1983 Wellcraft Scarab 30' Sport Restoration

[Ironwood]

Re: 1983 Wellcraft Scarab 30' Sport Restoration

Good luck with your project. What's not clear is what you intend to do with your boat. Are you going to be fishing? Are you going to turn this fishing boat into a luxury pleasure/cruising boat?

The Wellcraft is a very high quality boat, they have classic styling that's good for many years. I'm glad you found one with good stringers--maybe something of a rarity. But, remember that this is a very heavy hull, and heavy boats require big motors. Are you intending on repowering with used engines? Or, new? If new, I'd be looking to put a pair of 350 hp Yammie's on it. (Many people are big on using large horsepower motors if the hull is large.)

You'll get better advice if you give some more background on what you're going to do with your boat.

As far as floors, you should look into the new teak look vinyl floors going on pontoon boats. They're relatively expensive, but bullet proof and much, much more durable than a real wooden floor. They look fantastic and are easy to install with the proper adhesives and a heavy steel vinyl floor roller available @ rental yards.

If you don't have extensive fiberglass experience, you should reconsider scaling back on your construction plans--given your time constraints. New paint, trim upgraded seats, console and top and big motors will already be expensive. If you want a boat that reeks of luxury (like the ones in your pictures), you'll need to open up your pocketbook to professional help.

You also might reconsider closing up the transom and using external aluminum motor mounts. Again, the conversion will require extensive fiberglass work, possibly requiring additional bracing from the stringers to the newly closed in transom. It's pretty difficult to do, as big motors require strong transoms.

Thanks Bamaman for the reply! This boat is going to be a dual sport boat. Fishing has been my passion since I learned to walk, so it will be completely out fitted with everything I need, FF, plotter, GPS, live bait tank etc.... The boat also has to be part cruiser pleasure boat for my wife and kids and other family and friends. I want a boat that we can go and hangout on even docked in its slip in the marina. Also need to be able to make long range fishing trips in comfort.

I have been working on surfboards doing glassing and shaping since I was a kid as well as always working on my waverunner, breaking the hull while jumping waves. So I have a little experience in fiberglass work, but I will be pulling in a pro for the glassing work. Construction I am good at so at will be handling all that myself. Interior upholstery I will be handing off to a pro for that. I have read some of the DIY posts on upholstery and the guys who do it do amazing jobs, but I have never run a sewing machine in my life and would probably sew my finger to the seat.

This vinyl floor you are talking about sounds awesome! I am going to look into it right now. I have seen the sheets of teak flooring and thats what I was going to use, but may be re thinking that. I said two months to complete the project but I don't really have a time frame, as long as it is ready to roll by next summer, I am ok with that. I have a lot of free time to work on the boat, so I am going to try to put in 3 full days a week on it, maybe 4. With my job, work is typically done at 9 am and any other work can be continued off of my phone.

I am not sure as far as the motors, I need to get a decent deal so it will probably be the last thing I do. I will just have everything prepped for it and a few sleeves to pull all steering cables etc... We often have a lot of swell running around here as well as wind chop. I would be concerned with not being able to use the potential to open up the 350's. There is a Homeland Security / Border Patrol go fast boat that cruises from Long Beach to the border that has 4 Yamaha 350's on it, its insane! Cant imagine what the gas bill is like on that beast. I plan on making a lot of Catalina Island trips which is 30 miles out and then even farther to San Clemente Island for Sail Fish and bigger Tuna Runs.

I was thinking about the transom dealio yesterday and am going to be digging into it a little more tomorrow to see exactly what I want to do. I only wanted to do it originally to free up another two feet of deck space.

Bamaman, what is your take on the gas tank? I am def going to be doing a pressure test on it like FishinMagician said. I have a charter captain who lives down the street from me and he was saying to scrap the tank because the boat was an 83' and it was already past its life span. As of right now, this is my main concern on the boat. My last Wellcraft would have garbage come through the gas tank and clog up my fuel filter. We would be like 30 miles out and have to be changing filters, just wasnt very fun. Every problem I have ever had with boats has been fuel supply. Curious to hear what you think on this. Gotta go do some work now.

Thanks Again

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: 1983 Wellcraft Scarab 30' Sport Restoration

All the Wellcraft and comparable boats around our inland river lake are I/O units, and they're just pleasure craft. People buy 35-40' twin engine sport boats thinking they're going to be 80 mph Miami Vice boats--only to find out they're @ 55 mph. Some of these guys run their boats for hours at a time on weekends, and I'd hate to think how much their fuel bills run @ 60-75 gallons per hour @ $5 per gallon at marinas.

Looking at the current model Wellcraft 30' Sports boats, most owners are using 250 and 300 hp twins. 250 hp 4 strokes are often found on EbayMotors.com and Boattrader.com. Unfortunately, dual freshwater used motors are harder to come by. Remember that any late model used engine has a readable ECU that can tell the hours on the motor, and how many hours have been run at rpm ranges: 1-2K, 2-3K, 3-4K, 4-5K and 6K+. Trouble codes can also be found--if there are any--like on an automobile. If buying used motors, have the engines checked closely by a qualified marine mechanic with an electronic scanner before buying. There are a lot of dishonest people on the internet.

