Wellcraft 38 T-Top

By Mike Burns

The Wellcraft 38 T-Top isn’t your average center console. It is bold, aggressive, and clearly designed for people who want more than just a place to drop a line. This boat leans hard into luxury and lifestyle without losing touch with its offshore roots—and in a segment where many boats play it safe, Wellcraft seems to be swinging for the fences.

You can see it immediately in the design. The lines are sharp, modern, and purposeful. The bow is steep and serious, and the whole boat just looks like it means business. But once you step aboard, it is clear the 38 T-Top is just as much about entertaining and comfort as it is about speed and salt spray.

At the stern, the cockpit is impressively wide open. This isn’t a stripped-down fishing deck; it’s a fully functional entertainment zone. Twin C-shaped lounges sit opposite each other, one with a grill and storage, the other with a sink and fridge. These aren’t afterthoughts—they’re built in, finished cleanly, and made for real use. Drop-in tables can turn this whole space into a dining area, or you can fold them away to open it up. On the starboard side, a powered fold-down platform adds even more usable space, giving swimmers and loungers an easy way to get in and out of the water.

Flip up the aft bench and you’ll find access to the Seakeeper 3 gyro stabilizer.  This is one option that I’d put to the top of the wish list.   The additional comfort that this unit offers, while underway or at a stand-still makes for a much more comfortable day on the water.

Moving forward, the bow is more of the same—comfortable, social, and genuinely versatile. Wraparound seating lines the forward section, complete with an electrically lowering table that converts the space into a full sunpad. Just ahead of the console is a double-wide lounge with integrated armrests and cupholders. These aren’t just thrown in; they feel properly designed, like someone actually thought about what you’d be doing up there on a sunny afternoon.

Still, the boat doesn’t totally ignore its fishing heritage. There are plenty of rod holders—on the gunwales, the T-top, and tucked neatly around the transom. There’s a livewell, some under-seat tackle storage, and flush-mounted fishboxes in the sole. While the 38 T-Top isn’t a hardcore sportfishing platform, it’s more than capable of handling a day offshore if you’re looking to chase tuna or troll for mahi.

The helm is one of the highlights. Three bolstered seats face a clean, modern dash with twin 16-inch Garmin screens, Mercury throttle controls, and a joystick system. You’ve got inductive phone chargers built in, helm A/C vents to keep you cool, and a low-profile pop-up air vent that brings in breeze without screwing up your sightlines. Side wind deflectors are integrated into the windshield design, and everything from the steering wheel to the switches feels tight, premium, and well thought out.

Under the T-top, the seating is protected but open—ideal for long runs when the weather turns. You feel tucked in, but still very much part of the action. The T-top itself is beefy, with handrails built into the support struts and plenty of overhead rod storage. Visibility from the helm is excellent, whether you’re at cruise or throttling up.

And throttling up is definitely part of the equation. With triple Mercury V10 350s, the 38 T-Top topped out for us at 54.5 MPH. It’s fast, but not twitchy. You get a feeling of solid control even at speed, thanks to the stepped hull designed by Michael Peters. On the relatively calm waters of Sarasota Bay, we settled into a comfortable cruising speed of 37 MPH @ 4000 RMP.   The turns were crisp and sharp, and the ride was remarkably smooth, and extremely quiet.

Wellcraft’s construction process has a lot to do with that. The hull and stringer system are infused as a single piece using their WISE (Wellcraft Infujection Structural Engineering) system, which makes for a rigid, durable, and lightweight platform. It also helps reduce vibration and noise, which adds up when you’re spending full days on the water.

Down below, the cabin is better than expected. It’s not huge, but it’s big enough for a couple to crash overnight or for kids to nap while the adults keep the party going topside. You get a double berth, a small galley with a microwave and fridge, and a separate enclosed head with a proper shower. Air conditioning is standard, and the space feels clean, finished, and functional—more than just a place to stow bags.

At around $507,000 base (depending on engine package and options), the 38 T-Top isn’t cheap. But it’s also not trying to be. This is a high-end boat for buyers who want performance and comfort in equal measure.

What Wellcraft’s done here is acknowledge that most center console owners today aren’t hardcore anglers. They’re families, couples, and social boaters who want to cruise, raft up, and entertain. They want the offshore capability, sure—but they also want a wet bar, a sunpad, and a place to grill some lunch. The 38 T-Top delivers on that vision, without feeling watered down or compromised.

SPECIFICATIONS

• LOA: 38’ 4″ / 11.69 m
• Beam: 10’ 9″ / 3.30 m
• Displacement: 14,109 lbs / 6,400 kg
• Fuel Capacity: 266 US Gal / 1,006 L
• Draft: 2’ 1″ / 0.65 m
• Clearance: 9’ 4″ / 2.86 m
• Water Capacity: 42 US Gal / 160 L
• Max Engine Power (Twin Engines): 700 HP
• Max Engine Power (Triple Engines): 1,050 HP

PERFORMANCE:

• RPM      MPH    GPH (per engine)
• 1000         4.7          1.5
• 1500         7.6          3.8
• 2000       10.6         4.8
• 2500       14.7         6.3
• 3000       19.8         7.2
• 3500       27.0         10.1
• 4000       37.2         13.0
• 4500       41.4         14.8
• 5000       46.4        24.4
• 5730        54.5        28.8

Find out more: www.wellcraft.com