Most of the time, you’ll see articles on new boats — boats in the 25-to-30-foot range, for example — that offer the builder kudos for providing “lots of big-boat features.” Features such as a separate stand-up shower, a double sink in the galley, a flat-screen TV and spacious hanging lockers (more than one!) are always appreciated on smaller vessels.
But there are definite advantages in the way smaller boats are constructed, least of which — in our opinion — include engine access. On many smaller I/O models, a panel (or even a section of the aft cockpit) on the boat lifts electrically, providing you with an all-access pass into your engine room/compartment. As any boat mechanic will tell you, the majority of the costs associated with engine tinkering on large models comes from labor — no wonder, as it sometimes involves pulling up carpeting and decking (and missing a whole boating season).
So we were excited when we saw that Wellcraft’s new 360 Coastal had incorporated this small-vessel feature into a boat with a 39-foot, 6-inch LOA. In this case, the steps leading from the aft cockpit up to the helm are hinged and lift on command.
Guts and Glory
The aft cockpit is an exercise in common sense from the standpoints of maintenance, space, fishing and socializing. There is easy access to the engine and other systems from a couple of different points, with a panel lifting out of the sole near the helm station (in addition to the aft unit that lifts up). A switch to raise the unit is located in the cockpit on the starboard side, so you don’t have to climb over the side of the boat from the helm station to get around the raised panel. It sounds obvious, in an “of course they would design it that way,” but you’d be surprised at some of the “what were they thinking” arrangements we’ve seen for engine access, from simple sportfishers to huge motoryachts.
Also in this engine/equipment compartment was a Kohler generator to port, along with batteries to starboard. The water manifold includes separate water gauge shutoffs that are clearly labeled “hot water heater, toilet, galley, etc.,” so you can isolate and shut down any leaks should they occur. You’ll also find a Fireboy extinguisher and sea strainers down here, and soundproofing panels are installed in the overhead of the equipment space.
There is storage beneath the U-shaped seat in the cockpit; the forward seat folds up and down to make the settee longer or shorter depending on how crowded you are. To starboard and behind a cabinet door are three tackle drawers under a two-person bench seat. Raymarine electronics are available on the 360 Coastal.
The hatch that pulls up in the center of the forward part of the cockpit (next to the helm seat) conceals a three-step ladder into the engine space; this is one of the quick access points to the engines. Here you’ll find a 108-gallon water tank. Originally, Wellcraft designed the tank to hold 52 gallons, but customer feedback indicated that people wanted more. The tank is long enough that it only needed to be raised 4 inches to accommodate the additional capacity.
Overall, we’re impressed with the “vital organ” layout; the easy access to everything saves mechanics time, which saves you money in labor costs.
What’s New
Wellcraft incorporated the following upgraded features in the 360 Coastal’s design:
• Longer berth
• Standard veneer floor (a teak and holly upgrade is available)
• Floor paneling in the cabin that raises up; on our test boat, it exposed three storage tubs and some rod storage
• Settee in the cabin that folds down into a twin berth; a shelf above this also flips down to become a berth, creating twin bunks
• Stairs from the cockpit to the cabin can be removed for access to machinery, such as the sump
Other extras you’ll find include an optional table in the cabin and a TV above the galley counter; a panel can be opened to gain access to the space behind it, or you can angle it to watch from other places in the cabin besides the settee directly across from it. We liked the offerings in the cockpit, which included a U-Line ice-maker and optional cockpit air; there’s a vent right by the helm seat too so the driver can enjoy a cool blast. Cabin air conditioning is standard.
From a safety standpoint, SeaKey comes as part of the Volvo engine package, although it also is offered as an option with Cummins engines. Also standard are trim tabs.
Fishing
There are two big fishboxes and macerators that pump overboard; padding all around the cockpit protects the knees when you’re fighting a fish. We liked the amount of rod storage — six can be accommodated in the cockpit, and there is a panel that pulls up in the cabin sole, revealing a huge storage space with bins and additional rod storage.
There is a freshwater washdown on the aft port side and a starboard baitwell behind the helm seat under a hatch. According to Wellcraft, water circulates throughout the whole column and you can control how much you want to drain. There is a freezer on the port side just opposite the baitwell, a freshwater sink next to the freezer and two tackle drawers. A flip-up seat in front of the baitwell is an option, as is a swim platform.
If this explanation didn’t include everything you need to fish, no worries — Wellcraft glasses aluminum into the cockpit, so it’s ready for any major option you want to add, such as a fighting chair.
Inside
Separated from the main cabin area by a curtain is a forward V-berth with two storage drawers underneath; a hanging locker is situated to port.
The head is aft of the galley on the port side; there is a porthole here, a shower seat that comes down above the VacuFlush toilet, a couple of shelves under a mirror for toiletry storage and a mirror on the back of the door.
The galley has an overhead hatch and some nice space-saving features, such as a built-in microwave, a single-basin sink and an undercounter refrigerator.
Performance
We battered the 360 Coastal with speed tests through a variety of rpm; there were six people aboard and a pair of Volvo D6 370 hp engines. She topped out around 33.3 mph; average cruise speed was closer to 25 mph. We found her to be a little on the loud side (88 dB near the helm at the top end, and above 80 dB throughout most rpm), but she backs down very tightly and responded well to quick maneuvers. Despite being nearly 40 feet long, she has a small-boat performance feel, which is what Wellcraft is known for. Overall, a fun cruiser.
It’s always nice to see a builder take customer feedback and do something useful with it as opposed to sticking it in a filing cabinet somewhere. It’s apparent that where the 360 Coastal is concerned Wellcraft must have some pretty empty filing drawers.
CONTACT: Wellcraft Marine Corp., Sarasota, FL; (941) 753-7811; www.wellcraft.com
This article first appeared in the November 2006 issue of SEA Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
