Wellcraft 2900 Express (288 Suncruiser)
Built 1981–1987 by Wellcraft Marine
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About the Wellcraft 2900 Express (288 Suncruiser)
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1981–1987
- Builder
- Wellcraft Marine
- Length
- 28.67 ft
- Beam
- 10.67 ft
- Draft
- 2.5 ft
- Displacement
- 9,000 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- planing
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 120 gal
- Water
- 28 gal
- Water heater
- 12 gal · AC + engine · factory option
- Generator
- factory option
- Bow thruster
- not fitted
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 120 gal
“Fuel capacity 120 gal.” — brochure (1987), wellcraft.com · “Fuel tanks, 2-60 gallon aluminum with crossover” — brochure (1985), wellcraft.com · “Fuel Capacity 120 gallons” — brochure (1985), wellcraft.comWellcraft's own product-information sheets give 120 gal: the 1985 sheet describes two 60-gal aluminum tanks joined by a crossover, and the 1987 sheet also gives 120.
-
Water 28 gal
“Water capacity 28 gal.” — brochure (1987), wellcraft.com · “Freshwater Capacity 28 gallons” — brochure (1985), wellcraft.comThe builder's 1985 and 1987 sheets agree on 28 gal.
-
Holding unknown
The builder's sheets list an electric head as an option in 1985, and an electric head with holding tank as an option in 1987; neither gives a tank size.
-
Water heater 12 gal · AC + engine · factory option
“Optional Equipment: Hot water heater” — builder (1985), wellcraft.com · “Optional Equipment: Hot water heater 120V, 12 gal.; Hot water heater w/exchanger 12 gal.” — builder (1987), wellcraft.comThe builder's product-information guides show a hot water heater as an option in 1985 (size not given; shower and pressure water were also options), and in 1987 a 12 gal heater offered as 120 V only or 120 V with engine heat exchanger.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster not fitted
“Standard equipment and optional equipment lists (1985) contain no thruster” — builder (1985), wellcraft.com · “Standard equipment and optional equipment lists (1987) contain no thruster” — builder (1987), wellcraft.comWellcraft's 1985 and 1987 product information guides list all standard and optional equipment; no thruster in either.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
“Standard equipment and optional equipment lists (1985, 1987) contain no thruster” — builder (1985-1987), wellcraft.com
-
Steering unknown
“OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT: ... Hydraulic steering” — builder (1987), wellcraft.comNeither guide names the standard system (1987 lists only a stainless Destroyer steering wheel as standard); hydraulic steering was a factory option in 1987. The standard was presumably mechanical cable steering, but no source says so, and the 1985 option list doesn't mention steering.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Called 288 Suncruiser 1981-82. Solid fiberglass modified-V (16 deg); most have straight inboards under the forward cockpit (no mid-cabin). HMY's text mentions a 1995 floorplan update, which conflicts with the 1987 end date and is probably a typo.
Engines fitted
-
MerCruiser 230 hp gas inboard — 230 hp, gas, twin
standard
Straight inboards under the cockpit sole on most boats; 19-20 knots cruise, high 20s top.Sources: hmy.com
-
MerCruiser 350 (5.7L) gas inboard — 260 hp, gas, twin
factory option
Two 1985 boats for sale have twin MerCruiser 350 inboards; one lists them at 260 hp, freshwater cooled.Sources: powerboatlistings.com · walleye.com
- MerCruiser sterndrive version — gas factory option
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
factory option
“Optional Equipment: Generator - 4kw gas” — builder (1985), wellcraft.com · “Optional Equipment: Generator-6.5 KW and muffler” — builder (1987), wellcraft.com
Generator was a factory option: 4 kW gas in 1985, 6.5 kW in 1987.
-
Generator (make not stated) — 4 kW, gas
factory option
Make not named; 1985 option list.“Generator - 4kw gas” — builder (1985), wellcraft.com
-
Generator (make not stated) — 6.5 kW
factory option
Make and fuel not stated on the 1987 option list (the boat was gas-powered).“Generator-6.5 KW and muffler” — builder (1987), wellcraft.com
Generators are often replaced or added — check the unit's own plate before ordering parts.
Manuals and brochures online
- Document Wellcraft Manuals & catalogs archive (by model year; includes 1980s product information guides) — wellcraft.com
- Spec sheet Wellcraft product information guide - 2900 Express (specifications page) (1985) — wellcraft.com
- Spec sheet Wellcraft product information guide - 2900 Express (standard/optional equipment page) (1985) — wellcraft.com
- Spec sheet Wellcraft product information guide - 2900 Express (1987) — wellcraft.com
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
No well-sourced problem reports found yet.
