Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 vs Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 or the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004?

For trailering, the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 has the edge at 436 lbs dry weight versus 6 235 lbs for the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 tops out at 400 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 is certified for 4. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 measures 117" wide, compared to 105" for the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 or the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004?

The Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 has the bigger tank at 188 gallons, versus 14 gallons on the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008. That 174-gallon difference translates to roughly 522–870 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 and Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 and the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 are built by Wellcraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 vs Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004

Wellcraft

Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008

2008

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Wellcraft

Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 vs Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 vs Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 500 hp, the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 has a 100-hp advantage over the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008's 400-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 carries 188 gallons versus 14 gallons in the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeWellcraft

Model252 Coastal

Model270 O/B

Model Year2008

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 9 in. (2.66 m)

Beam9 ft. 9 in

Beam - Meters2.67

Beam - Meters2.97

Beam - Inches105

Beam - Inches117

Bridge clearance - DetailWithout top: 6 ft. 0 in. (1.83 m) With bimini top: 8 ft. 0 in. (2.43 m) With hardtop: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.49

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches98

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise20℃

Deadrise21℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail16 in. (0.4 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail19 in. apx

Draft [drive up] meters0.41

Draft [drive up] meters0.48

Draft [drive up] inches16

Draft [drive up] inches19

Draft [max] - Detail29.5 in. (0.75 m)

Draft [max] - Detail34 in. apx

Draft [max] - Meters0.76

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inches29.5

Draft [max] - Inches34

Weight - Detail4,360 lbs. (1,978 kg)

Weight - Detail6,235 lbs. apx

Weight - kg1977.66

Weight - kg2828.15

Weight - lbs.436

Weight - lbs.6235

Length - Meters7.42

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet24

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 4 in. (7.42 m)

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 1 in. with pulpit

Length overall - Meters7.42

Length overall - Meters8.56

Length overall - Inches292

Length overall - Inches337

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailBridge clearance without top 7 ft. 1 in. Bridge clearance with hardtop 9 ft. 1 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.77

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches109

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail140 gal. (530 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail188 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters529.96

Fuel tank capacity - Liters711.66

Fuel tank capacity - Gal14

Fuel tank capacity - Gal188

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max400 hp (298 kW)

Engine max500 HP at prop

Operational Info

Water capacity9 gal. (34 l)

Water capacity27 gal

Headroomnot available

Headroom6 ft. 4 in

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum peopleSleeping capacity 4 Persons

Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 vs Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 or the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004?

For trailering, the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 has the edge at 436 lbs dry weight versus 6 235 lbs for the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 is rated to a maximum of 500 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 tops out at 400 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 is certified for 4. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 measures 117" wide, compared to 105" for the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 or the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004?

The Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 has the bigger tank at 188 gallons, versus 14 gallons on the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008. That 174-gallon difference translates to roughly 522–870 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 and Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 and the Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 are built by Wellcraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Wellcraft 252 Coastal 2008 full specs ← Wellcraft 270 O/B 2004 full specs