If you're into fishing, your boat will need some serious design and planning to meet your needs. Modern electronics are incredible.

Your fortunate to have the world's best upholsterers in Los Angeles. I'm sure you can find someone that'll give you a fantastic interior. Such design decisions can be difficult when you consider the needs of a fishing boat is to be considered. The internet is also a great place to look for boat seating--especially on the marine suppliers' websites like PontoonStuff.com and GreatLakesSkipper.com. Some of the marine seating companies also custom build seating and center console systems.

On fuel tanks: It all depends on what your tank(s) is made of. Varnish in aluminum and plastic tanks can be cleaned out. Even the insides of rusty steel fuel tanks can be cleaned and re-sealed. But you need to have the tank(s) out of the boat. The new model Wellcrafts are showing 288 gallon fuel capacities. If you're in demanding offshore situations, fuel systems are serious business.

My best suggestion is to be conservative on the hull end of your project. Stainless steel trim, electrical systems and needs of outfitting a bare hull can be very financially demanding--not including engines, etc. Used engines might cost $22K, and new engines $30K. It's very easy to spend $4-5K on GPS/Fishfinder packages, and SeaStar hydraulic steering for 2 engines (with power steering pump) are $4K. Just the labor cost of mounting a pair of modern outboards can be $4-5K, not including a $5K fly by wire electronic throttle/gear binnacle, $1K tach and $1K multi-function gauges. You'd probably also need a new set of $1.5K Bennett or Lenco Trim Tabs. $550 stainless propellers are a bargain and minor expense.

First and foremost: Enjoy what you're doing. Not many people have the experience of custom tailoring a boat for their specific needs.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: 1983 Wellcraft Scarab 30' Sport Restoration

I have not read through all of the posts but could that boat with the teak flooring possibly have flexteak flooring? http://www.flexiteek.com/

just a thought.

LK

 

[Ironwood]

Re: 1983 Wellcraft Scarab 30' Sport Restoration

All the Wellcraft and comparable boats around our inland river lake are I/O units, and they're just pleasure craft. People buy 35-40' twin engine sport boats thinking they're going to be 80 mph Miami Vice boats--only to find out they're @ 55 mph. Some of these guys run their boats for hours at a time on weekends, and I'd hate to think how much their fuel bills run @ 60-75 gallons per hour @ $5 per gallon at marinas.

Looking at the current model Wellcraft 30' Sports boats, most owners are using 250 and 300 hp twins. 250 hp 4 strokes are often found on EbayMotors.com and Boattrader.com. Unfortunately, dual freshwater used motors are harder to come by. Remember that any late model used engine has a readable ECU that can tell the hours on the motor, and how many hours have been run at rpm ranges: 1-2K, 2-3K, 3-4K, 4-5K and 6K+. Trouble codes can also be found--if there are any--like on an automobile. If buying used motors, have the engines checked closely by a qualified marine mechanic with an electronic scanner before buying. There are a lot of dishonest people on the internet.

If you're into fishing, your boat will need some serious design and planning to meet your needs. Modern electronics are incredible.

Your fortunate to have the world's best upholsterers in Los Angeles. I'm sure you can find someone that'll give you a fantastic interior. Such design decisions can be difficult when you consider the needs of a fishing boat is to be considered. The internet is also a great place to look for boat seating--especially on the marine suppliers' websites like PontoonStuff.com and GreatLakesSkipper.com. Some of the marine seating companies also custom build seating and center console systems.

On fuel tanks: It all depends on what your tank(s) is made of. Varnish in aluminum and plastic tanks can be cleaned out. Even the insides of rusty steel fuel tanks can be cleaned and re-sealed. But you need to have the tank(s) out of the boat. The new model Wellcrafts are showing 288 gallon fuel capacities. If you're in demanding offshore situations, fuel systems are serious business.

My best suggestion is to be conservative on the hull end of your project. Stainless steel trim, electrical systems and needs of outfitting a bare hull can be very financially demanding--not including engines, etc. Used engines might cost $22K, and new engines $30K. It's very easy to spend $4-5K on GPS/Fishfinder packages, and SeaStar hydraulic steering for 2 engines (with power steering pump) are $4K. Just the labor cost of mounting a pair of modern outboards can be $4-5K, not including a $5K fly by wire electronic throttle/gear binnacle, $1K tach and $1K multi-function gauges. You'd probably also need a new set of $1.5K Bennett or Lenco Trim Tabs. $550 stainless propellers are a bargain and minor expense.

First and foremost: Enjoy what you're doing. Not many people have the experience of custom tailoring a boat for their specific needs.

Thanks for the great info! A lot of the stuff on the boat I am going to try to recycle except the motors. I guess i could usethe motors but they are old 1983 Johnson Seahorse 250's, and they need some work. I am still contemplating it. I also have a Navy connection and they pretty much only use Evinrude e-tecs. They come with a boat, mostly RIBs I could strip the motors off and sell the RIB. I know they were there boats hard but they also keep them maintained. Tossing around that option. How much do u think I could sell some non running Johnson's for? One of them is counter rotating.

I sold my other wellcraft just to design a boat. I am taking all of my custom home building experience and trying to work it into this boat. I am enjoying it a lot.

That fake teak flooring is awesome!!!! I have decided that is what I am doing.