2018 Wellcraft 182 Fisherman review

Wellcraft is a renowned US boat brand with a pedigree stretching back to the 1950s. Now owned by the French Beneteau Group, Wellcraft has spent the last few years reinventing itself, refining its boat range and introducing more contemporary models.

In today's Wellcraft boat range there are just nine models, with eight of these centre consoles. The flagship of the Wellcraft range is the mighty Wellcraft 302 Fisherman. We tested this family-friendly game fishing boat earlier this year, and followed that up with a review on the equally impressive Wellcraft 242.

For this review, we have secured the walk-up model to the Wellcraft range, the 182 Fisherman. This pocket-size, easily trailerable centre console might be diminutive in size compared with its siblings, but it comes with lots of good gear and equipment, and packs a punch out on the water.

Gold Coast Wellcraft dealer, HiOctane Marine, has base Wellcraft 182 packages starting from $66,800 with 12 months registrations and an inshore safety pack (with flares). This price also includes a Mercury 90hp four-cylinder outboard and a Dunbier tandem axle galvanised steel, braked trailer.

Factory-fitted standard gear and equipment includes a forward casting deck with storage locker and live bait well, anchor well in the forepeak, alloy framed helm lean seat post with skipper and companion padded bench seating, flip-up rear transom quarter seats, horizontal gunwale rod storage racks, all-fibreglass construction, underfloor flotation foam, and a two-person width helm centre console with a removable windshield to lower the height of the boat for garaging.

As noted in our introduction, the console also has a front opening hatch beneath the console bench seat that lifts up to reveal a roomy change room/head compartment.

Head compartments are commonplace on larger centre console boats, but this is the first 5.5m open boat we know of that has provision for a toilet. Anglers might not care one way or the other about having one onboard, but it is certainly a bonus for family boating.

Our test boat was fitted with the optional toilet to the head compartment, along with two-tone hull paint (white/grey) with Scarab graphics, an overhead T-top bimini with storage netting and white powder-coated framework, Sea-Grass removable floor mats, Sea Deck soft rubber matting to the bow seating side panels and helm foot-rest, vinyl upholstered seat cushions for the casting deck, a removable cooler under the lean post, ski pole, Fusion stereo system, anchor with rode, pre-wiring for a bow-mounted electric trolling motor, and a stainless steel package (with grab handles, pull-up cleats, extra cupholders and aft deck rod holders).

Mechanically, our test boat was upgraded with a larger Mercury Pro XS 115hp four-stroke, extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard with hydraulic tilt steering.

For maximum performance the 182 Fisherman can also come with the option of Mercury's best-selling 150hp four-stroke outboard, though this may be overkill for many applications.

With the Mercury 115hp Pro XS (which is rumoured to produce 120-125hp) and the listed inventory of options, the test boat price rises to a competitive $80,700.

The Wellcraft 182 is something of a scaled down version of the Wellcraft 302 Fisherman. Similar to the flagship model, the 182 has features and equipment to attract family boaters as well as serious fishermen.

Chief among these inclusions is a casting deck elevated 370mm above the main cockpit level. It eschews the more conventional U-shaped seating configuration that generally requires an infill board to create a flat deck to use instead a proper, full width, fixed moulded fibreglass fishing deck.

Without the side seats, the bow has less individual seating space, but the forward deck does convert into a full width sun pad/lounge area after adding optional vinyl upholstered seat cushions.

Having a fully moulded front platform has also allowed Wellcraft to fit a large centre platform storage locker, as well as the superb live bait tank with an aquarium-style front viewing window to monitor bait health.

Further forward there is a large anchor well, along with pop-up cleats and the optional soft rubber Sea Deck matting secured to the side panels, encircling the bow compartment.

Moving aft, there is a padded bench seat in front of the centre console helm station. It forms part of a gas strut-supported moulded hatch that lifts up to reveal a spacious change room or head compartment.

The starting battery, master switch and wiring panel are shielded behind a canvas drop curtain against the aft bulkhead with easy access.

The helm console is a regulation two-person width unit with 400mm wide walkways to each side so you can comfortably stand and fish a full 360 degrees around the boat.

At the helm, the tilt-adjust steering wheel and controls are offset to the port side of the console to allow a companion to stand next the skipper to starboard, or to sit alongside on the padded lean post bench seat.

