Wellcraft boats lay claim to a rich sport-fishing heritage dating back more than 60 years. Today, the Wellcraft 302 Fisherman Scarab Offshore edition carries that heritage forward in spades.
Boasting an overall length of slightly more than 30 feet, our test boat was loaded with angling features such as twin 23-gallon transom livewells, a rigging/bait-prep transom station between the wells, cavernous fish lockers flanking the aft cockpit and center console, and stowage for two 5-gallon buckets in a bow locker.
An in-stem anchor chute facilitates wreck fishing, while the Garmin GPSMap 7616xsv multifunction display on our test boat can help you find fish and navigate safely. Arched hardtop supports feature three rod holders on each of the aft uprights. There’s another five across the back of the hardtop, and four additional rod holders across the transom. Lockers tilt out from the inwales to stow slide-out tackle boxes. The 9-foot-8-inch beam offers plenty of stability for crew to work lines and battle fish. Our tester featured an inward-opening tuna door on the port side for boarding or pulling aboard a big tuna or swordfish. There’s also a transom door in the starboard quarter. Coaming pads encircle the interior to cushion your legs.
Our 302 offered abundant seating, including foldout transom bench-style seats, a lounge seat on the forward console, and bow wraparound seating. A pedestal table also can be positioned in the bow. There’s beaucoup stowage underneath both the forward console seat and the bow seating.
Accessed from the port side of the console, the step-down head on our tester offered over 6 feet of headroom, wood-veneer paneling, an electric-flush toilet, skylight, sink, freshwater faucet, vanity and port light. Twin bucket seats at the helm feature flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests with two tiers of footrests at the base of the console. The aft side of the seating module on our tester featured two sinks with a freshwater faucet. In a cabinet below, we discovered a 40-quart cooler that slid on rails for easy access to drinks and provisions.
Wellcraft’s Scarab Offshore package includes EVA foam mats on the helm deck, on the footrests and behind the horizontal rod racks under the gunwales. It also includes the Scarab Offshore hull graphics.
High Points
* Access to the bilge and rigging is easy thanks to the lift-up transom hatch.
* Six speakers and two subwoofers rocked the tunes on our test boat.
* Powered by twin 350 hp outboards, our test boat reached speeds in the high 50s.
Price: $182,900 (base with twin Mercury 350 Verados)
How We Tested
Engine: Twin Mercury 350 Verados
Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Mirage Plus 14 3/4″ x 21″ 3-blade stainless steel
Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
Fuel Load: 180 gal.
Crew Weight: 700 lb.
More Information
Wellcraft – Cadillac, Michigan; 231-775-1351; wellcraft.com
