2018 AR240 VS 2018 Scarab 255 G

[sfadchi]

Ok I've been on the market for a Jet Boat for the past week. I currently have a boat club and I'm tired of having to plan my weekends 6-8 weeks in advance.

I have narrowed my choice down to a brand new hold over 2018 Scarab 255 G and a used 2018 Yamaha AR240 with 57 hours and a Yamaha extended warranty.

The AR240 is a private sale and I have negotiated a price of $44K (I'll have to take care of taxes and registration)

The Scarab is at a dealer and I have negotiated a price of $50K OTD.

To my wife and I, the Yamaha seems like a much nicer boat. It just feels nicer, has carpeting, has a really nice stern area, the new articulating keel, the tower looks much nicer than a standard top, the connext system feels nice, and it's a much faster boat.

I like the added length of the Scarab, the rear seating area makes the boat feel even bigger, the neutral turning, the bimini has better coverage, we're in saltwater and I like that it's a closed loop cooling system. It's also nice that it's a brand new boat and comes with a factory warranty.

Anyone that could offer any input that I should be aware of it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[captras]

I own a 2016 Yamaha 242 Limited SE....but will try to be objective based on my experience and what I have read:
1. What is the warranty with Scarab vs the extended (YES) with Yamaha?
2. Remember that Yamaha basically has no options.....it all comes included. Scarab has many things available as extra cost options. Make sure, regarding the cost, that you compare apples to apples for cost and features.
3. Both manufacturers have had their problems, as do all companies. One issue to keep in mind is that with Yamaha you are dealing with one company for the hull/engine/electronics, etc. Scarab requires you do deal with different companies, especially if you have engine issues.
4. Overall satisfaction seems to be pretty equal both from Scarab and Yamaha owners. There are always some that either have an axe to grind, or genuinely got a bad product. Both are beautiful boats.
5. One HUGE consideration is the clean out plugs on the Yamaha. This can save you MANY headaches, lost water time, and expenses. Remember, the clean out plugs allows you to remove debris without having to get in the water and go under the boat, or pull the boat out of the water. The first can be dangerous, the second can be a real PITA!
6. From what I have read, Scarab may have the upper hand on slow maneuvering capability because of the way the bucket is designed. In my case, slow maneuvering was an issue, but practice made it very workable, and I eventually added fins....which I have heard is a great addition on either brand.
7. An advantage to Yamaha is that they have been in the marine business for MANY years, and their marine engines are pretty much recognized as the best. That is not to say the the Rotax in the Scarab are not good power plants, but Scarab does not have the history that does Yamaha.
8. You will find people on here with either brand that have issues with fit and finish. In my case I have no issues, and love my boat.
9. Another important thing to consider is how easy it is to have warranty issues resolved. If you search you will find one individual on here that has a Scarab with what seems to be serious hull quality issues that he can not get the manufacturer to even acknowledge, let alone repair. By the same token I have had some warranty issues with my boat. While it seemed like it took longer to get them resolved than I would have liked, and the fact that some of the issues were repeats issues, I NEVER got any push back from the dealer regarding honoring the warranty. I am not at all impressed with the customer relations department at Yamaha Corporate, but since I have been able to resolve all issues at the dealer level, I am very satisfied. And, BTW, all issues have been taken care of, and they even found some issues on their own and repaired them. Of course alot of this has to do with the individual dealer.
10. It may not seem like it but I have tried to be non-partisan, but here I will say that I did alot of research prior to buying my 2016. I looked at Chaps and Scarabs and Yamaha. Scarab was [HASH=412]#3,[/HASH] far behind Chap and Yamaha, IMHO. If it were me, I would go Yamaha....but whatever you choose, I am sure you will love it. Hopefully there are some Scarab owners here that may be able to answer issues that I could not personally address!

GOOD LUCK!

 

[sfadchi]

@captras thanks for taking the time to reply.

The Scarab factory warranty is 3 years.
The Yamaha extended warranty is YES, seller says till 01/24 but I don’t think that’s correct and will call Yamaha tomorrow to verify as I think it’s probably 01/23.

