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SeaWell 345XL (2024-)
2 x 250-hp Mercury DTS V8
Brief Summary
The 345XL from SeaWell has the heart and soul of a serious fishing boat while providing all a family needs for an exciting day out on the water and perhaps a bit longer. A stand-up head with a shower? The 345XL has it. A forward cabin with a mid-berth as well? That too!
Test Results
| RPM | MPH | Knots | GPH | MPG | NMPG | SM | NM | dBa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 650 | 3.5 | 3 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 583 | 507 | 69 |
| 1000 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 2 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 619 | 538 | 73 |
| 1500 | 7.7 | 6.7 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 417 | 363 | 78 |
| 2000 | 9.3 | 8 | 7.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 289 | 251 | 80 |
| 2500 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 1.1 | 1 | 257 | 223 | 83 |
| 3000 | 16.9 | 14.6 | 12 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 317 | 276 | 84 |
| 3500 | 24.1 | 20.9 | 16.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 321 | 279 | 90 |
| 4000 | 33.1 | 28.8 | 23.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 318 | 276 | 93 |
| 4500 | 39.6 | 34.4 | 32.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 274 | 238 | 94 |
| 5000 | 44.6 | 38.8 | 43.7 | 1 | 0.9 | 230 | 200 | 96 |
| 5500 | 49.5 | 43 | 45.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 244 | 212 | 96 |
Specifications
| Length Overall |
34' 5" 10.5 m |
|---|---|
| Beam |
11' 2" 3.4 m |
| Draft |
2' 0.6 m |
| Deadrise/Transom | 23° |
| Fuel Capacity |
250 gal 946 L |
| Water Capacity |
65 gal 246 L |
Acceleration Times & Conditions
| Climate | 81°; 63% humidity; 5-10 knots; flat wave; salt |
|---|
Engine Options
| Tested Engine |
2 x 300-hp Mercury Verado V8 |
|---|---|
| Std. Power |
2 x 250-hp Mercury DTS V8 |
| Opt. Power |
2 x 300-hp Mercury Verado V8 2 x 350-hp Mercury Verado V10 2 x 400-hp Mercury Verado V10 |
SeaWell 345XL: Day Fishing or Overnight Stay
Captain's Report by Capt. Ken Kreisler
Major Features
- Four stern rod holders
- Forward cabin
- Acrylic windshield
- Mid-berth under helm
- Bow sunpad
- Electric toilet
- Transom seating w/livewell and storage below
- Stainless stern ladder
- Hydraulic trim tabs
- Freshwater system
Notable Options
- Simrad nav package including Active Imaging 3-in-1 transducer, RS20S VHF, AP44 Autopilot, xSonic SS175H-W/20 Chirp Transducer 20° 1kW Tilted Element, HALO20+Radar, Twin NSS12 evo3S with C-MAP® US Enhanced Charts
- Fusion® Marine Stereo, Amplifier & 6 Marine Speakers
- Northern Lights 6KW generator w/sound enclosure
- Battery charger w/shore power system
- Teak aft table
- 700W Italwinch w/anchor kit
- HTEC 12.000 BTU air conditioning
- Fiberglass hardtop with 6 rod holders on each side
- Mercury outboard power options include:
- 2 x 250-hp DTS V8 + 7" VesselView screen
- 2 x 300-hp Verado V8 + 7" VesselView screen & joystick
- 2 x 350-hp Verado V10 + 7" VesselView screen & joystick
- 2 x 400-hp Verado V10 + 7" VesselView screen & joystick
Boat Inspection
Built and outfitted to withstand the rigors of inshore and offshore fishing, the SeaWell 345XL has another side too. She also provides amenities quite suitable for family outings including an overnight stay after a day out on the water or cruising to that special dock-and-dine spot and deciding to spend the night. Our review starts aft.
Aft & Cockpit
With her fishing DNA firmly established once aboard, it’s easy to see all she has to offer. And with four power options to choose from, you will be able to get where you are going and back with plenty to spare.
Helm & T-Top
The SeaWell 345XL paid special attention to these features aboard, ensuring they were supplied with all the right stuff.
Bow
Always an exciting place to be, whether working a fish or relaxing while underway, the appealing bow area aboard the SeaWell 345XL has been carefully planned out — as with everywhere on this boat.
Cabin
SeaWell made sure both cabins — that’s right, two cabins on a 35-foot center console boat — and the stand-up wet head on the 345XL were roomy enough for the planned overnight stay or an impromptu layover after a day out.