Engine instruments are nicely arrayed for the skipper and easy to view. There is also space alongside the instrument panel/fascia to flush-fit a large single electronics display – or possibly two smaller units.

Other dash/console features include an optional compass, storage nooks above the dash, a handrail, cup holders and a full width angled footrest with the optional Sea Deck soft foot-pad.

Overhead, the optional (and removable) alloy framed T-top bimini shelters the skipper and co-pilot from the sun. It also has netting underneath to stow a life jacket or two, etc.

A rocket launcher rod rack is available for the trailing edge of the T-top but was not fitted to our test boat.

Two extra rod holders were fitted, built into the transom to either side of an optional ski pole. Cleverly, the rod holders can also double as cup holders.

Additional fishing features include two outer transom rod holders, horizontal rod racks under the gunnels, the removable lean post cooler/ice box, and a transom bilge access hatch.

The rear cockpit is not large, but with the reversible helm seat back-rest pushed forward, two anglers can sit comfortably and face aft to fish.

The rear jump seats fold down flat, so you can stand on them to walk out to the rear boarding platforms and ladder – or use the seats as a smaller platform to stand and cast lures from the stern in smooth seas.

The Wellcraft 182 Fisherman is available locally with Mercury four-stroke outboards ranging between 90-150hp. Our test boat was paired with a Mercury Pro XS 115hp four-stroke, and this low profile, punchy engine proved well matched to the boat.

The test boat/Mercury engine combination proved agile and responsive from idle and right up through the rev range to a top speed of 35.2 knots, which is plenty for a 5.5m centre console fishing boat.

You might consider upgrading to the larger Mercury 150hp to regularly tow skiers, kids on tubes or wakeboarders, but otherwise the smaller, lighter Mercury 115hp is more than sufficient.

Having less weight on the transom also makes for a better-balanced boat, and helps with the transition from displacement to planing speeds.

Underway the Wellcraft 182 Fisherman is nicely balanced, as well as stable, and well mannered at speed. The 19-degree deadrise hull also delivers a comfortable ride with safe, predictable handling and tight cornering.

The Wellcraft 182 Fisherman is a practical, versatile centre console open boat for family boating and coastal fishing. It is compact, easy to manage on the launch ramp, economical to run, and a breeze to tow behind mid-sized family cars and SUVs.

Wellcraft's smallest model is also safe and seaworthy underway, well built and appointed, and competitively priced against its rivals. Accordingly, we would expect this terrific little boat to be a strong seller this coming summer.

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
3.1kt (5.7km/h) @ 1000rpm
4.2kt (7.8km/h) @ 1500rpm
5.4kt (10.0km/h) @ 2000rpm
6.3kt (11.6km/h) @ 2500rpm
8.8kt (16.3km/h) @ 3000rpm
13.2kt (24.4km/h) @ 3500rpm
22.1kt (40.9km/h) @ 4000rpm
25.5kt (47.2km/h) @ 4500rpm
28.2kt (52.3km/h) @ 5000rpm
33.5kt (62.0km/h) @ 5500rpm
35.2kt (65.1km/h) @ 5800rpm (WOT)

Price as tested: $80,700 including a Mercury Pro XS 115hp extra-longshaft (25") four-stroke outboard, Dunbier tandem axle galvanised steel braked trailer, 12 months registration and an offshore safety gear pack. Notable options included hydraulic-tilt steering, two-tone hull paint (white/grey) with Scarab graphics, an overhead T-top bimini with storage netting and powder-coated framework, Sea-Grass removable floor matts, Sea Deck rubber helm foot-pad and bow seating surrounds, vinyl upholstered bow seat cushions, chemical toilet, removable cooler, ski pole, Fusion stereo system, anchor with rode, pre-wiring for a bow-mount electric motor, and a stainless steel package (grab handles, pull-up cleats, extra cup holders and aft deck rod holders).

Priced from: $66,800 with a single Mercury 90hp extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard with a Dunbier tandem axle galvanised steel braked trailer, 12 months registration and an inshore safety gear pack.

Specifications: Wellcraft 182 Fisherman
Length overall: 5.59m
Beam: 2.44m
Draft: 810mm
Deadrise: 19 degrees
Hull weight: 998kg (est)
Weight on trailer: 1700-1900kg
Maximum power: 150hp
Engine as tested: Mercury Pro XS 115hp four-stroke outboard
Fuel: 212L
Maximum persons: 7

Supplied by: HiOctane Marine