The Scott Watters’ Collection: 16 Classic Arctic Cats

No doubt, the coolest aspect of producing ArcticInsider is meeting people who have a passion for Arctic Cat. I never anticipated it when I launched this place four years ago, but this website often works as an electronic introduction to great people that I probably would not have met otherwise.

And many of those electronic intros have evolved into in-person handshakes and greetings, which is even better.

Scott Watters is one such person I’ve met this past year, both via the site and in-person. He lives on the northeast side of the Twin Cities, where he restores, rides and takes great pride in a fleet of sweet Arctic Cats.

What initially started as an email exchange about set-up ideas for the ProCross chassis morphed into an open invitation to some rides, then into an, “Oh, you should see some of my other Arctic Cats,” quip.

When I asked for some pix, he responded with what you see here. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

In Scott’s words: “I have 16 Arctic Cats. My family loves to snowmobile and I love to play and restore them. I wrenched at Tousley Motorsports [a former Arctic Cat dealer] from 1986 to 1994, when I started my lawn/landscape business.

The seasonality of my business allows me to work on snowmobiles in my shop everyday throughout the winter. I still help out my friends rebuilding shocks, as well as tinker on my own machines.”

Above, from L-to-R: 2013 F800 Limited; 2012 F5; 2010 Sno Pro 500; 2008 F8 Sno Pro.

L-to-R: 2002 ZR800 Cross-Country; 1999 Z 440 Sno Pro; 1980 El Tigre 6000.

L-to-R: (one more time on the Tiger…yummy!); 1971 Panther 760; 1972 Cheetah 440; 1972 Puma 440; 1971 EXT 340 Special; and the 1971 Lynx 292.

Doug’s 8-year-old son has plenty to chose from.

If you look closely at Scott’s newer sleds, you’ll notice he’s prone to customization. His 2002 ZR 800 Cross-Country (with “500” decals on the hood… nice ego buster!) gets black powder coated suspension arms, a ceramic coating on the rails and some serious polishing of the tunnel and spindle.

Under the hood, this baby looks like it came off the showfloor. Clearly Scott takes care of his stuff (and has an enclosed trailer).

Check out the custom rear tunnel section (as well as the skis, paint & graphics) on his 2008 F8 Sno Pro.

The “extras” such as the polished steering arm and the absolutely, perfectly clean condition are truly nice to see.

This 1999 Z 440 Sno Pro is another example of detailed perfection…

… as well as a custom creation. Check out the electric start that Scott added when he restored it a couple years ago. Cool!

Again, this is a sled you could eat off of.

I accused Scott of never riding these machines, but he swears that all of them have been ridden a lot, and not gently. I asked for odometer evidence, but I have yet to see anything, so I’ll have to take him at his word.

His 2004 F7 enjoys similar flourishes to the spindles.

Now that I think about it, I wonder if Scott thinks that pushing these sleds around on ski/track dollies constitutes “riding?”

I appreciate that Scott doesn’t confine all of his customization to the big-power sleds in his fleet. Like the e-start ’99 Sno Pro, this 2012 F5 enjoys some extra work.

In Scott’s words: “I powder-coated the tunnel, A-arms, and suspension rails gloss black, then wen Cat Pearl Green on the rear suspension arms, front spindles and rear bumper. The look I was going after was the 2011 F8 EXT, but with a little twist. So I replaced seat cover, front bumper/nose to white, added some decals and a 1.352″ Cobra track and a pair of Hibbert replica white skis.”

Scott’s newest machine is this 2013 F800 Limited. But it no longer looks stock like the above photo…

…instead he’s perfected the application of green powder paint and decals to create a custom sled that looks a lot like the new 2014 El Tigre.

Awesome sleds, Scott! Thanks a million for taking the time to share this with me and everyone else here.