The Wellcraft 355 is unlike any Wellcraft model that’s come before it. This is a Euro-style, plumb-bow “adventure commuter” designed for family fun and overnighting, with get-there speeds.
From the design boards of Michael Peters Yacht Design, the 355 packs up to 1,050 hp via triple outboards (Mercury or Yamaha) for builder-reported speeds over 50 knots. There’s an enclosed salon that can be air-conditioned or heated. When fresh air is desired, the 355’s entire after bulkhead opens with a top-hinged window, providing unbroken space from the cockpit to the windshield.
The galley has a one-burner cooktop, sink and mini fridge, while owners can opt for an outdoor grill. The cockpit has a stainless-steel “roll bar” to stow fenders or dive tanks. A trio of sun pads fills the bow, and the asymmetrical cabin allows a deep, secure walkway forward to starboard.
Overnighting is comfortable, with a queen-size berth and an enclosed head with an electric toilet that’s standard. The shower stall is 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall with a seat. There’s stowage under the berth, and the dinette in the salon converts into a double berth for guests.
The helm on the boat I got aboard had a pair of high-back seats abaft a dash with two 16-inch Garmin displays (these were upgrades). There also was the standard bow-thruster lever and the joystick for the outboards. A nice touch was the sliding door next to the helm seat; it allows side-deck access without disturbing the skipper.
This particular 355 also had a 6 kW Fischer Panda diesel genset, as well as room to install a Seakeeper 3 gyrostabilizer under the cockpit sole. Among the other standard equipment was a JL Audio system, boarding gates on each side of the cockpit, twin swim platforms, an anchor windlass and Lenco trim tabs.
Underway, the 355 was pure fun. Hammered down, the boat came up fast and flat, topping out at around 48 knots with the Mercury 350 Verados. In Gulf Stream seas, the boat proved soft-riding and dry.
The Wellcraft 355 is all about family fun and comfy overnighting, with a nice performance edge when owners want it.
Indoor-Outdoor Choices
The enclosed space abaft the pilothouse includes seating, a galley and other creature comforts that can be completely protected from inclement weather. This space also connects directly to the cockpit by way of a hinged window and door. With both of them open, the Wellcraft 355 becomes one big indoor-outdoor space for guest relaxation and fun.
High-Tech
Using Infu-Jection, a new proprietary construction process, Wellcraft resin-infuses the hull of the 355, including 11 foam-cored ribs to create a solid backbone.
Fast Commuting
“There is a new breed of enthusiastic performance boaters,” says Nick Harvey, brand director for Wellcraft. “Instead of gazing at the sea from shore, they shove off and never look back.”
Take the next step: wellcraft.com
