Another old race boat?

[flyingfrizzle]

No Cl Listing permitted

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by Fr. Frank

Sandy, Some possibly relevant data concerning power options for this boat:

Back in '86 Wellcraft built 3 prototype 26' Scarab Sport center consoles that were long and narrow like your new boat. They were 26'1", and only had an 7'8" beam.

Among the prototypes, there was 1 transom-mount outboard model, 1 Armstrong bracket-mount outboard model, and 1 stern-drive model.
The view of the hull from the stern looked almost identical to the boat you're having conniptions over (rightfully so).
The only difference I remember was a small pad at the keel, perhaps 10" wide, running forward from the transom about 8' - 10' . Dead-rise at the stern on the inner planing surface was 24* with a 2" flat before the inner hard-chine, then the outer planing surface was 20*, with again with a flat before the hull side.

The bracket-mount was built to accept either single or twin OB, and we tested it both ways, with a variety of power configurations. We tested single Yamaha 200 & 220 hp 60* 2.6L, and 225 hp 90* 2.6L motors, and single Mercury 200 & 225 2.5L, and 275 hp 3.4L motor. We also tested twin Yamaha 130 V4 and 150 hp V6 motors, and twin Mercury 135 hp 2.0L and 200 hp 2.5L motors.

First, ALL the single outboards were EXCEEDINGLY squirrely at 40+ mph in anything over 2' seas.
Second, even with the keel pad, because of the "P-factor", above 60 mph in flat-calm mild chine-walk was an issue with the single 220 Yamaha and 275 Mercury.

Top speed with the Merc 275 on the bracket was 65 mph in flat water, and 67 in a moderate chop. I think top speed on the same transom-mounted was about 60-61 mph.
Top speed with the Yamaha 220 "Excel" was 61 in flat water, and 64 in a moderate chop. Top speed on the transom was 56 mph.
And while the Yamaha 225 could just touch 60 mph in a chop, it never got over 60.

Counter-rotating twins were a LOT more stable at all speeds than the singles.

Twin bracketed setup with the Merc 200's was marginally the fastest configuration, with a consistent top speed of 69 mph in a light to moderate chop. (although the radar gun briefly showed 70 in a light chop downwind :-) )
Twin 135's Mercs showed only 50 mph at WOT.

Twin bracketed Yamaha 150's showed a top speed of 55 mph, but the 800 lbs hanging off the bracket was untenable, and slow speed maneuverability suffered greatly. With the twin V6 Yamaha motors, the hull would rise to a 47 degree angle while accelerating to plane, completely obscuring forward vision for 5-6 seconds. It was the slowest to plane setup of all we tried.

The twin Yamaha 130's showed a top speed only 2 mph less than the twin 150's, at 53 mph, and was faster to plane than anything except the twin Merc 200's and single Merc 275. It also was the best handling setup on plane in 2'-3' seas, giving the greatest amount of control and least instability.

(We actually took the boat fishing while it was rigged with the twin 200 Mercs, and it rolled like a pig drifting in 2' seas, until we rigged a stabilizer using the anchor and a 150 qt cooler lid off the windward side to slow the roll).

In my opinion, the twin 130's on the bracket was the best config we tested, and Wellcraft's subsequent decision to limit the boat to a recommended 275 max OB hp reflected the results of our tests. They also decided to not put into production either the transom mount OB or stern-drive versions of the 1987 26' Scarab Sport center-console, and produced only 12 of the 26' Scarab Sports for 1987, discontinuing the model halfway through the '87 model year. We had one on our lot for sale with a single 220 Excel for over 2 years before we finally sold it.

The same hull was produced as a cuddy-cabin in '87 and '88 as a 300 or 350 hp single stern-drive model and was called the 26' Scarab Excel.

Conniptions indeed. Thanks Padre!

My original Scottish incarnation was a bracket and a big single. But then I started thinking, dangerous , I know. I remember talking with Mark Hauptner at the show 5 yrs ago when he launched the 27 hybrid. Kind of a mix of Hunt and Moesly with a few twists. Mark was on an errand and I was talking with a rep from the Keys. The rep said a 250 ho e tec was the best choice. I thought that strange. When Mark came he said you`re that SeaCraft nut. We laughed and he gave me a tour of the hull. When I told him what the rep said, he asked , what would Carl do? I said twins. He then said she would plane off easily on one 150 e tec and that was the max he would rig here with. He said light twins always win all things except economy. That stuck with me.

I prefer an open transom for a few reasons, and am undecided on this as of today. I have lots of time to gather Wood. Brackets are great for diving and more efficiency, but there are trade offs.

I so love my 20. Why am I doing this???

Your friendly emotional wreck,
GFS

[Bigshrimpin]

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

I so love my 20. Why am I doing this???

Your friendly emotional wreck,
GFS

Sandy - You are one lucky lucky man to have that boat.

A nice bracket, a pair of Chrysler stackers and you'll be in hog heaven.

[NoBones]

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

I so love my 20. Why am I doing this???

Your friendly emotional wreck,
GFS

Every man should have two boats!!! or three or.......

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by Bigshrimpin

Sandy - You are one lucky lucky man to have that boat.

A nice bracket, a pair of Chrysler stackers and you'll be in hog heaven.

She` s a rare and inspirational treasure Tim. Is it just me or do you think the `ole Chryslers
sound like the bearings were a bit crusty. Always sounded loose to my ear.

Spoke with the owner again today. She has big honkin` oval scuppers like Todd`s 27!!! Now the bracket makes more sense! Not a Strick quality finish, but that makes me happy because it`s a tool. I don`t want to frown when something gets dinged. I rarely frown anyway... and the awlcraft is fixable...

Padre, you didn`t have to edit your post. I like to have fun here as well. Thank you for your considered response. I have 6 props because because of the wonderful discourse here. The owner said she hit 61 with old Merc 200`s on the transom before the resto. Big tabs and smooth in his words. I run my drift sock off the bow eye.

Denny is coming with me. It just keeps getting better.

Cheers,
Grateful son of CSC

[seafari25]

Congrats GFS!

You're in good hands with Denny.

Enjoy

Brandon

[gofastsandman]

Yes Brandon I am. Thanks. I`ve been given a ton of great knowledge from the wonderful mind. Great Racehorses here. Hey, I said I would be my old self soon. Just learned Carl made 10 of these race boats from 25 -30 ft. TOTAL. Is it 4 known to exist?

Gotta get me some gold shoes and a furry hat,
Thanks again for all the great thoughts and well wishes,
Sandy

[gofastsandman]

We have a live link at area 442 with reporter Billy Bob Fur Hat. Look for reports and possible video at the 1 oclock hour. Back to you Gillie on the west coast.

Cheers,
Us Pilgrims

[Ryan]

Anxiously waiting further reports. Good luck with the rescue mission!

[NoBones]

Onsite web cam.....