A Word About Performance
According to SeaWell’s data, the displacement of the 345XL without her engines came in at 7,716 lbs. (3,500 kg). Our test boat, rigged with a pair of 300-hp Mercury V8 Verado outboards and two people, 50% of her total fuel capacity of 250 gallons and a lot of optional equipment aboard, proved to be an outstanding performer at a total weight of 10,300 lbs. (4,672 kg).
Dealing with a negligible 5-knot wind, we put her through a series of turns, hard-over maneuvers and other aggressive drills, and out-of-the-hole and straight runs. During all those times, she handled everything with ease, answered the helm with confidence, and was always under control.
We topped out at 59.4 mph, turning 5600 rpm, and found our best cruise at 4000 rpm with a speed of 33.2 mph and a fuel burn of 1.4 mpg. Our zero-30 mph hole shot got there in 8.7 seconds.
Summary
SeaWell has packed a lot into the 345XL’s LOA of 34' 5" (10.5 m) and beam of 11' 2" (3.4 m). With a pair of staterooms and a stand-up wet head with shower, she offers the kind of layout and amenities suitable for a family outing stretching over a weekend.
However, this center console has the heart of a horizon-chasing fishing platform, suitable for inshore and offshore adventures. An option of twin Mercury outboard power from 250 hp to 400 hp makes her a formidable competitor in this sector. Forty-plus square feet of cockpit space, her T-Top and deck bristling with rod holders and a helm outfitted with the latest in electronics will give those who take her out in search of big fish a definite leg up in their endeavors.
Should a center console in this size and offerings be up on your radar screen as your next choice of a new boat, the SeaWell 345XL will make your shortlist. Once aboard for a walk-through and after taking the wheel for your sea trial, that list is going to be somewhat shorter.
Remember, life is better on a boat!
Test Video Summary
Overview
The SeaWell 345XL is a newly launched center console dedicated to making boating affordable for a larger audience of boaters. BoatTEST’s Captain tested her with twin Mercury 300 Verado outboards.
“I’m just very comfortable while I’m at the helm. I feel very secure and safe, and like I can totally control the boat without any issue. I like it.”
Mission And Intended Owner
- Built To Do: Fishing, sandbar days and entertaining, with overnight accommodations
- Designed For: A larger audience of boaters looking for an affordable center console
- Locus Of Operation: Coastal and offshore waters
Design Overview
- Bow Entry: Pretty sharp, with some deadrise, which helps in turns
- Windshield: Large, with no partitions, for better visibility
- T-Top Supports: Not in the way of visibility
- Decking: EVA foam throughout the boat
- Gunwales: Fairly wide, with built-in trays for tackle, pliers or drinks
- Cabin: V-berth, mid-berth and a wet head below
Specifications
- Length Overall: 34 feet, 5 inches
- Beam: 11 feet, 2 inches
- Draft: 2 feet
- Fuel Capacity: 250 gallons
- Cockpit: 5 feet, 3 inches by 8 feet, 4 inches
- Transom Bench: 6 feet long
- Fish Boxes: 43 inches long
- Side Walkway: About 16 inches
- Bow Sun Pad: 6 feet, 7 inches long by about 4 feet, 1 inch at its widest
- V-Berth: 5 feet, 9 inches wide by 6 feet, 6 inches long, with 46 inches of overhead
- Mid-Berth: 6 feet, 2 inches long by 30 inches wide, with about 22 inches of overhead
- Head Headroom: About 6 feet, 4 inches
- Steps: A 6-inch step into the cockpit and two 8-inch steps going forward
Test Conditions And Test Weight
- Sea State: A little breeze and not much chop, after rough water outside earlier
- Load: 50% fuel and two passengers
- Test Weight: About 10,300 pounds
Performance
- Tested Power: Twin Mercury 300 Verados
- Top Speed: 49.5 mph at 5,600 rpm
- Best Cruise: 33.1 mph at 4,000 rpm
- Fuel Economy At Best Cruise: 1.4 mpg
| RPM | MPH | MPG |
|---|---|---|
| 4,000 | 33.1 | 1.4 |
| 5,600 | 49.5 | — |
Acceleration:
- 0–10 mph: 3 seconds
- 0–20 mph: 5.8 seconds
- 0–30 mph: 8.7 seconds
Sea Trial And Handling
- Rough Water: She handled very well outside earlier in rougher conditions
- On Plane: Smooth and flat, with a small trim tab adjustment
- Visibility: Complete 360-degree visibility
- Response: Reacts very quickly
- Tracking: Stays on her lines, with no prop slippage
- Turns: Leans into good banks in S-turns, with no stutter
- Ergonomics: Tilt wheel, well-placed throttles, centerline compass, easy-to-reach trim tabs and bow thruster
“Oh wow, reacts really quick, feels good. She’s stuck on her lines and no slippage from the props.”
