Scarab 195 Open 2020 Console

[tkraft47]

Hi. New to the forum and excited to pick up my 2020 Scarab 195 Open G this spring. I couldn't pass up on the late season deal I got in October of this horrible year but I took advantage. NO MASKS on my boat!! Anyway, I'm not new to boating, but I am new to a newer boat (last boat was a 1986 Chapp). My question is about my blank canvass console. I want to add a flush mounted GPS similar to a SIMRAD XSE type but i'm open to any suggestions for my needs. The boat will never be auto-piloted or on long trips, but it will be on unfamiliar lakes and rivers and big water (fresh) on flat days. I know i need a transducer for depth, which i would like to have, and a fish finder of reasonable reliability, nothing super pro necessary. Ideally, I want something that is more in line with entertainment, like bluetooth capabilities, maybe able to play video. Again, sorry if i sound completely ignorant for what I'm looking for I've never used one before. My dealer salesman said he has an IPAD installed for one customer.
If there is a world of options out there, I'm just wondering who has taken their jetboat or small cc to this level and what the use and love. Thank you for the help. Many, ManY other questions as this boat is stripped of everything and is a blank canvass for my future years of ownership. The only thing I'm having installed from the factory is the t-top which they had to throw in to get me out the door!! score!! How can you have a CC without a tower......

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

Hi! Welcome to the club! So I'm personally not a fan of these types of add on electronics because the fact is, a tablet is a much better option for much of this in my opinion. You do have to make sure your tablet choice has a GPS, many don't. But yeah, honestly my vote is for such a device. Depth finders are simple but will only get you depth. Fish finders can give you depth and a lot more obviously. So if you want the latter, that will be perfect all around. Shoot through hull works reasonably well if positioned and installed correctly, but won't get you water temperature. Outside the hull is best all around, but requires drilling some holes and you need to be educated as to where to put it so that it's in the right non turbulent water and at the right height.

With all of that being said, I don't have a specific recommendation. Hopefully others do.

I agree with the t-top... I find those boats look odd without it. But different strokes for different folks!

Questions, feel free to post them here. I don't own your boat but obviously the powertrain is shared across all the boats. If you have specific powertrain questions, feel free to post those here too or to PM me directly. More than happy to answer questions.