Scarab 285 ID

For some boaters, like me, for example, the name Scarab calls up memories of Miami detectives, red Ferraris and pet crocodiles.

When TV’s Miami Vice featured a blue, 38-foot Scarab in the late 1980s, the boat’s popularity went through the roof.

Today, the Scarab name can be found on some of the most innovative, luxurious and well-built jetboats on the water. Scarab’s new logo even shadows the original look and feel to continue the boat’s connection with speed and performance.

However, today’s Scarab is so much more than just a hot rod boat. At just over 28 feet, the largest jetboat on the market, the Scarab 285 ID is much bigger than the term “jetboat” would normally suggest. Powered by twin Rotax 250-hp jet engines with an option to upgrade to 300s, the boat is as fast and nimble as a jet ski.

Scarab did not cut any corners while designing the 285 ID. No matter where you look, innovative, well-thought-out designs are obvious — and sometimes not so obvious. Fit and finish are exemplary, with billeted aluminum accents, grabrails and trim throughout.

Lounge act

The 285’s layout makes it great for entertaining, tow sports, or a mix of both. A walkthrough transom leading into the huge, open cockpit makes boarding easy. Once onboard, there’s no shortage of space for passengers to sit in this Yacht Certified vessel.

Aft seating is split with room for two facing forward and two more aft. The backrest is also adjustable, converting the split seats into a large sunpad. Seating continues up the port and starboard sides and wraps around the bow, with another adjustable backrest giving companion seat passengers or spotters the ability to face aft and still chat with the captain.

Extensive storage hides everywhere throughout the boat underneath hinged cushions and doors. Nothing is loose to be lost to heavy winds or seas. There are also wet storage compartments on the swim platform and a huge compartment in the self- draining cockpit floor.

The floor compartment also hides the leg for a table that can be setup in the bow, cockpit, or transom for serving food and drinks. Other hidden gems are the cold storage drawer, hidden foldout serving table to port and the large cooler under the port seating.

High-tech At the helm and passenger seats, cell phone holders include wireless charging pads to provide the juice today’s connected boater needs. There are also USB charge ports spread throughout the boat, along with an abundance of cupholders.

The Scarab 285 ID also features a big, curved walk-through windshield, but the center is slightly offset to starboard to make room for one of the boat’s best features. From the bow seating area, lift the huge access hatch to reveal a roomy private head hidden beneath the port console. Although a porta-potti is standard, there is an option for an electric head. At the helm, a digital dash panel reflects the boat’s modern design and provides readouts and controls for the engines, lighting and audio functions. Another, smaller digital panel mounted on the port side mirrors the dash readout and provides passengers with audio controls. A third audio control head at the transom means no one needs to climb out of the water and walk through the boat to control the music.

Rock and roll

The Rotax jets are more civilized than you’d expect. When the shift lever is set to neutral, the computer-controlled system adjusts the gates to find the best angle between forward and reverse so the boat does not have the forward “creep” associated with many jetboats.

The digital dash controls also provide the ability to choose from pre-programmed profiles for wakeboarding, tubing, or waterskiing. Want to get out of the hole quickly but cruise at a slower pace? There’s a setting for that. Or, want to climb out slower and take your time throttling up to a higher speed? There’s a setting for that too.

The weather was cool for the early September test ride when we pulled the Scarab 285 out onto Lake Cadillac, where the steady breeze created a bit of a chop on the water. As the boat throttled up, I started to second-guess my decision to leave my jacket behind, but the big windshield did a fantastic job of deflecting the cold air.

Throttling up the Scarab produces almost no bow rise. The boat simply levitates while moving from idle to planing speeds with little to no effort. Even with the bumpy conditions, the ride was smooth, dry and comfortable. At cruise, there is minimal wind noise and engines are so quiet that it’s easy to carry on a conversation even at higher RPMs.

The boat also handles better than expected. With the throttle wide open, we whipped the boat into a hard turn with no skipping or cavitation. The boat dug in and spun around as if it was on rails. Cruising speed is around 12 mph, and if you opt for the twin 300s, you’ll be able to reach a top-speed of 55 mph.

The boat looks as great as it performs. Scarab provides a variety of interior and exterior color and graphic designs, which can be customized to fit any boater’s unique tastes. Other style options include color-adjustable LED courtesy lighting in the speakers and the ability to include a color- matched trailer with the boat.

The Scarab 285 ID is more than just a jetboat. The 28-footer was designed to be the perfect sportboat for wakeboarding and tubing, and with its huge cockpit, creature comforts and abundance of seating, the Scarab 285 ID also makes a great platform for entertaining friends and family.