I felt like a fish swimming upstream trying to board the Boston Whaler 365 Conquest at the Miami boat show. Hours earlier the model had earned the National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award for best new boat in the cabin cruiser category, and the 36-foot Conquest was drawing a steady stream of visitors at the Miami Beach Convention Center. I weaved through crowds, climbed the ladder to the boarding gate and bounced into another group of guests. Despite the jostling, the atmosphere on board was upbeat and friendly.
My luck held when the first person I bumped into was Kristin McGinnis, senior industrial designer at Brunswick Boat Group, parent company of Boston Whaler. McGinnis was one of the lead designers on the 365, the fourth model in the Conquest series that has helped define the Whaler brand. She joined Brunswick as an intern in 2015. “At that time, I thought I wanted to be a car designer, but I just love working on boats,” she said. “And I love being on the water. It’s so Zen.”
The defining trait of the 365—and of the Conquest line, which ranges from 28 to 40 feet—is its dual personality. This boat is aimed at owners who want yachty comforts for comfortable cruising but don’t want to give up serious fishability. McGinnis explained that the design began with thorough field work: the team talked with boaters who split their time between fishing and cruising to understand how they use their boats in real offshore conditions. “We went around the country, including the Northeast and Northwest, to see what these people encounter offshore, and how they actually do their boating,” she said.
A recurring theme was a desire to cruise farther. The Conquest series traditionally attracts owners who regularly get away from the dock, but many expressed a wish to extend their range and spend longer trips on the water. “There’s more travel lust,” McGinnis observed.
To support longer runs, the 365 Conquest comes with robust propulsion. The standard package includes three 400-hp Mercury V10 Verado outboards. The boat on display was equipped with the optional twin 600-hp Mercury V12 Verados, which push the 365 to a cruising speed of 36.1 knots while burning about 54.6 gallons per hour for a calculated range of roughly 281 miles; top speed is listed at 46.1 knots. Back off the throttles for trolling at 9 knots, and fuel burn drops to about 16.4 gph. These figures demonstrate the boat’s capability for serious offshore travel without sacrificing efficiency when required.
Underway, the 365 benefits from Boston Whaler’s proven unsinkable construction and a running bottom designed to handle challenging seas. The main deck offers configurations that keep crew dry and comfortable in poor weather. The pilothouse can be equipped with a full enclosure, featuring full-height side and aft panels and a mix of glass windows and polycarbonate glazing—an important option for anglers who fish in varied conditions. “Some people have just one day off in a week, and they’re dead set on fishing, no matter what. This boat can head out in any weather,” McGinnis said.
The pilothouse enclosure is one of many available upgrades; a flybridge with an additional helm station is also an option. Boston Whaler offers a detailed and flexible options list for the 365, allowing buyers to tailor the boat to their local waters and personal needs. While some manufacturers have simplified option packages to control inventory and delivery, Whaler appears committed to a near-custom approach for the Conquest line, enabling owners to create a boat that matches how they plan to use it.
The 365’s split personality is most apparent in the cockpit, where fishing features—live wells, fish boxes, tackle storage and rod holders—sit seamlessly alongside entertaining amenities. A teak dining table, convertible lounges and a summer kitchen with a large grill make the cockpit a social hub. The grill is mounted on the transom so the cook faces aft, enjoying one of the best views on the boat while preparing meals for guests.
A major reason the 365 Conquest won the NMMA Innovation Award in the cruiser category is the thoughtful, roomy and well-appointed cabin layout. Rather than fitting a full galley below, Whaler moved cooking amenities to the cockpit (the summer kitchen) and the main deck, where a food prep station sits aft of the helm. Belowdecks, the layout includes a dining table that converts to a queen berth at the push of a button, a long settee and an amidships berth described by McGinnis as “the kids’ cave.” Contemporary fabrics and finishes draw some inspiration from the series flagship, the 405 Conquest, giving the cabin a modern, upscale feel.
The cabin also includes a dry head with a separate shower—an amenity not always found on boats under 40 feet—plus generous headroom (around 6 feet 6 inches) and ample natural light. “One goal was to make this a pleasing place for families that want to spend more than just a weekend aboard,” McGinnis said. “I understand that. And it’s why I really enjoyed the experience of working on this boat.”
Boston Whaler 365 Conquest
LOA: 36’6”
Beam: 12’0”
Draft: 2’7”
Displ: (dry): 17,603 lbs.
Power (standard): (3) 400-hp Mercury outboards
This article was originally published in the May 2024 issue.