Wellcraft is a brand of Americanpowerboats. It was founded in 1955, making woodenrunabouts.[1] The company is owned byGroupe Beneteau, part of its Rec Boat subsidiary.
In 1982, Wellcraft purchased California Yachts from the Marshall Boat Company and in 1987 sold it back to them.[2]
In 2014,Groupe Beneteau acquired Rec Boat Holdings (Wellcraft,Four Winns,Scarab, andGlastron).
Wellcraft created the Wellcraft SaltwaterFishing School to teach new Wellcraft owners how to become better fishermen.[3]
It also created Wellcraft's High PerformanceBoot Camp to teach new Wellcraft owners how to get "maximum thrills" out of their new purchase while operating them safely.[3]
ItsScarab line of boats, specifically, theScarab 38 KV was featured onMiami Vice.[4] The Wellcraft Scarab 38 KVs were a 28-hued, twin 440-hp boat that sold for $130,000 in 1986.[4] As a result of the publicity the show gave Wellcraft, the company received "an onslaught of orders", increasing sales by 21 percent in one year.[4]
In appreciation, Wellcraft gaveDon Johnson an exact duplicate of the boat featured on the show.[4] Altogether, one hundred copies of the boat (dubbed the "Scarab 38KV Miami Vice Edition") were built by Wellcraft.[5] TheMiami Vice graphics and color scheme, which included turquoise, aqua, and orchid, was available by special order on any model Scarab from 20–38 feet.[6]
Don Johnson also designed the Scarab Excel 43 ft, Don Johnson Signature Series (DJSS), andraced a similar one.[7] The Don Johnson Signature Series was powered by twin 650-hpLamborghini V-12's, which caused some problems to the design of the boat due to their size.[7] Overall the boat cost $300,000 with each engine amounting to between $60–$70,000.[7]
In the 1980s Wellcraft started asailboat division, called Starwind. The division operated until about 1984, producing a line of small sailboats, including theStarwind 19,Starwind 22,Starwind 223 andBuccaneer 18centerboard boats.[8][9][10]