What is a Wellcraft Excel

willy · #1 06-24-2010, 06:53 PM

Any of you Snaggers know anything about wellcraft Excel line of boats.
In particular a 97 23 Sportsman.

Could be important, he he he.
Let me know

macojoe · #2 06-24-2010, 08:45 PM

Found this online, all I have to say is I hope this is not the case with all of them!!

http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48031

But they look good!

chumbucket · #3 06-24-2010, 09:03 PM

Sportsman and Excel are two completely different models. I don't think you want the Excel willy. The Sportsman, maybe.
Look in the gallery library. You'll see examples of both over the years.

spareparts · #4 06-25-2010, 06:06 AM

the excel was set up as a secondary line for Wellcraft dealers at one time, they were marketed as an upscale boat to compete with the Searay Sundancers, they had some neat ideas(full cockpit liners and snap in carpet), but the quality wasn't on par with the compitition. They changed the line to become a leader boat, cheapening them up to compete on the lower end of the scale. I've seen some of the bigger cuddy cabins that look pretty nice, but most of the excells I've seen are smaller bow riders with too many stickers, carpet, and cheap vynil interiors

jjjtronics · #5 06-25-2010, 02:19 PM

A friend of mine at the Marina has a 23 ( or 22 ) Excel W/A, with one big motor and a small troller motor next to it. BEAUTIFUL BOAT !!! He and his wife keep her in TOP SHAPE !!!, I will take pictures next time and post them. I actually will love to have an Excell, I want to have a real cabin !!!!!

willy · #6 06-25-2010, 03:53 PM

Actually went to see it today, a 97 23 Excel cuddy, boat was outfitted with a hard top and nice add ons but a lot of cheap components, he has had numerous problems with water seapage thru the bow rails, windows, and I noticed the inspection plates everywhere on the cockpit floor and including the monstrous wide open and low transom are not sealed and of dubious quality.
I could address all of the quality control issues but the biggest thing to me is a major safety issue and I am absolutely amazed a marine designer would build a transom arrangement like that. It has a thin starboard like material wall two and a half feet high by four feet wide that you can flex with two fingers slid into plastic tracks on each side to hold it that are as thin a plastic as I think they make, which is held onto the sides of the motor well with two sheet metal looking screws directly drilled into the 3/16 fiberglass on each side. The transom top is about 4-5 inches above the water line and any following sea or large wave or boat wake will collapse that wall and scuttle the arse of that boat in literally seconds.
I am always amazed of the poor engineering and workmanship builders will put into something that could be a life threatening thing like a boat at sea.
Wellcraft should be ashamed of that design.
I told the fellow I was not interested and he was very nice, he then told me that when he is out fishing water routinely flows in and out when the water is choppy.