- 56 Scranton Ave
- Falmouth, MA 02540
- 774.228.0454
This Pursuit DC 265 has spent the majority of its life inside dry storage, and its pristine condition shows.
New Garmin MFD
New Battery Charger
Full Boat Covers
Recent Yamaha Service
The Pursuit 265 DC has certainly taken a different path in delivering a fun all-rounder in a useful fishing platform. Its design recognizes that a boat can have more than one intention and the comfortable bow seating will go a long way to supporting recreational activities for the entire family. At the same time, it’s a well-engineered and very capable sea boat with a big range and inherent safety for heading offshore.
A Delta Fast-Set plough anchor is recessed neatly below the bow of the Pursuit DC 265, so with a Lewmar winch under a wide hatch it leaves the forepeak as a large, flat and non-skid boarding step.
Each bow lounger lifts back on sturdy piano hinges to reveal large, drained storage hatches either side – I liked the way their friction stops allow them to stay open when loading them up. Occupants get grabhandles, cupholders, and a set of speakers from a Clarion sound system with the head unit in the passenger glove box.
A lounge at the transom leaves space to starboard for a walkway and both it and a portside lounge fold out of the way for fishing. This leaves plenty of room to move around freely in the cockpit, although I imagine a bias for fishing on the starboard side. Not only is it completely uncluttered, it makes more sense to be playing big fish where the skipper can keep an eye on the action.
Padded coamings around the cockpit support the angling bias of the boat and there are rod racks along the starboard side, rod and cup holders on the side-decks, and a four-slot rocket launcher built into the hardtop.
The transom is all serious fishing too. To port is a plumbed 72lt livebait tank lined in blue, while a 117lt fishbox with macerator sits centre stage with another metre-long storage box in the floor to handle a bigger catch. A fresh and raw water washdown will keep the deck clean, with most of the muck draining overboard through the corner scuppers of the self-draining deck.
Looking through the spec sheet leaves the indelible impression that this is a serious fishing boat – with giant killtank, rocket launchers, plumbed bait tank, and although not shown in the photos, even Rupp Revolution Top Gun aluminium outriggers. But as soon as you board there’s a level of fit and comfort that belies its predatory nature.
To explain the dual console classification, the passenger and driver each have impeccably moulded consoles ahead of them, leaving a central walkthrough to a roomy bow where deeply padded lounges echo the soft feel under the bum of the transom and side lounges in the cockpit.
Adding to the comfort of the crew is a sink and shower with freshwater, a decent-sized head and that hardtop to keep the sun at bay.
Despite all the fishing oriented inclusions, Pursuit describes the DC 265 as its family fun and casual fishing model, so it fits the crossover style and would be equally at home entertaining guests as pulling big fish over the side.
A tall, toughened glass Taylor Made windscreen wraps around the helm and combines with clears connected to the hardtop to enclose the helm to the front and sides. It makes a roomy space that’s well protected from the elements and at 2m high has ample headroom. Vision all around is excellent and panels of clears are easily removed for unlimited fresh air.
A single moulding to starboard supports back-to-back seating and a central section that includes a brace for the hardtop and a couple of cupholders. The fixed-position co-pilot’s chair sits atop a pair of slide-out storage drawers and the rear-facing seat is great for keeping an eye on lures or water toys and opens to a large icebox.
Ahead of the co-pilot, a side-opening door leads down to the head where an electric toilet is connected to a holding tank with macerator. It is easy to access and I found adequate room to move and a moulded sink with freshwater.
The helm chair is a comfortable bucket style with bolster on a sturdy pedestal. There is good height adjustment and moulded footrests are well placed to offer support when driving. Behind the helm seat is a moulded bait (or food) preparation table with a sink and removable cutting board. It’s a great addition and crew will appreciate the ability to keep hands clean when handling bait and fish.
Performance- Sport Fishing Magazine
The 265 gets up on plane virtually instantly and feels like it’s riding high – akin to riding in an SUV or pickup rather than a sedan.
The boat scoffed at the wind-against-tide conditions in the Fort Pierce Inlet, which produced two- to three-foot rollers. At prudent speed, it transited the inlet comfortably while keeping the passengers dry. The optional power-assist steering made quick adjustments a breeze.
Riding the smoother troughs offshore, the 265, with a single Yamaha 350, topped out at 49.6 mph, turning 6,000 rpm and burning 34.3 gph. Best cruise comes in around 26.9 mph (3,500 rpm) while using 11.2 gph for efficiency on the order of 2.37 mpg. That’s a range of 320 miles, figuring 90 percent fuel capacity.
Drifting beam-to the seas, the 265 showed a moderate roll moment but with pretty rapid transitions. Down-sea, the boat tracked perfectly with no hands on the wheel. With the wind at just the right angle and speed, you get a slight bit of torque heel. Cancel it instantly with tab adjustment.
