Another Disappointment with the Scarab Jet Boat and REC Boat Holdings

[DBamaC]

Launched at Pretty Bayou ran down the Grand Lagoon towards Saint Andrews Bay Panama City, FL.

I though that no wake zone looked familiar. Test drove my boat there when I bought it.

 

[702mireles]

after all my rookie mistakes that I've learned off... I can honestly say, this boat has been a beast for me. Im extremely satisfied with my boat. Ive done some minor modifications to get rid of the rattling noise by adding weather stripping every where like in the tower by the knobs etc. The other day we had 40mph winds at lake mead and I was like FK it I'm going big and let me tell you I did! I think I had this boat 4' of the water from severe chop. It stuck the landing and trucked forward with ease. If memory serves me right I was cruising at 35 mph in 5' rollers when it happened. Im sorry everyone is having problems.

My boat is the 2016 19'HOI I now have 42 HRS on it. I will be selling it next summer because Im going to get the 21' twin 250 SC I want the speed fellas. My buddy bought the 2016 Yamaha AR and he now wishes he bought the scarab. We did a head up test race and the Scarab out ran the AR. It also looks so much sweeter then the Yamaha. I also forgot to mention, I purposely run my tow rope over all the time. The trick is put it in no wake on throttle and you will be fine. In fact I run weeds over all the time with no problem nor worry on sucking stuff up. Im no master by all means but, I do believe having skill on throttle is key to our success. Sorry I haven't been around and I hope all is well with everyone.

PS. Don't buy the boat unless it has the ITS on it. It means everything

 

[PapaBear]

I'm getting my 3rd drive shaft and carbon ring assembly in 13 months/70hrs. Boat has been in shop 5 out of the 15 months of ownership.
I will say this time around dealing with Scarab has been better so far. I will let you know when I get it back.

 

[Speed_Freak_039A]

What is the issue with the driveshaft and carbon seals? It's a pretty reliable setup for the most part.

 

[PapaBear]

Mis alignment of motor at the factory. That's what BRP and MM came up with the first time. Here I am again...same problem. So either mis diagnost or wasnot fixed properly.

 

[Slugger55]

It sounds like the Tech doing the install doesn't know what they are doing. I'm on my first replacement...

 

[Speed_Freak_039A]

Exactly. I know the warranty makes you want to bring it to them but you can do the alignment yourself. You can buy the tool or sbt used to if not still rents the toolast.

I know it doesn't make sense but any repairs on any of my toys I do myself unless it's really expensive because usually warranty isn't worth the half ass work and delays. Would be nice to trust a dealer though.

 

[BMF JK]

19ft boat without a deep deadrise angle cruising 35 mph in 5ft waves, on a lake...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................?

"If memory serves me right I was cruising at 35 mph in 5' rollers when it happened."

Is your question a lake can have 5 ' rollers or that a boat with 20 degree dead rise handle such water conditions? I can attest to both ! Close to 2 Great Lakes and the finger lakes , yes you can see 4-5 rollers and yes a scarab jet with experience can handle such conditions at 35 mph !

 

[BMF JK]

Oh, ok......

Oh ok what !?

 

[BMF JK]

Nothing, would LOVE to see video of it. I'm sure it would be beyond amusing, assuming the video camera survived.

Huh !? Thought you were an offshore expert! You see it all the time in the ocean? Ignorant to think inland lakes can't be rough ! Your tidewater only has a 21 degree dead rise so sit down and shut it , besides your not a jet boater!

 

[BMF JK]

First, never claimed to be an offshore expert.
Second, never said a lake can't have 5ft waves.
Third, deadrise angle is crucial but not the only factor in hull design. Bow flair, hull depth and hull entry angle in the aggregate are equally critical.
Lastly, I used to own a 19ft yammy FSH center console jet up until a few months ago.

I'm sorry if your butt hurt, but it appears as if your the one who needs to cool it, sit down & shut it, my ill informed friend.

Your right! Sorry but you seem to know a lot about nothing calling out @702mireles !

 

[BMF JK]

Just questioned the improbable. Anything is possible, doesn't mean it's probable.

Wow you should be a politician !

 

[PapaBear]

Getting a new Motor...pretty much ate itself and so thank god for the warranty

 

[Sean Scarab 195]

So I've got a similar issue and need some advice. I've put 100 hours on my 2015 Scarab 195 in the past 6 months. At 7 hours I had a loose nut damage the impellar, and replaced under warranty, no biggie.

