Info. on 43 Wellcraft portofino.

TomFTM · 02-02-2002, 06:36 PM

Does anybody know any info. good or bad about wellcrafts 43 ft portofino .The boat is a 1988. My brother is looking at one.Thanks ,

Tom

insptech · 02-02-2002, 06:46 PM

Wellcraft cruisers of that era have lots of rot problems in the stringers-BEWARE!! If it surveys out o.k. you might be alright but be real careful.

TomFTM · 02-03-2002, 02:49 AM

Thanks for the info Insptech, I will pass it on to my brother.

Anyone else have any experence with these boats. Thanks,

Tom

02-03-2002, 06:12 AM

I would certainly have to agree with insptech. I owned a Wellcraft 32' St Tropez from '87 to '89. The boat never left the water and it never saw any rough water, but a survey in '89 found minor water damage in the stringers... go figure....boy was I pissed

[ 02-03-2002: Message edited by: JeffreyBoy ]

insptech · 02-03-2002, 09:53 AM

Most of the damage seems to be related to limber hole cut in the stringers and then not properly glassed and sealed-water sitting in the bilge gets up there and does it's nasty business. St. Tropez's were the worst-you were lucky Jeff.

BigMike · 02-03-2002, 08:05 PM

Tell your brother to be extremely careful with late 80's Wellcraft cruiser quality. I looked at about a dozen St. Tropez's, Monte Carlo's, and the larger Gran Sports a few years back. Many had rot problems in the stringers. Some had rot problems in the transoms. All had rot problems in the seat bases. Vinyl is very thin also. Portofino was Wellcrafts top of the line cruiser at the time so maybe the quality was a little better but I was not at all impressed with the quality of the smaller cruisers. Ended up buying a Regal and was very happy.

Mike

Crazyhorse · 02-03-2002, 08:17 PM

Big Mike, you are right about seat bases and the vinyl. The Portofino was not built any better than the other Wellcraft sportcruisers. Searay also suffered from these problems in the mid-to-late eighties. The Searay 390 Express Cruisers had wood seat bases until '89 (when they woke up and did them in F-glass) and you won't find a good one unless it's already been redone. Searay did a slightly better job with the weep holes in the stringers by 'glassing pvc pipe in the 2 inch holes. The Portofinos and the 390/460 Searays are great boats, especially when diesel-powered. But they need to be surveyed.

sejman · 02-03-2002, 09:12 PM

I owned 1989 Portafino [purchased in 1991] untill 1997. Mechanically, I experienced only minor problems with the Cruser.
But the water leakage I had through the hull, drove my crazy. I beleave I spent over $15,000. and still never corrected the problems. The factory wouldn't help. Great looking boat, but next time I buy a Cruser it will be a Sea-ray.
sejman

TomFTM · 02-04-2002, 02:36 AM

Thanks for responses , please keep them coming. Tom