scarab 165 vs Glastron 187

[Wkhouj]

Hello,

I am looking between the Scarab 165 and the Glastron 187. They both come with the same 250HP engine.
I just moved to Tampa FL and looking to buy my first boat. It's mostly my wife and I but we will be having family and friends visit often. We mostly will use it to drive around and some water sports. I like the idea of the 165 because it's the closest thing to a jet ski when it comes to performance. I thought about the 187 because of the extra seating when we have more people around. Price is also a factor for me and I heard that the Glastron has a big markup and I could get the price down to mid $20s. I don't know what is the 165 markup. Here are my questions to current owners and experts:

- would the 165 be OK in open waters or its too small to handle the waves?
- has anyone driven both and can tell me the difference ?
- if you bought one, how much discounts did you get off MSRP?


Thanks

 

[ScarabMike]

@Wkhouj First let me welcome you to our community!

Ok, so let me break some info down between the two boats, and hopefully it will help you decide.

The two boats couldn't be more different. In fact the only thing they have in common is the engine pack.

Scarab 165:

Small/compact size.
Very easy to tow with just about any vehicle.
Extremely efficient and economical.
More complex to drive (separate throttle and reverse
Meant for protected waters
very fast and responsive
a ton of storage

Glastron 187

Traditional V hull design (Can go offshore if not rough)
Single axle trailer
3-4k lbs. Needs to make sure you have a capable tow vehicle
Great space and layout that can seat 8 comfortably
single throttle/reverse controls
Classic sportscar themed interior

You can get the 187 for around 6-7k more than the 165. It all depends what you will do with the boat, where you will be boating, and how many people do you need to carry. Good luck!

As far as how much people have been paying. There is a thread here:
https://jetboaters.net/threads/whatd-you-pay-for-your-scarab.4375/

 

[Slugger55]

Hello,

I am looking between the Scarab 165 and the Glastron 187. They both come with the same 250HP engine.
I just moved to Tampa FL and looking to buy my first boat. It's mostly my wife and I but we will be having family and friends visit often. We mostly will use it to drive around and some water sports. I like the idea of the 165 because it's the closest thing to a jet ski when it comes to performance. I thought about the 187 because of the extra seating when we have more people around. Price is also a factor for me and I heard that the Glastron has a big markup and I could get the price down to mid $20s. I don't know what is the 165 markup. Here are my questions to current owners and experts:

- would the 165 be OK in open waters or its too small to handle the waves?
- has anyone driven both and can tell me the difference ?
- if you bought one, how much discounts did you get off MSRP?


Thanks

@Wkhouj welcome to the forum! As @ScarabMike asked "where are you going to operate the boat?" I am not sure the Scarab 165 would be a good choice to be out on Tampa Bay. There is always a westerly breeze and the water is very choppy. You would have to find the perfect day to be out on that water. There aren't very many interior water ways near Tampa unless you want to tow your boat towards the east coast (Lakeland, Kissimmee, or Lake Placid) to "drive around and some water sports." So, with all that said, I think you want to do your boating close to home and the Glastron 187 would be the choice at $24,440. As far as discounts off this MSRP, I think they have priced it to sell. Brush up on you haggling skills and see if the dealer will come down more. I just found this on their website. You are definately going to need a Bimini top...
Standard and Optional Equipment
Glastron GTS 187 (2015-) Standard and Optional Equipment
Systems
CD Stereo

Trailer

Exterior Features
Carpet: Cockpit

Swim Ladder

Swim Platform

Tower: Watersports

Canvas
Bimini Top

Cockpit Cover

= Standard

= Optional

 

[itsdgm]

Welcome @Wkhouj to the site. I don't have any experience with either of those models, so I can't help you there. But good luck with your decision. I look forward to reading about what you decide, so keep us posted.

 

[Wkhouj]

@Wkhouj welcome to the forum! As @ScarabMike asked "where are you going to operate the boat?" I am not sure the Scarab 165 would be a good choice to be out on Tampa Bay. There is always a westerly breeze and the water is very choppy. You would have to find the perfect day to be out on that water. There aren't very many interior water ways near Tampa unless you want to tow your boat towards the east coast (Lakeland, Kissimmee, or Lake Placid) to "drive around and some water sports." So, with all that said, I think you want to do your boating close to home and the Glastron 187 would be the choice at $24,440. As far as discounts off this MSRP, I think they have priced it to sell. Brush up on you haggling skills and see if the dealer will come down more. I just found this on their website. You are definately going to need a Bimini top...
Standard and Optional Equipment
Glastron GTS 187 (2015-) Standard and Optional Equipment
Systems
CD Stereo

Trailer

Exterior Features
Carpet: Cockpit

Swim Ladder

Swim Platform

Tower: Watersports

Canvas
Bimini Top

Cockpit Cover

= Standard

= Optional

Thanks for your replies.

You both are correct. The Glastron is not that much more than the Scarab. I had my mind set on the Scarab because I liked the sporty feel but when I looked at the price difference and the location i am in I started to reconsider.

I live in Tampa so it will be mostly in Tampa Bay and around it. I prefer to be close to that. I moved from MN so I am used to being on lakes and rivers. we mostly go tubing, fishing, docking at restaurants on the river. Beach the boat and grill out.

I had many friends with boats so I did not have to get one myself. .
I also had a jet ski and In that area I preferred to go on the water when it was more choppy because it was fun jumping around.

I am hoping to be able to do the same activities in Tampa.

I knew that the water will be more choppy in open waters.

I am hoping to hear from people that owned a Scarab 165 or a seadoo 150 Speedster on open water about their experience.


Thanks

 

[LTM1964]

I had a Sea Doo 150 Speedster for five years. It had loads of power but you really couldn't use that power in choppy water. I even had to back off the throttle when crossing large boat wakes diagonally. As short as the boat was, it didn't take much chop for the intake grate to leave the water. I had to be careful to back off the throttle so I wouldn't over rev. At slower speeds you had to be careful to keep the bow up over oncoming waves either with throttle or steering. A small boat wake would send enough water over the bow to get the carpet wet. As the deck self-bailed well and the boat was very maneuverable, I never felt concerned about taking the Speedster out even when there was a small craft wind advisory in effect. It just wasn't as much fun picking my way through the waves as the advertising videos suggest. When we took our test drive, the dealer insisted that we do a spin like on a PWC. It did it and would do about anything else a PWC would do but on a PWC you have your legs to use as shock absorbers, in the Speedster you got slammed around in your seat and got everything wet. I enjoyed the Speedster as a small, efficient, practical, boat, not a big PWC. I moved-up to a Yamaha SX192 this year. Even though the Sea Doo accelerated faster and was more nimble, the larger hull of the Yamaha moves through choppy water at a faster average pace.

You should test a smaller boat in the type of water you plan on using it in. We made the small boat work for us because I had a smaller truck at the time. The '19 Yamaha is more practical and comfortable for all concerned since I can easily tow it now.

 

[Wkhouj]

Thank you very much for sharing your experience. It helps a lot. I am working on getting a test drive for both.

If anyone else would like to add anything feel free to do so.

 

[Scarabski]

I have no experience with the glastron, I can tell you a 165 is good in 1 foot chop, 2 foot is pushing it. The spring loaded seats help a ton.

 

[ALAN MANN SR.]

I have no experience with the glasstron, but I have a 2015 165 HO and I boat in the Little Manatee, Intercoastal, Alafia River and Tampa Bay. I have been across Tampa Bay from the Little Manatee to 5 mile west of the Sky Way bridge. I have not made it to Egmont Key do to 3 foot waves. As far as the boat taking the waves, slow down bow up cross wave, and do not stop. As far as waves over the bow, I have taken a few and the trick is do not stop. The thing is if you are jumping a wave the bow is going under. The 165 is a fun little boat and when I want to go across Tampa Bay I want the wind to be 10 knots or less. The bad thing about staying in inland waters is the speed restrictions and that is why I bought the 165 is to go fast.

 

[ScarabMike]

Completely different crafts, and experiences. The 165 is more like a large, high powered PWC than a boat. But it is stacked with options that make it more of a family oriented PWC. The throttle controls are also different. They are a two lever (one reverse, one throttle) kind of like a PWC. You will get wet, and you can take that boat anywhere. Its very light, and can be trailered with just about anything.

The Glastron is a traditional boat, with a V hull and a double console. Its a runabout that will be ok in the chop, and keep you dry hopping over the waves. Its also heavier, and slower than the 165. You get Analog gauges, and a retro looking boat.

 

[Dough]