Wellcraft’s new flagship center console, the 262 Fisherman, is 2 feet bigger than its predecessor, the 252. “It’s a completely different boat with an LOA of 26 feet, 4 inches and beam of 9 feet,” says Wellcraft vice president of engineering Christophe Lavigne. Offered for the past decade, the 252 measured 24 feet, 4 inches with an 8-foot, 9-inch beam.
Below the waterline, however, the design remains the same. “It has a proven modified-vee hull that goes back to the early 2000s,” says Lavigne. “There was no need to change that. We wanted to maintain its salty fishing heritage but also offer the family everything for day boating.”
Outfitting includes a mix of fishing and day-cruising equipment. The builder installed live wells in both cockpit corners, along with a pair of fishboxes (each with a macerator pump) in the sole. There’s a seat/cooler forward on the console. The cooler slides forward on recessed tracks to form a sunpad and to allow the head’s swing-up door to open.
A family package includes extra seating and a bow table. The Seaside package adds an upgraded leaning post with a backrest, rod holders and cooler stowage, as well as a beige cockpit interior. The Scarab Offshore trim package gives the hull flashy graphics, a tricolor gelcoat, and upgraded helm and cockpit areas.
The 262 can run on a single 300-hp outboard or twin 150-, 200- or 250-hp engines. Owners can choose Mercury, Yamaha or Evinrude outboards. The boat tops out at 58 mph and cruises from 30 to 40 mph with 250-hp Mercury Verados.
Base price is $130,323 with twin 250 Verados, $132,692 with twin 250 Evinrude E-TEC G2 2-strokes and $135,654 with twin Yamaha F250s. Wellcraft, Cadillac, Michigan (231) 775-1351. wellcraft.com
This article originally appeared in the December 2016 issue.
