SCARAB JET 285 ID
SPECS: LOA: 28'0" BEAM: 9'2" DRAFT: 1'8" DRY WEIGHT: 5,750 lb. SEAT/WEIGHT CAPACITY: Yacht Certified FUEL CAPACITY: 98 gal.
HOW WE TESTED: ENGINES: Twin Rotax Marine 300 ACE 1.6L jet drives DRIVE/PROP: Jet drive/stainless-steel impeller GEAR RATIO: 1.00:1 FUEL LOAD: 50 gal. CREW WEIGHT: 200 lb.
The Scarab Jet 285 ID is a widebeam luxury runabout with all the advantages of jet propulsion, a perfect accessory for a dockside boat lift. The largest, most powerful jet-powered runabout on the market, this Scarab features an enclosed head, a huge sun pad and transom platform, a new digital helm, and a long list of options you can use to create a custom version to fit your ambitions.
Updates for 2022 include a new standard helm with twin touchscreens that replace all switches and instruments. A display above the dash presents boat data, while a screen to the right of the wheel controls audio, lighting, diagnostics and more. The Scarab Jet 285 ID is now equipped with two wireless phone-charging pads and has a new foldout snack table in the starboard inwale. The 12-gallon freshwater and waste tanks have been moved below the port companion seat for service.
It’s easy to make this boat distinctive. There are 60 different options for colors and graphics, including many that incorporate soft Impact matting on the hull sides, a durable material that adds interesting graphic texture and protects the hull from dock rash. A Wake package ($14,127) adds a tower with hardtop, a 1,600-pound water ballast system, board racks and digital speed control. The Premium JL Audio package ($3,463) includes a subwoofer, amplified transom speakers, and RBG LED lighting within the speakers.
Lift the front of the port console to reach a head compartment with a standard portable or optional flushing head ($1,555). A pair of 25-quart coolers slide out of the starboard console. The sun pad measures 4 feet, 10 inches square and has a pivoting backrest for fore- and aft-facing seating. The backrest at the port console also pivots to create a lounge in the cockpit. Upholstery is crisply styled.
A single lever controls the synchronized digital throttles of twin Rotax marine jet drives. The optional 300 hp engines in our test boat (not catalystequipped and not available in California and CE markets) pushed the Scarab to 52 mph. The Scarab Jet 285 ID is truly the Gulf Stream of jet boats.