SPEC CHECK
WELLCRAFT 302 FISHERMAN
PERFORMANCE (BOTH ENGINES)
Speed RPM Fuel
6.6kt (12.2km/h) 1000rpm 10.2L/ph
7.8kt (14.4km/h) 1500rpm 14.8L/ph
8.4kt (15.5km/h) 2000rpm 24.2L/ph
8.7kt (16.1km/h) 2500rpm 38.2L/ph
8.7kt (16.1km/h) 3000rpm 56L/ph
10.3kt (19km/h) 3500rpm 75L/ph
15.6kt (28.9km/h) 4000rpm 98L/ph
32.1kt (59.4km/h) 4500rpm 124L/ph
40kt (74km/h) 5000rpm 156L/ph
46kt (85.1km/h) 5500rpm 193L/ph
49.5kt (91.6km/h) 6000rpm 235L/ph
52.1kt (96.4km/h) 6500rpm 267L/ph
53kt (98km/h) 7100rpm 288L/ph(Wide-open throttle)
PRICE AS TESTED
$380,000
OPTIONS FITTED
Dual 400hp outboards, Garmin GPSMAP 8422 GPS/fishfinder, radar,
Garmin VHF, two-tone paint, bow seating package, anchor windlass,
rope and chain, bow table, bow infill cushion, back-rests and icebox,
electric toilet, premium sound system, Taco outriggers, Sea Deck cockpit
matting, dive door, boarding ladder, and more. No trailer included.
PRICED FROM
$255,800 with dual Mercury Verado 250hp 4-stroke outboards
with hydraulic steering, digital controls, 12 months registration
and an offshore safety gear pack. Add $20,000 for an Australian-
specification 4500kg-rated tri-axle trailer.
GENERAL
Type: Monohull centre console
Material: Fibreglass
Length overall: 9.20m
Beam: 2.9m
Draft: 780mm
Deadrise: 22 degrees
Hull weight: 3345kg approx.
Towing weight: 4500kg (dry)
CAPACITIES
Maximum power: 800hp
Maximum engine weight: 610kg
Fuel capacity: 1010 litres
Freshwater: 49 litres
Livewell capacity: 2 x 87 litres
Maximum persons: 12
ENGINES
Make/model: 2 x Mercury Racing 400R
Type: In-line 6-cylinder, 24-valve DOHC EFI 4-stroke outboard
Rated hp: 400 Displacement: 2.6 litres
No. cylinders: 6 Gearbox ratio: 1.75:1
Weight: 303kg (lightest model)
Shaft length: Extra-longshaft (63.5cm)
SUPPLIED BY
HiOctane Marine
Shop 1A, Runaway Bay Marina
247 Bayview Street,
Runaway Bay QLD 4216
Phone: 0491 221 117
Email:[email protected]
Website:www.hioctanemarine.com.auThat said, for truly exhilarating power and performance, dual 350 or
400hp outboards really are the way to go.
Boasting a pair of Mercury Verado 400R super-charged 4-stroke
outboards on the transom, our test boat certainly was a rocket-ship.
Figures supplied (and verified during our test) show the top speed as 53
knots, which is seriously moving for a 9m boat.
While the Wellcraft 302 does not need 800hp, it certainly makes the
boat a real buzz to drive and turns it into a high-performance sports day
boat, as well as a powerful offshore game fishing platform.
Of course, using all that power will come at the cost of high fuel
consumption. Figure on burning a combined 288L/ph at wide-open
throttle and a much more modest 145L/ph at 4500rpm, which is where
the boat/engine combination is most economical.EASY HANDLER
The 302 Fisherman has an all new 22-degree deadrise deep-vee hull
with a fine entry forward, three full-length planing/lifting strakes to each
side of the keel, pronounced chines and a wide water-line beam. This is
a conservative but functional combination, with the hull able to cut nicely
through wind and wave chop, while maintaining excellent stability and
balance underway.
We tested the 302 Wellcraft in moderate to rough seas outside the Gold
Coast Seaway and the hull handled the conditions with ease. Although the
boat threw a bit of spray about, it tracked straight and true and we never
felt uncomfortable or out of sorts. However, it did help having decent
trim tabs and big power on the transom so we could jab the throttles
and accelerate quickly out of wave troughs and power over wave crests.
The boat handled nicely throughout, responding instantly to input from
the steering and throttles, with the hull also holding a nice grip on the
water through tight slalom turns. Overall, the boat/engine combination
felt capable, comfortable and solid all-round.WINNING COMBINATION
Big power centre-console game fishing boats are enormously popular
in the US for their speed, comfort and versatility. Although Australian
anglers have yet to fully appreciate what these big, open-deck fishing/
family boats have to offer, sales are on the increase and there is now
a wide choice of brands and models available. The Wellcraft 302 is a
welcome new edition to this market segment.
Pricing for this big centre-console gamefisher starts at just $256,000,
fitted with a pair of 250hp outboards. For this size and class of boat that
represents excellent value for money.
With lots of options and the bigger Mercury Verado 400hp outboards,
the price of admission climbs to $380,000, but that is still solid value for a
wonderfully appointed, versatile gamefishing boat with excellent handling
and stunning performance.HIGHLIGHTS
- Comfortable ride and easy handling.
- Stunning performance from Mercury Verados.
- Completely removable forward-seating area.
- Dual 87-litre transom livebait tanks.
- Competitive pricing.
- Clever combined rodholder/cup holders.
- Twin-engine reliability.
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Boat Test: Wellcraft 302 Fisherman