Engine Room Or Mechanical Compartment
- Access: Mechanical hatch in the cockpit deck for the batteries
- Battery Switches: Main switches under the transom bench
- Generator Fuel: Diesel tank just forward of the operator’s seat
- Electrical: Main electrical panel and generator control panel in the head
- Overhead Height: About 6 feet, 4 inches in the head, 46 inches over the V-berth and about 22 inches over the mid-berth
Features Inspection
The Helm
- Seats: Two bolstered seats with two cup holders between, plus another on the console
- Fire Extinguishers: Dedicated storage port and starboard
- Windshield: Large, with no partitions
- Compass: Centerline
- Displays: Two 12-inch Simrad multifunction displays
- Gauges And Controls: Mercury gauges and controls
- Wheel: Centerline, on a tilt base
- Switches: Livewell controls and push-button switches
- Audio: Fusion
- VHF: Simrad
- Trim Tabs: Bennett
- Bow Thruster: Yes
- Joystick: For slow-speed, tight-quarters maneuvering
- Glove Box: Small, with USB charging
- Footrest: Yes
“I would like to see maybe an armrest in the future.”
Anchor Locker And Ground Tackle
- Anchor Locker: Fully forward, with two switches at the bow
- Cleats: Two pop-up cleats at the bow, plus 9-inch pop-up cleats at the stern
Boarding Amenities
- Transom Door: With a 6-inch step
- Dive Door: Side entry, with a tucked-away swim ladder that secures in place when open
- Swim Ladder: Telescopic four-step stainless steel ladder at the transom
- Swim Platforms: Small, on each side, with a narrow walkway across the back
“It does look a little narrow, might be a little hard to traverse it, but if you need to get over there, you can.”
Cockpit Arrangement And Equipment
- Transom Bench: 6 feet long, with generous padding, a good backrest height and a cup holder
- Rod Holders: Eight along the transom, plus six on each side of the T-top
- Livewell: Under the transom bench, with storage
- Fish Boxes: In the deck, port and starboard, 43 inches long
“They’re 43 inches in length, which is good enough for most of your sport fish, but if you get into the little bigger fish, they may not quite fit in there.”
- Table: Sets up on twin pedestals for cockpit dining
- Gunwale Trays: Wide, with trays
- Bolsters: For fighting fish
- Washdown: Freshwater hose
- Workstation: Aft of the helm seats, with a sink, a drained compartment for a cooler or storage, and three more storage compartments below
- T-Top: LED lighting, two Fusion speakers and space for an optional retractable awning
- Fills: Fuel and freshwater fills at the transom
Bow Arrangement
- Side Trays: Many, for small items while dining or fishing
- Sun Pad: With a removable center cushion that opens a hatch into the cabin
- Audio: Two more speaker pods
- Bench Seat: With storage underneath
Interior Spaces
Cabin:
- Entry: Companionway alongside the helm
- Climate: Very cool and comfortable on a hot day
- V-Berth: 5 feet, 9 inches wide by 6 feet, 6 inches long, with 46 inches of overhead
- Ventilation: Overhead hatch
- Storage: Small side cubbies and a counter with storage underneath
- Power: Switching and dual USBs
- Mid-Berth: Under the helm, 6 feet, 2 inches by 30 inches, with about 22 inches of overhead
Head:
- Type: Wet head
- Headroom: About 6 feet, 4 inches
- Fixtures: Toilet, sink and counter with two storage cabinets
- Shower: Shower fixture and a bidet-style fixture
- Lighting And Ventilation: LED lighting and an opening port
“One thing I would like to see in here is there’s no AC vent.”
Advantages And Disadvantages
Advantages
- Designed to make boating affordable for more boaters
- Handled rough water very well
- Quick, responsive steering that stays on her lines with no prop slippage
- Complete 360-degree visibility through a partition-free windshield
- Bow thruster and joystick for easy docking
- Side-entry dive door with a secured swim ladder
- Workstation with a sink and plenty of storage
- Cabin with a V-berth, a mid-berth and a wet head
- EVA foam decking throughout
- Wide gunwales with handy trays
Disadvantages
- No armrests on the helm seats
- No air conditioning vent in the head
- 43-inch fish boxes may not fit bigger fish
- Narrow swim platform walkway
- 1.4 mpg at best cruise
- Retractable awning is optional
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