Engines & parts
MerCruiser 5.0 (305) / 5.7 (350) V8 gas parts: good
Factory optional engine — you entered “MerCruiser 350 (5.7L) gas inboard”
GM small-block Chevrolet base engines, so internal parts are everywhere. Marine exhaust manifolds and risers for 1983–2002 small blocks are sold by many aftermarket makers (Sierra, Barr, Osco and others) through Power Boat Supply, Hardin Marine, Basic Power Industries and similar stores; Mercury sells genuine parts through dealers.
Parts sources: Power Boat Supply, Hardin Marine, Basic Power Industries
Common problems (2)
-
Manifold/riser failure and water in cylinders exhaust
Cast-iron manifolds and risers rust internally or their gaskets fail, letting water back into the cylinders; small amounts cause hard starting and rough running, large amounts hydrolock and wreck the engine. Service roughly every 7 years in fresh water and about 5 in salt.powerandmotoryacht.com · forums.iboats.com · justanswer.com
-
Overheating from scaled manifolds cooling
Rust and scale inside the manifolds restrict cooling flow and cause overheating under load.powerandmotoryacht.com
Maker’s service schedule (8)
| Engine oil & filter change | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Most four-stroke outboards and sterndrive engines require an oil change either annually or every 100 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “The fuel filter on your engine should be inspected or replaced per the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, usua” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Raw-water pump impeller | 300 hrs or 3 yrs | “How often should my seawater pump impeller be serviced? Every 300 hours or 3 years, whichever comes first.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 300 hrs or 3 yrs | “How often should spark plugs be changed? Every 300 hours or 3 years, whichever comes first.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Coolant replacement & freeze-point test closed (freshwater) cooling only | 5 yrs | “How often should coolant be changed on engines with closed cooling? Every 5 years.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Transmission fluid change sterndrive gear lube | 1 yr | “Gearcase lubricant in outboard and sterndrive lower units should also be changed annually or at the service interval spe” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Lubricate steering linkage and check power-steering fluid sterndrive | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Mercury Marine recommends lubricating the steering linkage and checking the power steering fluid level in ... MerCruiser” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Check power trim fluid level sterndrive | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Power trim and tilt fluid level should be checked annually or every 100 hours.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
Service part numbers (6)
| Oil filter | Mercury Quicksilver 35-866340Q03 | “Part number: 866340Q03 ... for MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard engines except V6 engines with the oil filter mounted o” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com · “Includes: Oil Filter Oil Filter 866340Q03 Fuel Filter 802893Q01 ...” — dealer, midnightmarine.net |
| Fuel filter carbureted engines (Rochester 2-/4-barrel, MerCarb 2-barrel): filter inside carburetor fuel inlet |
Mercury 53336T | “For use on MerCruiser 3.0L, 4.3L, 5.0L , 5.7L and 7.4L engines with Rochester 2- and 4-barrel and MerCarb” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Fuel filter MPI engines with Gen III cool fuel module (filter page: 2004 and newer; kit page: 2002 and newer) |
Mercury Quicksilver 35-8M0093688 | “Fits 2004 and newer Mercury/MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard engines with Gen III (3) fuel cooler” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Bravo sterndrive and inboard engines with engine-mounted sea water pump (2-piece plastic pump per Mercury) |
Mercury Quicksilver 47-59362Q01 Also: Sierra 18-3087 |
“For MerCruiser engines with engine mounted, 2-piece, plastic sea water pumps.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com · “Water Pump Impeller 59362Q01” — dealer, midnightmarine.net |
| Thermostat standard cooling, 160 F |
Mercury Quicksilver 807252Q5 | “Thermostat 807252Q5 is for V6 and V8 MerCruiser engines ... made by General Motors (model year 1987-2016)” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| 100-hour maintenance kit (oil filter, fuel filter, drive seals) MPI engines with Gen III cool fuel module (2002 and newer) |
Mercury 8M0147053 | “Mercury 8M0147053 MerCruiser 5.0L, 5.7L, 6.2L, 8.1L and 8.2L V8 MPI ... 100 Hour Maintenance Kit” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (6)
hmy.com · powerboatlistings.com · walleye.com · wellcraft.com · wellcraft.com · wellcraft.com
Other Wellcraft models
- Wellcraft 3400 Gran Sport (3400 Express) 1984–1992
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.