Back from the Dead; '81 Scarab 38 Resto
#1531
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Hideous! It's got 3 x 350 hp Mercury and tops out 60 mph. I believe it could even run the Catalina Ski Race with its model name as the boat contender number.
It's very seaworthy and would make the oldtimers re-think their satisfaction with their boats' performance.
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/1268x625/wellcraft_355_run_3_7c68affff679fa2ef04f6fbf15f259b33435a4a2.jpg)
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/1268x579/wellcraft_355_run1_3dbef7f2a031e3ec2c6aa82a825a5eec263941d4.jpg)
![](https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/1024x768/1780catalina_ski_race_2006_055_scarab_38_by_larry_smith_catalina_ski_race_1e03fe72dd699efd6d52534ec676f9748f72dbec.jpg)
It's very seaworthy and would make the oldtimers re-think their satisfaction with their boats' performance.
![eureka](/forums/images/smilies/eureka.gif)
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/1268x625/wellcraft_355_run_3_7c68affff679fa2ef04f6fbf15f259b33435a4a2.jpg)
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/1268x579/wellcraft_355_run1_3dbef7f2a031e3ec2c6aa82a825a5eec263941d4.jpg)
![](https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/1024x768/1780catalina_ski_race_2006_055_scarab_38_by_larry_smith_catalina_ski_race_1e03fe72dd699efd6d52534ec676f9748f72dbec.jpg)
#1532
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No disagreement with anything you said, but I stand by my comment, it’s awful looking, it’s like they tried to mate an axopar with a fishing boat and failed. And mine you, I’m a huge fan of the axopar boats.
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tommymonza (09-07-2023)
#1533
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Huge edit:
Don’t know what I was thinking, I said nice things about that Wellcraft 355. Just looked a bit closer on their website and you guys are right, that thing is just as hideous as all the other plumb bow pilothouse boats on the market. If you gave me one for Christmas, I’d probably part it out.
Sorry…..
Don’t know what I was thinking, I said nice things about that Wellcraft 355. Just looked a bit closer on their website and you guys are right, that thing is just as hideous as all the other plumb bow pilothouse boats on the market. If you gave me one for Christmas, I’d probably part it out.
Sorry…..
Last edited by rak rua; 09-05-2023 at 10:04 PM. Reason: I messed up!
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#1534
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The only reason the Scandinavians went with this new design is that it makes the boats more fuel efficient and still able to usually have anywhere from 23-26 degree deadrise. 95% of all Scandinavian boats look like this now. For a workboat it's understandable, but for leisure boating it's simply indefensible imho. When you're running your boat for maybe 50-150 hours for a season, who cares about 20% in fuel economy? Boating is a passionate hobby and I would never buy one of these horrible looking new creations even if the price was reasonable or I was independently wealthy. Every time the new 'Scandinavian' boat design trends come up as a subject I cringe at the fact that my people started on this horror fad of an, hopefully in the near future, eventual U-turn in boat design. 30 years ago we were real contenders. Nor-Tech and a few other brands manufacture some pretty attractive ol' school influenced boats still. The only thing more annoying than today's Vikings doing these 'efficient & modern' boats, will eventually be AI designed performance boats.
Last edited by larslindroth; 09-05-2023 at 10:34 PM.
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hblair (04-13-2024), tommymonza (09-07-2023)
#1535
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Yes. I am aware of the impracticality of my boat. My wife wonders why there is no swim deck? Also she wonders why we can only seat 6 adults in the cockpit of a 38 foot boat? (that's when we finally get the upholstery installed, we're riding around in lawn chairs now! lol) At 54 years old I am concerned only with the nostalgia/cool factor.
I have to say it's hard for me to look at the boat you posted and not think that it is pretty darn ugly. I wonder about the bow design, you see those on the haulover videos. On top of being gross looking, it seems it's really good for soaking everybody in the boat? I don't know, guess I am showing my age.
![Big Grin](/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
This stupid design every other manufacture is touting these days is barely any better than a 1950 Chris Craft runabout. .
I had the privilege's of working for Paul back in the day https://www.paulmanncustomboats.com/
Last edited by tommymonza; 09-05-2023 at 10:52 PM.
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larslindroth (09-09-2023)
#1536
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Well, back to why every classic high-performance boat restored is revenge on the abominations masquerading as the latest and greatest of modern boats. Simply seeing a flat deck Scarab on a trailer makes at least me dream of heading out to sea.
Last edited by larslindroth; 09-06-2023 at 11:03 PM.
