Wellcraft 242 Fisherman Review

The Wellcraft 242 Fisherman is a serious offshore fishing boat that’s also made for family fun thanks to its evolved center console design.

When it comes to offshore fishing boats, few manufacturers can rival the history of innovation behind the Wellcraft nameplate. While the company enjoys a storied reputation, it’s not about to rest on its laurels and the latest models reflect the company’s continuing commitment to innovation and market leadership. As an example, look no further than the new Wellcraft 242 Fisherman – a 24-foot center console that raises the bar for offshore fishing performance.

But it would be unfair to consider the Wellcraft 242 Fisherman strictly a fishing boat. Sure, it has a self-bailing cockpit, generous freeboard, a fish box with overboard drain, abundant tackle storage and massive 17-gallon and 23-gallon twin live wells. But this is a highly evolved center console design that is equally at home taking the family for rides or pulling the kids on a tube.

The bow in the Wellcraft 242 Fisherman uses split raised seat bases, which form useful casting platforms or, with seat cushions in place, comfortable seats.

For starters, the bow forgoes the traditional raised casting deck in favor of twin raised platforms – one along each side – which provide storage in their bases and accept optional seat cushions up top, creating matching twin loungers with rear-facing seat backs. An aluminum receptacle in the floor between them accepts a removable pedestal-mount table with two integrated cup holders, creating a great lunch spot. Right up front, a bow anchor locker with storage keeps landing gear safely stowed and out of sight.

Storage space is abundant, with multiple compartments and dedicated spaces for all sorts of gear.

Full-length stainless steel grab rails on each side of the bow provide extra security for passengers seated up front while under way, while substantial storage space in the base of each bow seat include overboard drains, making them useful as coolers or fish boxes. An in-floor storage compartment just aft of the bow seats handles even more gear.

Order the available Bow Seating Package and you also get a pair of forward-facing back rests that give the bow even more seating versatility. The package also includes a filler cushion that lets you turn the entire area into a large sun pad.

The center console contains an oversized storage compartment that’s large enough to be used as a head compartment.

The helm console further speaks to this the Wellcraft 242 Fisherman’s exceptional versatility. The forward section features an oversized storage compartment that’s large enough to use as a changing room after a swim. Or add the available Porta-potti for even greater comfort and convenience.

The helm offers plenty of room for flush-mount displays.

The dash is neatly designed to easily accommodate even the largest flush-mount multi-function displays. A stainless steel steering wheel with a turning knob sits to the port side of the console, with twin beverage holders set to starboard. The double-wide leaning post/helm seat is perfectly proportioned and beautifully finished, with a dedicated storage space for the removable 72-quart cooler nestled in its powder-coated base. You’ll also find four rocket launcher-style rod holders across its aft face. Standard pull-up cleats are a nice touch, as they neither snag errant fishing lines nor stub wayward toes.

Abundant rod storage speaks to this boat’s fishing roots.

A neatly designed transom walk-through provides direct access to the rear swim platform, which includes a four-step, stainless steel boarding ladder. There’s also a standard raw water wash-down, to help keep sand and debris out of the boat. The transom-mounted folding seat in our review boat worked seamlessly, offering comfortable seating when deployed and folding flush to the coaming with zero intrusion into the cockpit when stowed away.

A transom bait well offers convenience. Note the retractable boarding ladder just beyond it on the swim platform.

Wellcraft offers the 242 CC with a variety of single and twin engine choices from Mercury, Yamaha and Evinrude. Rated to handle up to 400 horsepower, this boat will run at 50 mph with a single 300 and 55 mph with twin 200s. Twin 150s, as found on our review boat, provide a nice balance of cost, performance and fuel economy, along with the added safety margin of being twin engines.

Wellcraft has been building offshore boats for a long time, and the company knows a thing or two about what really counts on the water. The Wellcraft 242 Fisherman makes the most of this vast experience, neatly blending serious fishing features with the extra seating and creature comforts that growing families demand. There’s a lot to like here.