Wellcraft 38 T-Top Review: Up-Seating The Competition!
Marilyn DeMartini reviews the new Wellcraft 38 T-Top boat.
May 6, 2025
Wellcraft’s design team continues to step up with its latest offering the Wellcraft 38 T-Top which recently was named “European Power Boat of the Year.” The company started to change directions as the Scandinavian builders’ axe bows caught the American buyer’s attention. Not only did the straight nose provide more interior space, it also handled rough waters and cut a sharp profile on the water. The largest international boat builder in the world wasn’t about to give up market share.
Above: 2025 Wellcraft 38 T-Top. Photo via Clarks Landing Yacht Sales in Shady Side, MD.
A Little Background
Benneteau, in 2014 acquired the well-recognized Wellcraft name and spent time reconfiguring new designs. The company began a few years ago with the 38’ Explorer Pilothouse Center Console which provided the Michael Peters designed hull as a base then added Italian design to create a new look with a 5-passenger, 355 Pilothouse Center Console that was called a speedy “commuter.” Following that was a 44’ larger model with a similar intent as an offshore day cruiser or overnighter, again created by Michael Peters with Italian designer Camillo Garonni.
Above: 2025 Wellcraft 38 T-Top. Photo via Clarks Landing Yacht Sales in Shady Side, MD.
38 T-Tops Its Class
More recently, Wellcraft looked at the market demand for center consoles and combined that look with the comfort of a bow-rider with the convenience of a cabin in the Wellcraft 38 T-Top. Wellcraft research showed that only 15% of center console buyers actually use their boats primarily for fishing while the other 85% use them to entertain family and friends, frequent dock & dine spots or anchor up at a sandbar and enjoy the afternoon. With that knowledge, the company created a boat to accommodate any anglers aboard, as well as acknowledge the comfort needs of cruisers along for the ride.
Power Packages, Stern & Transom
A powered fold-down platform to starboard enables safe access to water, space to pull in a large catch or to become a mini patio. The back bench flips up to free more space for fisherman or to access ample storage space under the cockpit floor, or to access the Seakeeper 3.
Above: 2025 Wellcraft 38 T-Top. Photo via Clarks Landing Yacht Sales in Shady Side, MD.
The aft swim platforms provide easy water access and wrap around the outboard Mercury engines, either triple 350s that will get you 60 mph, 33 mph for optimized cruising, or twins that will cruise at 46 mph. We got it up to 52 MPH on our sea trial in some Atlantic chop and I felt comfortable behind the wheel and as a passenger. With 266 gallons of fuel, you can get to your destination—and add even more pins on your GPS map!
Cockpit Features
The aft deck includes two different C-shaped lounge seating options with a table, sink and drawer refrigerator to port and a grill, storage drawers and a trash bin to starboard. Wellcraft devised a solution for a second cockpit table for the second C-shaped lounge that can expand into a large guest dining table.
Above: 2025 Wellcraft 38 T-Top. Photo via Clarks Landing Yacht Sales in Shady Side, MD.
For fisher folk, there are copious rod holders under and in the gunwales, as well as on the T-top, a live well under the aft seat, fish boxes port and starboard mid-deck, and a tackle cabinet under the passenger seat. For the water sports and cruising crowd, there is a tow ring on the T-Top, comfortable seating in the bow with a dining table which retracts to be flush with deck or a sunbed when in mid-position. There is also a 2-seat ergonomic center lounge at the bow and there is storage under every seat and everywhere it is needed and wanted. The wide 10’9” beam provides plenty of Marine Mat covered walkaround space to move about the various social areas of the boat.
Moving forward, there are triple bolster seats at and behind the helm, under protection of the over-sized T-top. Twin 16” Garmin screens fill the dash, but I had to sit up on the bolster to easily see over the bow – Wellcraft engineers ensured us that from hull number 2 the ergonomics have significantly been improved. Instrumentation is ergonomic and logically placed, including Mercury controls, helm air conditioning, inductive phone chargers, a JL sound system and a vent that rises up from the dash, nicely facilitating air flow without blowing air in your eyes, another Wellcraft innovation.
Above: 2025 Wellcraft 38 T-Top. Photo via Clarks Landing Yacht Sales in Shady Side, MD.
Other nice touches include pop-up LED lights at the bow, self-draining foam cushioning in the upholstery so your seats stay dry, built-in boarding steps and grab handles throughout so your passengers can always feel secure.
Cabin Interior
Stepping down to the cabin from the portside door, an air-conditioned double berth is welcoming and a separate head, shower and mini galley add overnight or weekend comforts.
Above: 2025 Wellcraft 38 T-Top. Photo via Clarks Landing Yacht Sales in Shady Side, MD.
Take Aways
There is nothing about the Wellcraft 38 Explorer not to like. Performance, comfort, entertainment space, flexibility for guests and day or weekend cruise capabilities—we’d like to take this boat out for an excursion and tell you even more! And it is affordably priced compared to others in its class. Wellcraft is planning to continue its growth in the cruising segment so stay tuned for more at boats.com.
