Wellcraft Fisherman 232 Review and Specs [Video]

Marketed from 2005 through 2016, the Wellcraft Fisherman 232 was a center console variant of the proven Coastal 232 walkaround sportfisher. These models shared their hull and many other features, but the Fisherman came with a much more spacious, completely open top deck with a center helm station.

In this post, we’ll review this high-quality 22-foot center console fishing boat and her factory specifications.

Wellcraft Fisherman 232 Review

Hull and Top Deck

Just like the walkaround-style Coastal 232, the Fisherman 232 was also built on the same 20-degree V-shaped fiberglass hull.

This solid shell was made of hand-laid fiberglass without any wood-cored structural elements, meaning that all of the bilge stringers, bearers, and transom were made of composite materials.

This wood-free manufacturing process translated to more durability and peace-of-mind for owners.

The hull was designed with a variable deadrise and reverse chine, which generated pressure against the water, providing greater stability, smoother riding, quicker accelerations, and more precise turning.

Regarding dimensions, the Fisherman 232 measured 22 feet 4 inches in length, 8 feet 8 inches in width, with a maximum draft of 32 inches.

With standard equipment and without an engine, her claimed dry weight was 3,300-3,600 pounds depending on the year.

Adding the weight of a 150-300hp outboard, liquids, and some gear, you could expect the curb weight to be around 4,800-5,500 pounds.

Figuring in the weight of a tandem-axle boat trailer, the gross trailering weight of the rig was in the neighborhood of 6,200-7,000 pounds.

In terms of capacities, the deck was rated for 8 people and housed a 115-gallon gas tank and an 8-gallon fresh water tank.

The self-draining cockpit utilized a traditional center console floorplan with a foldaway aft bench seat and a center helm station, which were completed with a cushioned forward lounge.

Simple yet practical, the helm had a dual seat with a cooler underneath, a sizeable storage locker, a plexiglass windshield, cup holders, grab rails, a stainless-steel steering wheel with hydraulic steering, WHF radio, compass, and essential instrumentation.

Supported by heavy-duty aluminum tubes, the hard Bimini top had a live jacket storage, lights, and four rocket launcher rod holders.

Other features included a dinette table, low-profile grab rails, gunwale cushions, navigation lights, an anchor chain locker, as well as fishing features and accessories like side panel rod storage, rod holders, livewell, integrated transom live-bait tank, cooler, and more.

The integrated swim platform was easy to access via a walk-thru transom door on the starboard side.

Engines and Performance

Wellcraft marketed the Fisherman 232 with single outboard engine packages with a maximum power of 300hp.

Over the years, the power options included various Johnson, Evinrude, Yamaha, and Mercury engines.

The inadequate 150 and 175hp variants were only available in the 2005 and 2006 seasons, and with good reason.

While they did the job with a light load, they quickly started to struggle as the load increased.

Because of this, the boat was only available with 200-300hp engine packages from 2007 onwards.

Performance?

As reported by the manufacturer, the Fisherman 232 rigged with a Yamaha 150 hit a top speed of 40.1 mph at 5600 RPM and cruised at 27.6 mph at 4000 RPM.

At this fuel-efficient speed, she got 3 mpg and had a cruising range of 331 miles based on 95% of fuel capacity.

Fitted with a more powerful 4-stroke Yamaha F250 the top speed increased to 49.3 mph and the cruising speed to 32.3 mph. The fuel mileage also jumped to 3.7 mpg for a range of 405 miles.

The same engine accelerated the boat from 0 to 30 mph in less than 8 seconds.

Specifications

The factory specifications of the Wellcraft Fisherman 232 were as follows (2016 model year):

Dimensions and Capacities (2016)

L.O.A.	22’ 4”
Bridge Clearance	6’ 0”
Bridge Clearance w/Bimini	8’ 0”
Beam	8’ 8”
Deadrise	20°
Draft Down	32”
Draft Up	15”
Dry Weight	3573 lbs.
Maximum Capacity	3200 lbs.
Persons Capacity	8
Max HP	300hp
Fuel Capacity	116 gal.
Water Capacity	8 gal.

Power Options (2016)

Manufacturer	Type
Evinrude	200DPX
Evinrude	250DPX
Evinrude	250X G2
Evinrude	300X G2
Mercury	200XL Verado
Mercury	250XL Verado
Mercury	300XL Verado
Mercury	300XL Verado Warm White
Yamaha	F200XA
Yamaha	F250XA
Yamaha	F250XCA
Yamaha	F300XCA

Disclaimer: Specifications are provided for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Takeaways

Manufactured between 2005 and 2016, the Wellcraft Fisherman 232 was a cutting-edge 22-footer center console fishing boat.

She was built on a full-fiberglass modified V hull and enjoyed high-quality features and superior finishes.

Fishermen appreciated the convenient fishing cockpit, the abundance of integrated fishing features, and the full-height walk-thru transom.

Despite her relatively heavy weight, the 232 instantly became popular among buyers and is still in demand on the used market.

Based on our research, the asking prices of these used center console fishing boats typically range from $20,000 up to $60,000.

Prices vary greatly depending on the year, engine option, features, location, and condition.