Wellcraft 355 — Wellcraft Reinvented as a Pilothouse Commuter-Adventure Boat

Founded in the 1960s in Sarasota, Florida, Wellcraft built a reputation for high-performance deep-V boats with its Scarab line. The brand became widely recognized in the 1980s when actor Don Johnson drove a Wellcraft Scarab 38 KV on the TV series Miami Vice. For decades, Wellcraft was a familiar name on offshore-racing and poker-run circuits and offered a broad range of models, including larger express cruisers. In recent years the company concentrated on center-console fishing boats between 20 and 35 feet—until Groupe Beneteau introduced the new Wellcraft 355.

In June, Groupe Beneteau—owner of Wellcraft since 2014—unveiled the Wellcraft 355, a model that clearly signals a fresh direction for the brand. To mark the significance of the launch, the company presented the new boat at a Fort Lauderdale estate on the Intracoastal Waterway. The 355 presents a departure from earlier sterndrive-powered express models: its plumb bow, inverted windshield, sturdy pilothouse and triple outboards create a distinct offshore cruiser aesthetic while retaining Wellcraft’s performance DNA.

Wellcraft’s brand director, Nick Harvey, explained the market-driven rationale behind the design. “During Covid, the market changed. Not only were there more first-time boat buyers, but boaters also had more zest for adventure,” he said. The 355 was conceived as a “commuter-style adventure boat” that combines Wellcraft’s hallmark performance with a comfortable, capable pilothouse layout. In Harvey’s words, the commuter design is about getting from A to B in comfort and speed—whether that’s a day trip to the Bahamas or a fast run in variable offshore conditions.

The 355 was developed by an international design team assembled by Groupe Beneteau. Naval architect Michael Peters, based in Sarasota, designed the deep-V hull. Camillo Garroni of Garroni Design in Genoa contributed important styling cues, and Pawel Denert of Centkowski & Denert Design Studio in Gdansk created the 355’s exterior and interior layouts. Unlike Wellcraft’s center-console fishing series built in Michigan, the 355 is manufactured in Poland using vacuum-bagging, resin infusion and injection techniques. The hull and stringer system are molded as one unit to create a stiffer, stronger offshore hull.

One of the 355’s most distinctive features is its asymmetrical deck layout: a wide starboard walkaround and a narrower but still functional port walkaround. This approach prioritizes one generous side deck for secure, easy transit while maintaining deep gunwales for safety. The layout supports multiple uses—from diving and water sports to long-range day runs and extended cruising. Practical options include dive doors on both sides of the cockpit, a tackable kayak rack on the hardtop, and a three-person forward sunlounge for bow relaxation.

The transom is modular so owners can outfit the boat to match their interests. Our test boat had a stainless steel combination tow post and fender rack. Optional configurations include an Aft Cockpit Galley Module with grill and sink, and an Adventure Fishing Pack that adds a baitwell, saltwater washdown and additional rod holders integrated into the hardtop.

The enclosed pilothouse is central to the 355’s appeal. It shelters crew from wind and spray, extending the season for cooler-weather boating, yet opens up for warm days with an aft door, an opening window to the cockpit and a driver-side door. The helm features a full-beam black dashboard with a hinged center panel that provides access to the forward cabin. A clever window in the panel slides into the windshield when open. Below, the cabin contains a double berth and a surprisingly large head—about 6 feet of headroom—with a separate shower and seat. Wellcraft also offers a dinette conversion kit to accommodate a second couple.

On a sea trial off Fort Lauderdale in choppy, wind-driven Atlantic conditions, the 355 demonstrated that it is more than just rugged styling. The pilothouse includes five forward-facing seats—three bucket seats at the helm and the dinette back seat—so driver and passengers can ride comfortably in significant seas. Ergonomically, the driver benefits from an offset steering wheel that places throttles within easy reach at the right shoulder, plus controls for joystick and bow thruster and clear sightlines to twin 16-inch Garmin multifunction displays.

Base propulsion for the Wellcraft 355 is triple 300-hp Mercury or Yamaha outboards; our test boat featured the factory upgrade of triple 350-hp Mercury Verados. Performance was brisk: cruising at about 30 knots at 4,000 rpm and capable of very tight turns with the deep-V hull tracking confidently. In calmer inlet waters we reached 45 knots, and factory figures indicate the 355 can exceed 50 knots at 6,000 rpm with the triple 350 Verados.

The Wellcraft 355 is the first in a planned series that Groupe Beneteau describes as “Active Adventure.” More models in this family are in development, and the company also plans larger designs aimed at “Contemplative Adventure.” If the 355’s combination of pilothouse comfort, modular practicality and offshore performance is any indication, the renewed Wellcraft line could appeal to a broad spectrum of boaters seeking both speed and versatility.

This article was originally published in the September 2022 issue.