 

[OrangeTJ]

Have you been out on a demo of both? If not, I very highly recommend that if possible. Both are beautiful boats. Given that you're in salt water, I'll just ask the question (not loaded, I promise): Why have you narrowed your choices to only jets? Did you consider but ultimately rule out inboard, outboard or stern drive powered boats?

 

[Marvin willis]

I’m curious if I have to put my boat in the shop during summer if I’ll get it back before fall? I prefer to make all my own repairs but it’s under warranty

 

[swatski]

Ok I've been on the market for a Jet Boat for the past week. I currently have a boat club and I'm tired of having to plan my weekends 6-8 weeks in advance.

I have narrowed my choice down to a brand new hold over 2018 Scarab 255 G and a used 2018 Yamaha AR240 with 57 hours and a Yamaha extended warranty.

The AR240 is a private sale and I have negotiated a price of $44K (I'll have to take care of taxes and registration)

The Scarab is at a dealer and I have negotiated a price of $50K OTD.

To my wife and I, the Yamaha seems like a much nicer boat. It just feels nicer, has carpeting, has a really nice stern area, the new articulating keel, the tower looks much nicer than a standard top, the connext system feels nice, and it's a much faster boat.

I like the added length of the Scarab, the rear seating area makes the boat feel even bigger, the neutral turning, the bimini has better coverage, we're in saltwater and I like that it's a closed loop cooling system. It's also nice that it's a brand new boat and comes with a factory warranty.

Anyone that could offer any input that I should be aware of it would be greatly appreciated.

What are the Scarab engines in the boat you are considering?
They come in at least three varieties, the 150 N/A, and s/c 200, 250, and the newest is ACE, slightly higher displacement with 300hp.
I believe all but 150 twin Scarab will outrun any twin Yamaha... Not necessarily a reason to buy one, but I question your comment on Yamaha being the faster one. They are quick but top off at 49-50mph, while the fastest Scarabs will push 60.

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[Dixie Highway]

Just a note on the cooling system, my understanding is the Scarab is not fully “closed loop”, it doesn’t put raw water through the engine but still uses raw water in a heat exchanger to cool the coolant.

To me it would definitely come down to engine choice in the Scarab. If it has the twin 250’s there’s no contest Scarab would be worlds faster. To me, the Scarab 255 ID Open was very nice, but not comparable to Yamaha in the CC class due to price difference.

 

[sfadchi]

What are the Scarab engines in the boat you are considering?
They come in at least three varieties, the 150 N/A, and s/c 200, 250, and the newest is ACE, slightly higher displacement with 300hp.
I believe all but 150 twin Scarab will outrun any twin Yamaha... Not necessarily a reason to buy one, but I question your comment on Yamaha being the faster one. They are quick but top off at 49-50mph, while the fastest Scarabs will push 60.

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It’s a base 255 G with twin 150s.

 

[sfadchi]

Have you been out on a demo of both? If not, I very highly recommend that if possible. Both are beautiful boats. Given that you're in salt water, I'll just ask the question (not loaded, I promise): Why have you narrowed your choices to only jets? Did you consider but ultimately rule out inboard, outboard or stern drive powered boats?

We mostly do the intercostal and park at the island or sand bar. I’ve had jet skis since I was 16 years old (1997) and used to race them. I feel comfortable operating then and like the idea of not having a prop in the water with my daughter. I’ve been told my multiple people that outboards are the way to go, but it’s not what I want or feel is best for me and my family. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to sea trial either boat. My dealer doesn’t have both boats.

 

[Bluewater272]

The cleanout ports to me are a huge selling point for Yamaha. Jets will suck things up and it will cause you to stop and deal with it, and at potentially inopportune times. The ability to quickly clear most issues from up top is a godsend. Without them, I'd have likely never switched to a jet.

 

[BlkGS]

It’s a base 255 G with twin 150s.

Its worth noting those engines will run on regular, the supercharged engines need premium.

 

[OrangeTJ]

The cleanout ports to me are a huge selling point for Yamaha. Jets will suck things up and it will cause you to stop and deal with it, and at potentially inopportune times. The ability to quickly clear most issues from up top is a godsend. Without them, I'd have likely never switched to a jet.

Strongly agree. Cleanout ports are a huge advantage. You can’t always clear the obstruction through them but at least you have a chance.

