Alchemy was the mythical medieval belief that you could turn a base metal, such as lead, into something rare, such as gold. And that's exactly what Wellcraft has done with the introduction of its new 355.
As a former Wellcraft Scarab owner, I can vouch that no Wellcraft was ever made of lead, but this boat has served notice that the new Wellcraft is pure gold.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1677480720/articles/jQbl5DV5F1679898527072/5857898896.jpg]
First, it is so striking in appearance that you don't need thong-clad babes aboard to get attention at the local sandbar. You'll draw eyes like iron filings to magnets, even with Aunt Edna in her flowered one-piece. Mosey up to the local waterfront pub, with three big Yammies or Mercs burbling on the transom, and you own the place.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1677480720/articles/jQbl5DV5F1679898527072/7799619956.jpg]
Part of this fascination is the bow, which Wellcraft calls a plumb bow. This clearly draws on the Euro influence of builders such as Axopar. This boat is a modern classic, though, carving its own place among bows from Rybovich to Trumpy that once set the standard for what the pointy end should look like.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1677480720/articles/jQbl5DV5F1679898527072/9119899111.jpg]
I spent an evening across a bottle of fine pinot grigio at the debut of the 355, talking to Chris Critchett of Michael Peters Yacht Design, which conjured the 355's lines. Peters has a reputation for not just fast boats, but also fast, solid boats that track well and ride softly. Critchett explained to me that a great amount of time went into designing the 355's bow section, with its cutaway forefoot that seems cribbed from Coast Guard icebreakers. But it wasn't until our on-water testing that I was completely convinced.
Boating editor-at-large Randy Vance and I took the 355 out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration promising 2- to 3-foot waves-but, the Gulf Stream winked and delivered 4 to 6s, with some bigger holes. Vance, God love him, is a closet ocean racer, and as we cleared the inlet, he grabbed a fistful of throttles and put the hammers down. It was an outing to put Mr. Toad's Wild Ride to shame, but the 355 was rock-solid with nary a squeak or groan. Sure, we had a few crash landings, but here's the thing: The 355 steered arrow straight.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1677480720/articles/jQbl5DV5F1679898527072/8978869188.jpg]
A criticism of some Euro-styled boats is that a plumb or ax bow can act as a forward rudder, steering the boat as it punches into a swell. But the 355 proved perfectly well-mannered. And fun. And fast too. In spite of the seas, we saw just shy of 50 mph with the triple Merc 350s, which is plenty quick enough to get you to Bimini or Nantucket for lunch, although you wouldn't subject your family (or Aunt Edna) to our ride.
The overall styling is pure "commuter," such as those 1920s yachts that carried the Gatsby-esque magnates from Long Island homes to Wall Street. With a slightly reversed sheer, the house can only be described as Early Perpendicular, with windows that don't p...
As a former Wellcraft Scarab owner, I can vouch that no Wellcraft was ever made of lead, but this boat has served notice that the new Wellcraft is pure gold.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1677480720/articles/jQbl5DV5F1679898527072/5857898896.jpg]
First, it is so striking in appearance that you don't need thong-clad babes aboard to get attention at the local sandbar. You'll draw eyes like iron filings to magnets, even with Aunt Edna in her flowered one-piece. Mosey up to the local waterfront pub, with three big Yammies or Mercs burbling on the transom, and you own the place.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1677480720/articles/jQbl5DV5F1679898527072/7799619956.jpg]
Part of this fascination is the bow, which Wellcraft calls a plumb bow. This clearly draws on the Euro influence of builders such as Axopar. This boat is a modern classic, though, carving its own place among bows from Rybovich to Trumpy that once set the standard for what the pointy end should look like.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1677480720/articles/jQbl5DV5F1679898527072/9119899111.jpg]
I spent an evening across a bottle of fine pinot grigio at the debut of the 355, talking to Chris Critchett of Michael Peters Yacht Design, which conjured the 355's lines. Peters has a reputation for not just fast boats, but also fast, solid boats that track well and ride softly. Critchett explained to me that a great amount of time went into designing the 355's bow section, with its cutaway forefoot that seems cribbed from Coast Guard icebreakers. But it wasn't until our on-water testing that I was completely convinced.
Boating editor-at-large Randy Vance and I took the 355 out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration promising 2- to 3-foot waves-but, the Gulf Stream winked and delivered 4 to 6s, with some bigger holes. Vance, God love him, is a closet ocean racer, and as we cleared the inlet, he grabbed a fistful of throttles and put the hammers down. It was an outing to put Mr. Toad's Wild Ride to shame, but the 355 was rock-solid with nary a squeak or groan. Sure, we had a few crash landings, but here's the thing: The 355 steered arrow straight.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1498743624/1677480720/articles/jQbl5DV5F1679898527072/8978869188.jpg]
A criticism of some Euro-styled boats is that a plumb or ax bow can act as a forward rudder, steering the boat as it punches into a swell. But the 355 proved perfectly well-mannered. And fun. And fast too. In spite of the seas, we saw just shy of 50 mph with the triple Merc 350s, which is plenty quick enough to get you to Bimini or Nantucket for lunch, although you wouldn't subject your family (or Aunt Edna) to our ride.
The overall styling is pure "commuter," such as those 1920s yachts that carried the Gatsby-esque magnates from Long Island homes to Wall Street. With a slightly reversed sheer, the house can only be described as Early Perpendicular, with windows that don't p...
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Boating (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2023