Wellcraft, Miami Vice’s speedboats land in Sardinia

Wellcraft, a name that evokes the atmosphere of the 1980s, with the iconic chases of the speedboats from Miami Vice and Baywatch, lands in Sardinia through Boatness. This company, which specializes in boat sales and nautical services, has become the exclusive dealer for the area of the historic U.S. shipyard, now part of the Bénéteau Group.

Wellcraft: a legendary history

Founded in 1955 in Sarasota, Florida, by Bill Davis and Ed Crafton, it began by producing small 14- and 17-foot wooden boats, soon replaced in the early 1960s by molded fiberglass models, a then revolutionary technology. Almost immediately the company began exporting its boats to foreign dealers who appreciated the clean design and space optimization typical of American boats.

In the 1970s, under the leadership of Dick Genth, the shipyard achieved worldwide fame with the creation of the Scarab, a boat that became a true icon of sport boating. The famous model appeared in cult television series such as Miami Vice and Baywatch, consecrating Wellcraft in the collective imagination as a symbol of power, style, and freedom, thanks also to exceptional performance and distinctive design.

“This is a brand that represents the very essence of American sport boating: performance, solid construction and timeless appeal,” declare Boatness owners Gianfranco and Davide Falchi. But above all, “the combination with Mercury, for which we have been dealers since the early 2000s and for which we have authorized service, allows us to offer boaters the opportunity to experience the sea with the same free and powerful spirit that has always distinguished Wellcraft.”

The Wellcraft range

Since 2014, the brand has been part of the Bénéteau Group, a world leader in recreational boating, which has relaunched its image with a range that has been completely revamped but remains true to its original values of reliability and build quality, key features for fishermen and boaters. The current Wellcraft range spans from 20 to 44 feet.

Wellcraft Fisherman

A series of models up to 35 feet, designed to combine sportiness and comfort. Center-console open with American DNA, dedicated to sport fishing and equipped with functional solutions such as ample storage space, cockpits with tanks, integrated rod holders and a toilet compartment built into the console.

Wellcraft 28 (8.5m): the new all-purpose vessel

Wellcraft Explorer

Heirs to the classic commuters, Explorers are all-around boats designed with great attention to comfort, stability and ergonomics. Their size, from 38 to 44 feet, and enclosed, central pilot-house make them perfect for offshore outings where power, endurance and safety are needed even in challenging seas. In addition, interior volumes ensure year-round protection and usability.

Read our test here:

Abbiamo provato Wellcraft 435 (13 m), la nuova barca da crociera veloce

In short, day-cruising boats that, in declinations above 38 feet, wink at the weekender. Perfect for the island’s market, which requires marine hulls for often challenging weather conditions, but more generally for the entire central Tyrrhenian Sea, where Boatness, with offices in Alghero, Olbia and Cagliari, becomes a point of reference for fans of this historic shipyard.

For more information, visit the Boatness a this link.