Just after 100 hours on the boat, we suck in a 3/8" rope and the engine suddenly shuts off. We couldn't pull the rope out. We were in Catalina, 20+ miles from the launch ramp in Long Beach. While waiting for the tow boat and while getting towed back, something is leaking and the boat takes in more water than the bilge pump can handle, and the engine compartment completely floods, whole boat nearly swamped. We had two 5 gallon buckets to keep the boat from sinking, or at least taking on more water. I'm still not sure if the boat would've sunk but service rep said it would've like a tank.

I got the boat home, cut the rope out, and won't start. I plugged up the boat and hose water into the boat, the water leaks right out of the drive shaft.

Right now, the boat is at the dealer, having a water evac done, diagnosis, and I've filed an insurance claim. I am not sure warranty could do me any good? I'm very dissapointed that a measely 3/8" rope could kill my engine and nearly sink the boat. I've taken the boat to Catalina and back 4 times, so now I need to be extremely cautious.

After this issue, I'll likely need a new engine at the least? Worth trying to save an engine full of salt water? I'm concerned if we don't put in a new engine, I'll be paying for repairs and then a new engine in the near future.

Also, currently I have the 200 hp, and get a top speed of 35-39 mph. If I get a new engine, was thinking maybe upgrading to the 250hp, but I've read that only increases top speed ~43mph, which isn't a drastic increase but could help.

Thank you in advance for any advice or thoughts.

 

[itsdgm]

Sorry to hear that @Sean Scarab 195. Are you certain the engine was flooded? Was the boat water towed back to Long Beach? If so, is there a procedure on the scarabs to prevent cooling water from back pressuring into the exhaust and through the exhaust valves? That must've been a long trip back. Hopefully the insurance will step up and fix it for you. Good luck, keep us posted.

 

[PapaBear]

Your first thought whenever you get in a Scarab boat should always be. . . CAN I SWIM TO SHORE. You drive to Catalina in that cold water, and sharks. My boat i wouldn't take more than a hundred yards off shore.
Sounds like your drive shaft and carbon rib seal are SOL.
Feel free to pm me...I would have let it sink...

 

[Slugger55]

Yup! Carbon Seal is gone. The stress from the rope being sucked in must of compromised the seal.

 

[Sean Scarab 195]

Sorry to hear that @Sean Scarab 195. Are you certain the engine was flooded? Was the boat water towed back to Long Beach? If so, is there a procedure on the scarabs to prevent cooling water from back pressuring into the exhaust and through the exhaust valves? That must've been a long trip back. Hopefully the insurance will step up and fix it for you. Good luck, keep us posted.

Certain the engine has water damage, and was water towed back 20+ miles. I have a BoatUS membership and was sadly the second time they've towed me back from Catalina. I had to get towed back to Catalina another time due to Kelp damage, and another time had to come back from San Pedro at 2-3mph once due to kelp damage.

There is a procedure in the rotax engine manual to prevent water damage from towing by clamping the exhaust hose, but I didn't have hose clamps. I'll add them to the list of items to get for the boat, however, the water leaking into the boat was not from towing. It started as soon as the rope damaged the engine. We were pretty startled when realizing the boat was taking in water. Fortunately we had an extra pump and buckets, but still when towing the boat the engine was nearly flooded the entire time due to the angle of the boat when towed. I expect it will be fixed in a couple months, insurance will cover most. Just a pain.

 

[Ronnie]

Kelp damage, what's that? Your pump sucked in some kelp and you couldn't clear it on the water so you had to get towed home? I thought you could just clear vegetation manually.

The rope damaging the boat causing it to take on water is not unique to scarab, I've read at Least one post here were the rope was tied to a cleat, the loose end got sucked into the pump and the rope dig into the fiber glass near the intake. Another Yamaha owner took on water when the rope tore out the Fiberglass that the impeller shaft pass through. It does seem rare on Yamahas relative to scarabs though.

Hopefully you have a good dealer to get you back on the water quickly and easily.

 

[swatski]

Actually the damage from rope ingestion in a Yamaha can be terrible and MUCH WORSE than in a Rotax boat (which have the sleeved shaft for at least partial protection). In a Yammie, it can result in rope wrapping around the shaft into a "cocoon" that will break not just the seal but the whole fiberglass tunnel/liner (this is hard to look at!):

https://jetboaters.net/threads/jet-shaft-through-hull-blowout.3195/#post-52446

https://jetboaters.net/threads/anyone-experience-this-sucked-up-rope-cracked-fiberglass.2392/#post-37866

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