Wellcraft's 45 Excalibur

  Imagine....a monster sport boat, built in Australia by a company respected 
the world over for its sportfishers, sold by a top name in US pleasure 
boating.  The 45 Excalibur is just such a boat.  It is built in the land 
down under by Riviera, then shipped to the United States to be sold by 
Wellcraft, makers of Scarab go-fasts and a successful line of cruisers, for 
the boating enthusiast who wants it all.  
  In June of 1995, Boating Magazine raved over the then-new Wellcraft 
Excalibur, praising its construction, which forms "one unibody piece, as 
though hewed from a solid chunk of fiberglass," its performance - "not so 
much raw speed, but smooth, light-footed agility, the kind of handling that 
instills confidence and promotes joy." 

  Standard engines are mercruiser's 415-hp 502 Magnums, mated to Bravo 
Three drives with dual counter-rotating props.  This setup pushes the
big 45 onto plane in four seconds, with a cruise of about 28 MPH at 3500
RPM.  Range at cruise is over 270 miles, with just a 274 gallon tank.  Top
end comes at 5000 RPMs, carrying the 7-ton Excalibur up to 53 miles per hour.
The boat rides high and dry at speed, carving through chop and settling 
over swells with un-rivaled panache.  Deck rails and an anchor bracket  
forward are the only give-aways that this is a luxury craft and not a Scarab 
spin-off.
  The stylish 45, complete with swept back arch and louvred hullside vents,
also fairs well below decks.  Well-furnished and fully appointed throughout,
it is certainly more than just a glorious weekender.

  Revisions over the 45's short life have included more standard equipment,
most notably a generator, and a slight increase in the sticker price.  
Although a list price of $280,000 prices it out of the go-fast category, 
the Excalibur is as affordable as any boat in its class.

  However, for those who can't handle the full-blown 45, there is a 
milder version available: the 38 Excalibur, pictured below.  It offers
very similar styling and comfort, along with performance that matches the
big 45.  If only Wellcraft had gone the other way with this model.....

Read "Storming Heaven" by Capt. Bill Pike.
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