Scarab 30 Sport Side Console

Even greenhorns would have heard of Scarab, that legendary Yankee boatbuilder synonymous with offshore raceboats, hot sportsboats, poker-run boats (Google the words if you're wondering what they are) and eye-wateringly exciting boats. But while high-performance has always been its primary design feature, the go-fast yard has shown it can build inclusive boats. Its new 30 Sport Side Console (also available in Tournament fishing form) lets you fang to faraway places, fish and dive at your leisure, flap about with the family or friends, and fly home before sunset.

Looking every bit the attention seeker in optional race-red livery, the hybrid offshore racer does a clever job of teaming the best in proven race-boat performance with an accommodating cockpit, seriously big fish and livewells, an amenities centre and lunch setting, even overnight accommodation and a decent WC. A real all-in-one without compromising its history and heritage.

With the biggest engines options, a pair of Mercury Optimax 300XS (224kW) race-bred outboards matched to race-type controls and spinning four-blade 22in Bravo performance props, the boat is destined to be remembered for how you get there as much as what you caught, saw and conquered. And with such speed at your disposal you can explore faraway places for just a day that would otherwise take the fleet a weekend to reach and return. And should you be really taken, then there's the option of camping over.

COMPLETE PACKAGE
While it falls under multinational Genmar's umbrella, Scarab doesn't cut corners on construction to make a quick buck. A composite hull helps reduce weight while foam-cored stringers stiffen the running surface. And judging by the way the boat shifts water to the sides, there are hard-working strakes and chines.

The aggressive 23º of deadrise - a true deep vee - and an exceedingly sharp and raked entry cut the waves. But, surprisingly, at rest or underway this was also a stable boat. And that is despite not only its sharp deadrise but also a modest 2.79-metre beam. The key to stability in this case rests with a low centre of gravity.

But in respect of the layout, the Scarab 30 Sport Side Console is something different again. It's got a V-berth in a lockup cuddy cabin in the bow in case you want to sleep over, a forward seating area where you can entertain, and a Vacuflush head under the side console. Then come the amidships cockpit amenities centre with fridge, single-burner butane cooktop, sink, Corian food-prep counter, and storage for picnic gear. Back aft is a fold-up centre lounge for carrying the kiddies.

With this spread of creature comforts you can keep the family happy post fishing and remain self sufficient when visiting nearby ports for the night. Yet the facilities don't compromise Scarab's reputation for sweet performance. To offset the weight of the built-in portside amenities centre, the helm has been shifted across to create a side console to starboard. And with that weight distribution, the boat retains perfect balance so it travels on an even keel.

FISHING FOR COMPLIMENTS
Despite the canvas being oversized, the comparatively lightweight powder-coated aluminium frame for the T-top was sturdy and offered terrific shade and weather protection over the helm seating area. And, my pet hate, the bimini didn't shake and shudder when you drove the boat hard through the waves. Being on an aluminium frame, any movement would be a recipe for cracked welds.

However, if you want to game fish from the boat you will probably need to fit outriggers (a factory-listed option). Having said that, the built-in fishing features were in abundance. While there were only two rodholders in the gunwales - the transom harboured five rodholders - there was a rocket launcher in the T-top for carrying six outfits - along with fore and aft floodlights - and two clear-away or spreader rodholders in the base of the T-top frame.

The 80lt livebait or drinks bin - with a light - built into the transom is a beauty, and there were two removable small dead-bait or dive-gear bins, a cutting square, and sink, plus salt-water wash. There are also four small lockable tackle drawers, padded coamings and integrated grabrails, and two gaff or tag-pole racks per side. Fish, bait and fodder storage is also impressive, with a big Igloo portable icebox under the helm seat, two in-floor fish or storage boxes with overboard drains, and an integrated 55lt cooler under the forward console seat.

Additional storage can be found up front, under the moulded lounges, which with upholstered cushions and a moulded drop-in table (best kept in the cabin when running offshore) are perfect for doing lunch. There is also an infill panel for turning these lounges into a sunpad. With its infill, the aforesaid cabin with V-berth can sleep two, while the WC with Vacuflush head and holding tank under a big hatch back below the console will work well enough.

Finally, the foredeck is topped with non-skid, so you can cast a line up here, plus the boat is fitted with a windlass for making anchoring a push-button affair.

DASHING DASH
Underscoring the race-boat theme were the matching red-rimmed Raymarine E120 electronic screens flush mounted in the dash and the red-rimmed Smartcraft gauges for the big Mercury race outboards, plus a busy switch panel, race-style throttles with separate gearshift levers, and a sexy matching Livorsi sports wheel and trim gauges.

By now you're might be wondering how the Scarab 30 Sport travels. The four-blade race props take a whirr, fizz the water and take a while to really bite, but then you experience the slingshot effect that makes your heart race. It's then that shades are mandatory, hats are not, and you can tweak the trim buttons.

In the choppy test conditions, you needed to button the bow down and crank on the power - there's no pussyfooting about in a boat like this - but it rewards your guts with glory and a headstrong ride.

In this respect, it's a real point-and-shoot boat for early morning starts and fast blatts back home with something in the fishwell or a tan to show for your trip.

The economical setting of 4000rpm produced 33kts for 90lt/h fuel consumption. Leaving 10 per cent of the boat's 1090lt fuel supply in reserve, you will get a safe cruising range of 360nm. Plenty enough to reach other ports.

At 4500rpm you get 40kts for 129lt/h, while 5000rpm returns 42.5kts. Top speed at 6000rpm was 48.5kts, but it was just too rough offshore for that.

Fast, fishy and fun, says Scarab. One must concur, adding that there are family comforts and, with the race-red hull, even if you whiz past in a blurrrr, you won't go unnoticed.

LOWS