guy was "Goin Down" in 2 - 3 ft of water. Always know your position to tell the CG in case you are "Goin Down"!
Sorry to bore you. Just reminising. I will miss my "Excitable Boy".
Maybe you will have countless adventures to beguile your pals with while raftin or BBQin or whatever. (I wont say drinkin because I NEVER partake while operating fast motor vehicles)
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