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#1538
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Yes. I am aware of the impracticality of my boat. My wife wonders why there is no swim deck? Also she wonders why we can only seat 6 adults in the cockpit of a 38 foot boat? (that's when we finally get the upholstery installed, we're riding around in lawn chairs now! lol) At 54 years old I am concerned only with the nostalgia/cool factor.
I have to say it's hard for me to look at the boat you posted and not think that it is pretty darn ugly. I wonder about the bow design, you see those on the haulover videos. On top of being gross looking, it seems it's really good for soaking everybody in the boat? I don't know, guess I am showing my age.
![Big Grin](/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
My Cobalt 30ft has tight seating. Probably 5 comfortably. But I'll likely modify the seating bench to get 4 in comfortably.
Ugly us a word the accurately describes a lot of the new vehicle styles. I'm not a fan of that type of boat...even if it has some tech to be a bit more efficient.
Look at a lot of the new flagship sport bikes, ugly. They've clearly never understood the golden ratio of harmonic beauty. A lot of styles reached their apex in both form and function...and are now on the lee side of styling...moving into the ugly territory.
These Go-Fast style boats are historic classic style. It's a good thing they never caught on like classic muscle cars...of they would be out priced for anyone with some knowhow and courage.
Blair is leading the charge on resto projects. I'm sure he's inspired many to start their own projects.
Haulover vids are really quite the equalizer...for both drivers and boats.
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#1539
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Thanks a lot.
I’ve been slowly addressing little things like syncing the throttles, tidying up wiring, and trying to completely stop any leaks in the bilge.
Also been checking my mileage. I was very happy a few weeks ago when I thought I got 1.4 mpg on 70 mile ride. I wasn’t near as happy when I filled up Saturday from an 80 mile ride on Labor Day. I got 1.12 mpg on that ride. We rode about 60 miles Saturday and I’ll know more when I fill up from it.
Here’s a photo of what my bilge looked like AFTER the ride. I’ve had multiple pesky small leaks, like right remote oil filter leak, (resealed fittings) power steering in and out fittings leak(loose fittings), GAS LEAK!! on right brand new fuel pump diaphragm (replaced diaphragm), left front of oil pan leak (snugged up the screws fixed that), right side stand-off box water leak (3M 4200 fixed that)
I think I still have a trans fluid leak in my left side standoff box (likely power steering fluid running down a hose)
There was NOTHING in the bilge after our ride Saturday but like 2 cups of water.
Boat is running good and has good power. I wish I had another set of props with two more inches of pitch. I feel like the engines are strong enough to turn them.
Also i don’t think I showed a photo a few weeks ago of my pimpin drain plug light. Although the muddy Coosa river drowns it out, it’ll be pretty in the Bahamas. 😀
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_4633_5c50c9a6e2c4b406a0893edc2fb3d8f6f4550043.jpeg)
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![](https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_4415_d667d22dc5c773b174e6b72abba12fa42f7179d2.jpeg)
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![](https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_4413_a1715224f2631a0aadbb47f670ac118a3ad87481.jpeg)
![](https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_4412_8c627a345ca0102354c3ffe7aa6cab2ded4eb8c4.jpeg)
I’ve been slowly addressing little things like syncing the throttles, tidying up wiring, and trying to completely stop any leaks in the bilge.
Also been checking my mileage. I was very happy a few weeks ago when I thought I got 1.4 mpg on 70 mile ride. I wasn’t near as happy when I filled up Saturday from an 80 mile ride on Labor Day. I got 1.12 mpg on that ride. We rode about 60 miles Saturday and I’ll know more when I fill up from it.
Here’s a photo of what my bilge looked like AFTER the ride. I’ve had multiple pesky small leaks, like right remote oil filter leak, (resealed fittings) power steering in and out fittings leak(loose fittings), GAS LEAK!! on right brand new fuel pump diaphragm (replaced diaphragm), left front of oil pan leak (snugged up the screws fixed that), right side stand-off box water leak (3M 4200 fixed that)
I think I still have a trans fluid leak in my left side standoff box (likely power steering fluid running down a hose)
There was NOTHING in the bilge after our ride Saturday but like 2 cups of water.
Boat is running good and has good power. I wish I had another set of props with two more inches of pitch. I feel like the engines are strong enough to turn them.
Also i don’t think I showed a photo a few weeks ago of my pimpin drain plug light. Although the muddy Coosa river drowns it out, it’ll be pretty in the Bahamas. 😀
![](https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.offshoreonly.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_4633_5c50c9a6e2c4b406a0893edc2fb3d8f6f4550043.jpeg)
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