1989 Wellcraft Gran Sport

By: Mike Burns

It seems that you can’t flip through the TV channels nowadays without seeing some sort of home renovation or makeover show. It seems to be the latest rage to take something older and spruce it up again. As time goes on, some owners will maintain their boats by tending to the basic repairs from season to season, and there are some owners who will unfortunately neglect their boat altogether. However, there is also the occasional boat owner who will choose to take an older model and refurbish it from stem to stern. Although we’ve profiled a Wellcraft Gran Sport in a previous article, I had to take the opportunity to showcase this 1989 model that is located in my home marina. Every time I walk by it, I cannot help but be extremely impressed by the remarkable restoration job that was done.

The popular Gran Sport was introduced by Wellcraft in 1984 as the 3400 Express and it remained in production until 1992.The things that it was most renowned for were its sleek styling and open concept layout.

From the moment you step on board, you can see some of the subtle custom touches that were done – such as the teak inlay in the swim platform, complete with a custom mount for a BBQ. The cockpit itself was redesigned with several changes for a more ergonomic layout. For example, you’ll find a comfortable U-shaped lounge off to starboard with ample seating for a small crowd. Off to port you’ll find a single seat next to a wet bar that features a large storage compartment below the sink with on demand water. Just ahead of the wet bar is a convenient built-in step that allows for easy access to the side deck. Moving slightly forward, there is a built-in icemaker and additional storage. The counter-tops for the wet bar and the icemaker have been finished to match the boat’s blue colour scheme. The original design of the Gran Sport featured a bench passenger seat to port. The owner of our test boat chose to install a rear-facing lounge seat instead. Not only is this a comfortable spot to lounge, the well thought out design makes good use of the cockpit space available. It should be noted that all of the seating features high-grade materials and extra thick foam. For even more comfort, custom roll cushions in a matching material have also been made for a nice added touch.

The helm of our test boat, for the most part, looks similar to and is in the same position as the original Gran Sport model. At the same time, many improvements have been made, including new gauges with gold bezel accents. Several state-of-the-art electronics have also been added, such as a forward probing sonar, radar and chart plotter.

Down below, the basic configuration remains the same as the original model, but many upgrades have been made to the upholstery and wood finishes. A large dinette is off to starboard and the original table has been replaced with a beautiful solid wood table with a high gloss finish. Up forward, the master stateroom features a large berth and plenty of storage compartments. A nice touch is the solid wood door and privacy screen.

Off to port, there is a small bench seat that pulls out to reveal more storage compartments. This area can also covert to a small berth, but the length of it would limit this area for the kids.

Further aft and to port, you’ll find a spacious and functional galley complete with under-counter refrigerator, stove top, large sink, in-counter refuse compartments and built-in microwave. The original model sported a funky bar with back lighting and a circular sliding door. This has been converted to a more practical dry goods cupboard on our test boat. As with the rest of the cabin, the cupboards have been refinished with beautiful high gloss woods that give the boat a very modern feel.

Aft and to starboard you’ll find additional sleeping accommodation in the mid cabin, which can accommodate two adults. Just forward of that, there is a spacious head with built-in shower and other usual amenities you would expect to find.

Our test boat was powered with the original 454-ci MerCruiser blocks that produce 340 hp each. We were up on plane in 5.3 seconds, which is quite respectable considering the boat weighs almost 13,500 pounds.

Now, these big block engines will tend to get a bit thirsty if you’re too heavy handed on the throttles. We found a comfortable cruising speed of 19.9 mph at 3200 rpm. At this speed, only two of the four barrels on each carburetor should be open, helping to reduce fuel consumption. If you really want – or need – additional speed, these engines still have plenty of power in reserve. At WOT at 4200 rpm, we reached a top speed of 30.2 mph. Restoring a boat may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there are certainly some who may be up for the challenge, especially if they are the hands-on type. If you find an older boat model that really suits your needs, a complete or partial restoration may be the route for you to take. You will have to be cautious about how much money you invest in the boat, and how much you can realistically expect to get back out of the boat if and when you sell it. For some, however, a project like this is a labour of love and enjoying the finished product is more than a reward in itself!

POWER / PERFORMANCE
TEST BOAT ENGINE: Single MerCruiser,
305 ci, 230 hp, V8, sterndrive
gasoline engine.
TOP SPEED (rpm / mph):
4500 / 35.1
CRUISING SPEED (rpm / mph):
3200 / 24.1
SOUND LEVEL AT TOP SPEED:
Helm – 92 dbA
SOUND LEVEL AT CRUISE:
Helm –85 dbA