One of the positive byproducts of traveling down south for the winter boat shows is that you get to see some interesting things and meet some even more interesting people. This issue’s boat review checks both these boxes. I had the chance to hook up with Wellcraft’s CEO Ken Clinton (a.k.a. “Ken the boat builder” from YouTube and Instagram fame) to discuss one of their latest new center consoles, the 243 Fisherman.
Purpose Built
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| LENGTH | 24 feet, 4 inches |
| BEAM | 8 feet, 6inches |
| DEADRISE AFT | 20 degrees |
| DRAFT | 16 inches (engines up) |
| WEIGHT | 4,900 pounds (with twin Merc 200 V6s) |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 158 gallons |
| MAX HORSEPOWER | 400 HP (single or twin outboards) |
Picking up where its predecessor 242F left off, the new Wellcraft 243 Fisherman has been reengineered from the deck up to deliver greater functionality and space where it matters most. The result is an expansive aft cockpit, one of the largest and most capable fishing workspaces in its class that’s ready for fighting fish, rigging baits, or sharing great time on the water with friends and family. The 243F’s redesigned deck shifts the console forward and changes the transom, adding one foot of cockpit length (compared to the 242F), as well as removing the secondary livewell in the starboard corner. The net effect of this tweak is to open up the cockpit and create a wide transom door for easy ingress and egress via the built-in fiberglass swim platform for easy off-loading at your favorite sandbar or hauling the big ones aboard. This new cockpit format measures an impressive four feet long and six-and-a-half feet wide, which translates to 26 square feet, plenty of room for a quartet of anglers to work jigs or baits when positioned on opposing gunwales. And speaking of gunwales, the cockpit depth is 25 inches aft and 28 inches amidships, offering thigh-high support when bending the rods on big fish and/or when operating in sporty seas.
Rod holders are not an afterthought on this 20-degree aft deadrise 24-footer, with four flush-mounts set into the transom bulkhead, a pair of rodholder/cupholders on each side, a trio of horizontal rod racks set under each gunwale, a pair of rodholder/cupholders on either flank of the standard leaning post, an additional pair of these multi-function rod/cup holders up forward on either side in the bow area, plus a 7-rod rocket launcher on the aft end of the fiberglass T-top. Add ’em all up and that’s a total of 25 standard rod holders on a 24-footer. Honestly, I can’t think of another boat that comes to mind that offers this much of a fishing focus, but the good news for anglers doesn’t stop there.
Additional standard fishing features on the Wellcraft 243 Fisherman include twin 40-gallon insulated fishboxes set under the spacious aft cockpit that are accessed via flush deck hatches and drain their gurry contents overboard via a single macerator pumpout; a wide tuna door set in the starboard transom corner; a roomy insulated storage area under the forward cockpit sole; plus a 23-gallon recirculating livewell tucked into the port transom corner. The leaning post offers dual-purpose up/down bolster seats for driving either sitting or standing, supported by two levels of footrests to accommodate max comfort when underway.
The helm offers room for twin 10-inch multi-function displays to run all your preferred marine electronics like chart plotting, fish finding and radar, and unlike many of her competitors, the 243 Fisherman positions the standard Ritchie marine compass exactly where it should be located, in the direct line of sight of the helmsman, above the adjustable stainless steel steering wheel on the port side of the console. The new 243 Fisherman also features an integrated fiberglass T-top with a three-sided tempered glass enclosure for welcome weather protection and durability in the unfriendly saltwater marine environment. When transiting to and from the fishing grounds, a convenient double-wide cushioned bench seat pulls out easily from the transom inwale and tucks back with equal efficiency when it’s time to fish. An aft deck hatch allows access to the bilge area for system checks and maintenance.
Going Forward
As you head toward the bow area, there’s a generous 16 inches of hip space between the liner’s sidewall and the center console, allowing for easy transit when fighting a large fish around this boat’s 360-degree perimeter or just moving fore and aft in bumpy seas. The twin raised forward bench seats feature removable seat backs and plush upholstery for decadent comfort when taking the family to the sandbar. A cushioned insert sets in place between the bench seats (with insulated stowage down under), creating a triple-wide sun lounge in the bow that the family will find a major plus when working on their tans. All the cushions and center insert are easily removable to create the ultimate forward bow casting deck when serious fishing is on the day’s agenda. The windlass and through-stem anchor chute add an extra level of convenience and capability to this family sportfisher. One really neat feature on the 243 Fisherman is the head access door, which is mounted on the forward area of the console, allowing easy entry to the marine head and all console wiring down below.
Wellcraft has offered potential buyers their choice of either Mercury or Yamaha power, with choices of single or twin outboards up to a max of 400 sea horses, and the 158-gallon fuel tank offers bluewater range. The 243 Fisherman checks a lot of boxes and should be on your short list if you are shopping for a versatile 24-footer.
