Scarab Intake issues?

[Howard Z]

I really like the Scarab boat! It's a lot more comfortable than the Yamaha (in my opinion). I love the look of it and my wife loves it! I hear everyone talking about the Intake getting clogged and how the Scarab doesn't have a clean out. One guy said he melted his water box coupler and couldn't make the trip. Isn't the Sea-Doo set up pretty similar to the Scarab, Chaparral and Glastron? Is this something that is going to cause grief down the road? I'm sure i will be in weeds at some point. I saw the video of the guy going through weeds and he didn't seem to have a problem. Will this boat make it to Bimini? I've seen youtube videos of Sea-Doo's going to Bimini and they didn't have any issues. Has anyone come up with ideas on how to clean off the intake without getting in the water?

 

[GiddYupJoe]

Hey @Howard Z, this discussion may be of benefit to you. Good luck!

https://jetboaters.net/threads/intake-cleaning-tool.10922/

 

[swatski]

I really like the Scarab boat! It's a lot more comfortable than the Yamaha (in my opinion). I love the look of it and my wife loves it! I hear everyone talking about the Intake getting clogged and how the Scarab doesn't have a clean out. One guy said he melted his water box coupler and couldn't make the trip. Isn't the Sea-Doo set up pretty similar to the Scarab, Chaparral and Glastron? Is this something that is going to cause grief down the road? I'm sure i will be in weeds at some point. I saw the video of the guy going through weeds and he didn't seem to have a problem. Will this boat make it to Bimini? I've seen youtube videos of Sea-Doo's going to Bimini and they didn't have any issues. Has anyone come up with ideas on how to clean off the intake without getting in the water?

Which model/size are you considering? There are several Rotax boats registered for the Bimini trip this year. I probably would not attempt it in a 165, LOL. Two other things to consider is the relatively flat hull, especially in the stern, and the lack of self bailing (scupper) feature. I would thing that a set of trim tabs would cure some of the former and a secondary bilge pump would help with the latter.

Those Scarabs are amazing looking! Please post pics!

 

[Howard Z]

@swatski I'm looking at the 255...It's going to be my retirement present to myself next year! I can't wait! I just want to make sure I get the right boat!

 

[Scott E]

I had a Challenger 1800 with the Mercury Jet for 8 years, never had anything other than a ski rope sucked up. Last year we updated to a Challenger 210 with twin rotax. I sucked up a small stick I think, and had a small wood chip stuck between the impeller and the wear ring. Had to idle back due to vibration. That required putting the boat on the trailer and pulling it out with pliers. Not sure the Yamaha cleanout plugs would have helped, but they may have made it easier. This happened in a no wake zone, at idle. Also ran thru some weeds on another lake and took a few tries to get them thru. Now when I launch and have to go thru the no wake zone weeds in the channel to the lake, I stop, cycle the ICS once out of them.

I personally would not let the lack of the cleanout ports deter me from purchasing another rotax powered boat, even with the issue I had.

The Scarab, like my Challenger has closed loop cooling for the motor, but the exhaust is cooled by external water, if the intake in the pump gets plugged, the exhaust can overheat. I was worried about that this summer, as I thought I had plugged mine. After some research there are temp alarms for both the exhaust and the motor, so if the exhaust cooling is plugged, there should be an alarm before any damage. I have since installed shutoffs so I can turn off the exhaust cooling circuit, and run on a single motor at speed if needed.

The 255 looks great and I'm hoping to see one in person, may be the next upgrade boat...

 

[JetTech72]

@Howard Z the Sea-Doo SportBoat intake configuration as used by Chaparral, Glastron, Scarab, Williams JetTenders, etc... has never been an issue for me.
I agree the system is not perfect but I have been using that SportBoat of mine in far from prestine water & never got stranded because of debris in the intake.
You feel once in while that something is being processed through the system, but it will normally get back running after.
The Yamaha clean-out port is not perfect either, if not properly maintained they tend to get stuck & I have heard about issue regarding the safety switch that would shut the engine in rough water operation.

 

[swatski]

@swatski I'm looking at the 255...It's going to be my retirement present to myself next year! I can't wait! I just want to make sure I get the right boat!

Those 255s are crazy nice, deep gunnels w/ton of space. We also LOVED the head compartment entry -- designed where you do not need to squat to get in. And there has never been a better time to buy a big Scarab runabout: $54,000 for a 255 Platinum SE - that is NUTS! They are actually taking a loss on those, according to my sources, and I believe that.

Where do you boat? Are you planning on going off shore much?

--

 

[Mainah]

I had two older seadoo jet boats and now my Yamaha over the last 12 years. I boat on very clean lakes and the only thing my boat ever sucked up on the lakes was a tube rope. This past summer in the bay I did suck up some floating seaweed against the intake grate on my Yamaha and I knew it right away. I just shut off the enignes and it dropped off withput me having to do anything else.

I like having the cleanouts but that would not be a make it or break item unless I boated primarily on bodies of water with a fair amount of debris or that were shallow. Also the hull is not really designed for frequent off shore use.

The 255 in Cognac is one heck of a head turner. In fact if I have my boat long enough to need it reupholstered I am going to steal that color scheme. If you have a great dealer that you know you can trust close by then that should help with any maintenance down the road. My biggest concern with Scarab is wether they are going to be around 10 years from now.

 

[Bill D]

I've sucked up a few things in the nearly 130 hours we've put on the boat. Some were able to be cleared from the cleanout, but others had to have the boat put on the trailer to get.

- Plastic bottle cap - cleanout ports.
- Small stick - cleanouts.
- Slightly larger wood chip - trailer, pulled pump
- Fishing line - trailer

So, we're 50/50. Its nice to be able to clear small things from the back of the boat. I don't think a lack of cleanouts would be a deal breaker unless I was in a really weedy lake.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Your best option with WEEDS in your intake is to learn the reverse move , as for sticks and other objects you will have an issue out on the water trying to dislodge those if they get stuck in the impeller.

 

[Howard Z]

Those 255s are crazy nice, deep gunnels w/ton of space. We also LOVED the head compartment entry -- designed where you do not need to squat to get in. And there has never been a better time to buy a big Scarab runabout: $54,000 for a 255 Platinum SE - that is NUTS! They are actually taking a loss on those, according to my sources, and I believe that.

Where do you boat? Are you planning on going off shore much?

--

I sure hope they don't raise the price much next year! Although that would be my luck! It is a beautiful boat for sure!

 

[Howard Z]

Thanks to everyone for putting my mind at ease! I really appreciate all the help! I plan on docking at a smaller lake and occasionally going on Lake Erie. I'm pretty excited about getting a boat. I've Been out of boating for a few years and really miss it! Made a pretty good deal with my wife. I get the boat of my choice and she gets to stay in Ohio to be with our granddaughter! 2018 can't come soon enough! For now I get to live my boating life through this forum! I love seeing all of the video's and reading all of the threads! Really looking forward to seeing how the Scarab's do going to Bimini! My goal is to make the trip in 2019!