Boat Test: 2026 Wellcraft 28 T-Top

Overview

The emergence of Nordic-style center-console commuter runabouts represents one of the hottest boating trends. Wellcraft’s newest entry into this niche is the 28 T-Top, which is a more clement climate version of the all-weather pilothouse adventure boats that ply the harsh waters of the Finnish Sea.

Engines

The newest member of the Wellcraft Explorer class, which also includes the 38 and 44, is the smallest at 28 feet long overall. It’s wider than most in its class, with a beam of 9 feet, 6 inches. It’s also the only one of the trio with a twin-stepped hull by Navia Design. This Finnish design company is highly experienced in creating stepped hulls for adventure boats such as Axopar and Brabus Marine, which are designed to handle rough Atlantic waters. The major benefit of twin-stepped hulls is greater efficiency, which require less horsepower to push, as evidenced by the standard single Mercury 250 FourStroke on the 28 T-Top. Our test boat had twin Mercury 200 FourStroke outboards—the maximum for this model—and is a $24,100 upcharge over the single 250. These pushed our test boat to a top speed of 48.4 mph, which was less than the 57 mph estimate from Wellcraft, but our boat had five people aboard and four-bladed props that improve out-of-the-hole performance and rough-water grip but cost it a few mph on the top end. There is no Joystick Piloting for Outboards (JPO) option, but a bow thruster is available for $3,290 to assist with docking.

Due to a storm front lashing Jupiter, Florida, with winds up to 30 mph and horizontal rain showers, we stayed inside on the Intracoastal Waterway for our comfort. But even here, it was lumpy enough to get an inkling of the 28 T-Top’s  rough-water ability. Its hull is ideal for slicing through waves, and we barely slowed down for giant cruiser wakes that amplified the inshore chop. It’s fun to drive and extremely agile, able to lean far over and carve tight turns. To keep the boat running level, Lenco trim tabs are available for $2,160, while the fully automatic Seakeeper Ride vessel attitude control system is a $10,310 upcharge.

Interior and Accessories

The boat we tested had the Lounge floorplan, which features an aft L-lounge that boosts seating capacity to the max and is the best design for entertaining up to 13 people. While the upholstery looks like cloth, it’s actually an impermeable vinyl. Behind the helm seats is an entertainment center with a sink, plenty of storage and the option to add a refrigerator and grill. An optional ski tow pylon ($890) adds to the 28 T-Top’s versatility. The Barracuda model is the fishing-forward version with a flip-down stern bench, a 20-gallon livewell, a 20-gallon fish box, nine rod holders and twin radial outriggers. The third layout is the Relax version, which features a roomy aft sun bed with a flippable backrest. Wellcraft also makes a pilothouse version of the 28 and one with no T-top. The cockpit’s gunwale height is a generous 28 inches, and there are 12-inch walkways around the center console.

The sporty helm on our 28 T-Top had the full curved glass windshield option ($9,610) with side windows, which offered excellent protection for two and was only a $1,130 upgrade over the T-Top with the halfling windshield ($8,480). The full windshield also comes with a windshield wiper and a rare wiper-fluid reservoir for rinsing salt water, which can leave a crusty residue if not rinsed away with fresh water. Our test boat was also upgraded to include the Premium Electronics package that includes a Garmin 400 VHF radio and twin flush-mounted Garmin 1523 Ultra-Wide 15-inch MFDs ($9,900), though the second one is mounted in front of the co-pilot. Surprisingly, there is no standard MFD on this boat, and the solo Garmin 1523 is an option ($4,360, no radio).

The bow section features an intimate U-lounge seating group that’s ideal for social gatherings, especially with the bow table in place. Bowrider seatbacks are molded into the cap rail, and the seating wraps around the bow for maximum capacity. A standard Yeti cooler under the bow seat provides convenient access to refreshments. A doublewide jump seat in front of the console is close enough to maintain social contact with the U-lounge, and it lifts to provide access to the console’s interior without needing to remove the cockpit table. The console’s roomy interior was a welcome surprise, with around 6 feet of headroom. With the Bow Cabin Pack upgrade ($5,010), the space transforms from a storage area with a portable toilet to a cabin suitable for overnight adventures. The upgrade features an electric toilet and storage compartments on either side, and when it’s time to sleep, a one-piece cushion behind the head folds down, and the entryway steps flip down to reveal connected cushions behind that accordion down to form a roomy sleeping surface that’s 6 feet, 5 inches long.

Read Next: Wellcraft 38 T-Top

Those shopping for Nordic-styled adventure boats should consider the slightly longer Axopar 29 CCX. It comes with a 158-gallon fuel tank and can take 500 horsepower maximum. The Axopar is also around $50,000 more expensive when comparing similarly equipped boats.

Wellcraft’s 28 T-Top proved to be a versatile and confidence-inspiring boat. Take one for a ride if this is your style of boating.

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 200 hp Mercury FourStroke V-6s
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 16.5″ x 19″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 85 gal. Water on Board: 10 gal. Crew Weight: 900 lb.

High Points

• The matte-black dash virtually eliminates reflective ghosts in the windshield.
• Boarding steps on both sides of the boat.
• Ultra-wide rub rail for great hull protection.
• Its W.I.S.E (Wellcraft Infujection Structural Engineering) creates a one-piece hull and stringer system that’s light and strong.

Low Points

• Amidship cleats should be standard.
• The boarding door has nothing to hold it open, and the ladder is an $810 option.
• No 400 hp Verado V-10 option, despite the platform being the same as the 350.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation