Boston Whaler 365 Conquest

This new express boat carefully balances the demands of anglers and cruisers.

By Jeanne Craig

I felt like a fish swimming upstream as I tried to get aboard the Boston Whaler 365 Conquest. Hours earlier, it had won an Innovation Award from the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association for best new boat in the cabin cruiser category. Now, the 36-footer was drawing foot traffic from all around the Miami Beach Convention Center, where she was on display for the international boat show. Bobbing and weaving, I was able to flit past big schools of spectators and up the ladder that climbed to her boarding gate. There, I collided with another wave of passengers, but the energy on the boat was so upbeat, the jostling in the cockpit produced only good-natured humor.

I got lucky, because the first person I bumped into (literally) was Kristin McGinnis, senior industrial designer at Brunswick Boat Group, parent company for Boston Whaler. McGinnis was one of the lead designers on the 365, which is the fourth model in the Conquest series that’s now defining the Whaler brand. McGinnis started with Brunswick in 2015 as an intern. “At that time, I thought I wanted to be a car designer, but I just love working on boats,” she said. “And I love being on the water. It’s so Zen.”

One of the main characteristics of the 365—and the other models in the Conquest series that ranges from 28 to 40 feet—is its “split personality.” The boat is made for those who want to cruise comfortably with yachty amenities, without compromising fishability. The design process for the 365, McGinnis said, began out in the field and on the water with boaters who split their time between casting lines and cruising for the pure enjoyment of discovery. “We went around the country, including the Northeast and Northwest, to see what these people encounter offshore, and how they actually do their boating,” she said.

One thing that kept coming up in discussions with these boaters was the desire to cruise longer distances. The Conquest series has always appealed to those who like to get away from the dock on a regular basis, but these owners expressed interest in going farther than they’ve run before. “There’s more travel lust,” said McGinnis.

It’s no surprise, then, that the 365 Conquest is offered with plenty of power for extended cruising. A trio of 400-hp Mercury V10 Verados are standard. The boat at the show had the optional pair of 600-hp Mercury V12 Verados that enable the boat to barrel along at a cruising speed of 36.1 knots, burning 54.6 gph for a range of 281 miles. Top end is 46.1 knots. Pull the throttles back for trolling at 9 knots, and the 365 burns about 16.4 gph.

These motors push an offshore hull built with the company’s proven, unsinkable construction. The running bottom is designed to hang tough in challenging conditions. In addition, the main deck can be configured to keep the crew dry, warm and comfortable in snotty seas. The pilothouse comes with the option for a full enclosure that includes full-height side and aft enclosures, and a combination of glass windows and polycarbonate glazing. “Some people have just one day off in a week, and they’re dead set on fishing, no matter what. This boat can head out in any weather,” said McGinnis.

The pilothouse enclosure is one of many upgrades offered with the 365—a flybridge with steering station is also an option. The 365 has a detailed and thoughtful options list, and it’s one of the ways the builder enables the owner to customize the boat for his/her locale and needs. In the past year, more companies have been offering boats with limited options to better control inventory, delivery time and pricing. There’s an upside to that, but for its Conquest series, Whaler seems committed to giving the owner the opportunity to build his/her own closer-to-custom ride.

The boat’s split personality is most evident in the cockpit. There, a variety of fishing equipment (live wells, fish boxes, tackle stowage and rod holders) looks seamless beside entertaining features that include a teak dining table, clever convertible lounges and a summer kitchen with big grill. That grill is set atop the transom, so the cook can face aft and enjoy one of the best views he’ll ever have flipping burgers for the crew.

One of the reasons the 365 Conquest took the NMMA Innovation Award in the cruiser category is because the cabin is about as roomy, smartly styled and well-appointed as it can get on a boat that tries to please anglers and weekenders. To make the accommodations level more comfortable, Whaler built it without a galley—cooking features moved to the cockpit (summer kitchen with grill) and the main deck, where there’s a food prep station aft of the helm. As a result, the belowdecks area includes a dining table that converts to a queen berth with the push of a button, a long settee and a berth amidships that McGinnis calls “the kids’ cave.” Fabrics and finishes are contemporary, with some picked up from the 405 Conquest, the series flagship.

The cabin, surprisingly, also includes a dry head with separate shower, a feature not always found on boats under 40 feet. Other highlights in the cabin include great headroom (6 feet 6 inches is average) and a lot of natural light. “One goal was to make this a pleasing place for families that want to spend more than just a weekend aboard,” said McGinnis. “I understand that. And it’s why I really enjoyed the experience of working on this boat.”