The Wellcraft 435.
When it comes to evaluating a boat, you have to step aboard, climb through and feel the spaces (sight unseen has no place in matters of the heart). I had the chance to do just that when the 435 debuted at the Cannes show in September 2023. Stepping aboard, I realized immediately that the Wellcraft siblings were not nearly as close in age, I mean, size, as I originally thought. In fact, sitting side-by-side the 435 looked substantially … the best word I can think of is beefier. And that sensation begins, as often is the case, at the transom. The newcomer sports triple, 350-horsepower configurations, which should easily allow for speeds north of 40 knots. In keeping with the brand’s high-performance DNA, a hull bottom from Michael Peters should ensure that those speeds are achieved without compromising grip or stability.