 

[Bruce]

A Scarab with the baby engines and no clean our ports versus a reliable 240. That should be an easy decision.

 

[Rumbo]

If you go with the Yamaha be sure to do what you need to to transfer the extended warranty. I believe Yamaha requires an authorized dealer to do an inspection.

 

[OrangeTJ]

We mostly do the intercostal and park at the island or sand bar. I’ve had jet skis since I was 16 years old (1997) and used to race them. I feel comfortable operating then and like the idea of not having a prop in the water with my daughter. I’ve been told my multiple people that outboards are the way to go, but it’s not what I want or feel is best for me and my family. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to sea trial either boat. My dealer doesn’t have both boats.

Makes sense re. the choice of jets. Are you planning to keep the boat in the water or on land when not in use? I'd say these aren't super "wet slip friendly", particularly in salt water, but that's a non-issue if you'll be storing it out of the water. A demo is definitely recommended but if that's not possible I'm sure you'll still be happy with your purchase.

 

[swatski]

The Scarab is at a dealer and I have negotiated a price of $50K OTD.

That is a great price, the lowest I've seen was this at the St. Louis boat show earlier this year:


They are beautiful boats, the Scarabs.

In this case though, given the 150s and no tower I would go with the AR240, assuming it is in good shape, just keep an eye on the tower locking bolts.

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[sfadchi]

Makes sense re. the choice of jets. Are you planning to keep the boat in the water or on land when not in use? I'd say these aren't super "wet slip friendly", particularly in salt water, but that's a non-issue if you'll be storing it out of the water. A demo is definitely recommended but if that's not possible I'm sure you'll still be happy with your purchase.

Yeah I’ll be keeping it on a trailer. No way I’d keep it in the water.

 

[the MfM]

Make sure the Yamaha warranty can be transferred and go with that one.

I wouldn’t be able to get past the 150 engines... 200 or 250 would be fine with me and probably have best resale.

 

[Dean P]

We mostly do the intercostal and park at the island or sand bar. I’ve had jet skis since I was 16 years old (1997) and used to race them. I feel comfortable operating then and like the idea of not having a prop in the water with my daughter. I’ve been told my multiple people that outboards are the way to go, but it’s not what I want or feel is best for me and my family. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to sea trial either boat. My dealer doesn’t have both boats.

Where are you located?

I have heard/read from other owners that the fit, finish and quality on Scarab boats is somewhat questionable. I would chose Yamaha.
Top speed, I would chose Yamaha. That size Scarab with twins 150s is under powered IMO
Slow speed maneuverability (forward or backwards), I would chose Scarab
If you plan on fishing, I would chose Scarab.
Towing and tubing, is a tie
The cost between the 2 favors the Yamaha till you start doing engine performance mods. If that's a consideration.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

Some other notes worth stating.

I wouldn’t be able to get past the 150 engines... 200 or 250 would be fine with me and probably have best resale.

I agree. IMO most people would take the more horsepower if available.

Just a note on the cooling system, my understanding is the Scarab is not fully “closed loop”, it doesn’t put raw water through the engine but still uses raw water in a heat exchanger to cool the coolant.

The Rotax Engine is a closed loop system. No raw water touches the engines. It has it's own cooling system (just like a car). Raw water is used to cool the exhaust.

Its worth noting those engines will run on regular, the supercharged engines need premium.

The super charged engine don't "need" premium. Premium is used to get the max power from the Rotax engines.

One HUGE consideration is the clean out plugs on the Yamaha. This can save you MANY headaches, lost water time, and expenses. Remember, the clean out plugs allows you to remove debris without having to get in the water and go under the boat, or pull the boat out of the water. The first can be dangerous, the second can be a real PITA!

This is a point worth noting. If you boat in a very seaweed concentrated area, jet boats may not be ideal. Where I boat, I have my fair share of weeds. Just this past weekend, I had to dock in seaweed. When I left and got into a clear area, I drove in reverse and turned off one engine and then the other (a trick I learned here on this forum). The water flowing back thru helps to clear debris. When I took off, whatever was left was chopped up and spit out. No issues. I've owned this boat for a year and have only had to do this method twice.

 

[sfadchi]

I chose the 2019 AR240! We're very happy with the choice!