The DC 325 dual console combines central utility, a starboard side helm center and tremendous seating functionality into an elegantly styled boat. The DC 325 features an open bow design with full wrap-around seating and plenty of storage. The fully integrated fiberglass hardtop with visor is engineered with a tempered glass windshield system, composite frame forward and bonded to the fiberglass hardtop. Port and starboard glass is fixed in a white, powder-coated aluminum frame complete with recessed enclosure track. The port side wrap-around lounge, double-wide helm seat, cockpit seating and forward bow seating offer plenty of available spaces to satisfy everyone's favorite spots to ride along or run the DC 325.

Pursuit DC 325 Review
The new Pursuit DC 325 does it all
By Jim Hendricks
Updated: September 6, 2014

The Fish Trial**** of Pursuit’s new DC 325 in early June 2014 proved to be one of my most unusual boat tests in more ways than one. On a windless, sultry day, the Atlantic Ocean off Fort Pierce, Florida, laid peaceful — a welcome respite from the usual lumpy, wind-blown conditions I had experienced on all my previous boat tests this year.

This trip marked the first time I’d fished offshore from a dual-console boat. It was also a first for David Glenn, marketing director for S2 Yachts (parent company of Pursuit Boats), and his best friend, Sonny Hendrix, who joined us for a day of dolphin fishing.

Before heading offshore, we rendezvoused with a local bait boat near the Fort Pierce Marina to load the DC 325’s 25-gallon covered livewell — on the transom bulkhead’s port side — with 50 pilchards, in case we wanted to cast baits to dolphin or other fish.

The Pursuit cruised out at 32 mph, powered by a pair of counterrotating Yamaha F300 four-stroke outboards, which were turning 4,000 rpm. The DC 325 features an infused, fiberglass structural-grid -construction system, a factor I could sense in the quiet -confidence of the hull.

When not driving from the plush captain’s chair, my favorite seat was the aft portion of the lounger on the port side opposite the helm. It features fold-down armrests and a backrest that’s angled perfectly when facing forward.

I tried the wraparound bow loungers (each with fold-down armrests), the aft-facing cockpit seat on the port side, and the fold-out and one on the port side) in the cockpit. There’s not a bad seat on the boat.

How Does It Fish?

Let’s cut to the key question: How well does this dual-console fish? I learned that the DC 325 fishes every bit as well as an express sport-fisher of similar size.

Many anglers have tried to compare dual-console boats to center-console boats, quickly pointing out that you can’t fight a fish down the side. Yet, that’s not really a fair comparison.
A dual-console is more akin to an express sport-fisher but with an open bow. You can’t fight a fish down the side of most express models, but that has not dampened desire among anglers for that type of boat.

“This boat was designed for -families who want to do a lot of things on the water, including day cruising, diving, entertaining and, yes, fishing,” says Glenn.

Setting Out a Spread

We found a color break about 13 miles offshore in about 80 feet of water, so Glenn decided to put out a trolling spread, using the optional Rupp Revolution 18-foot outriggers built into the integral hardtop. He set a medium-length trolling line to starboard, and to port a “county line.” (“It’s so far back, it’s in the next county,” he explained with a chuckle.) He also ran two daisy-chain squid rigs as teasers ahead of rigged ballyhoo (which we kept in the covered bait compartment in the center of the transom).

The DC 325, which features a completely new running surface, laid down a relatively flat wake with clean trolling lanes at 1,400 rpm. One of the twin Raymarine e125 Hybrid-Touch multifunction displays indicated a speed over ground of 5 to 6 mph. The optional Raymarine electronics package includes a CP300 sounder module, 55 VHF radio and one e125 display. The second display, Raymarine 4 kW high-definition color radar with a dome antenna, and the autopilot on our boat were add-ons.

It didn’t take long to find fish; the county line got bit first. A dolphin went airborne. Hendrix slowed down slightly but kept the boat moving — a critical factor when fighting any sizable fish from a dual-console. I picked up the rod as Glenn cleared the lines and instructed me. “We’re going to keep the boat moving, and once the fish has tired, I want you to bring it along the starboard side of the cockpit where I can gaff it,” he said.

That’s exactly how it played out. After a few photos, we iced the 15-pound cow dolphin in the starboard in-sole fish locker — one of two 36-gallon insulated fish boxes under the cockpit deck. We cleaned up the diamond nonskid deck with the raw-water washdown system (there’s also a freshwater shower head in the cockpit on a retractable hose) and started fishing again.

Unique Transom Design

While re-deploying one of the teaser lines, I noted that the swim steps on either side of the integral outboard bracket extended farther aft than most — nearly to the back of the outboard cowlings.

This allows you to step farther back (via a transom door in the starboard corner) to wrangle a hooked fish around the outboards. For the future, Pursuit plans to equip the exterior transom bulkhead with a step-across so you can move easily from one platform to another. The starboard swim step also has a pull-out Garelick boarding adder for climbing back aboard after taking a dip.

The DC 325 comes standard with a rod holder in each gunwale, with an option for three more — one additional rod holder in each gunwale and one in the center of the transom. There is also an undergunwale horizontal rod rack on the starboard side. In addition, you’ll find lockable storage for four rods inside the port console.

Where you might expect to see rod holders along the aft edge of the hardtop, this boat features a retractable electric sunshade. Once deployed from inside the hardtop, it offers shade for the cockpit.

Dolphin Central

Within five minutes of resetting the lines, we were bit. This time, other dolphin followed as Hendrix fought the hooked fish to the boat. I grabbed a spinning rod, pinned on a pilchard from the transom livewell, and cast to a “shadow fish,” and we quickly had a double.

To keep the boat moving slowly forward while we dealt with the fish, we engaged the Raymarine autopilot, which was interfaced with the optional Yamaha Helm Master system.

The fact that we were able to fight and land two active dolphin from the cockpit of a dual-console serves as strong testament to the prowess of these boats as fishing machines. Adding to the comfort of the experience were coaming bolsters that rimmed the cockpit (except the transom door).

With a box full of iced mahi, we decided to pull in the lines and head farther offshore to look for wahoo. To shield the helm deck from wind blast, the DC 325’s -wraparound windshield reaches all the way to the hardtop. You can completely shield crew by closing the center section of the windshield, but it also has a visor you can open at the top for a bit of ventilation. There’s also a door to close off the walk-through.

Creature Comforts

We took advantage of the downtime to grab some cold drinks and deli sandwiches from the built-in cooler under the portside aft-facing seat in the cockpit. The seas were so flat, we could have used the galley on the starboard side abaft the captain’s chair, which featured an optional 120-volt electric grill, to cook up some burgers. It also has a small Isotherm refrigerator/freezer. To power both, our DC 325 was equipped with an optional 4.2 kW Fischer Panda diesel generator, as well as a standard shore-power system.

The DC 325 features a cozy berth within the port console. This is in addition to an enclosed head with a vacuum-flush toilet, shower, and vanity with a Corian countertop in the -starboard console. Our boat also featured two optional air-conditioning systems — one for the cabin areas inside the twin consoles and the other for the helm deck.

In an innovative touch, the -companionway to each console compartment features a dual-action doorway in which the overhead hatch slides out of the way as you swing open the door. No more banging your head if you forget to open the overhead hatch.

Speaking of innovation, I really like the windlass setup. Like many boats today, the anchor is deployed and retrieved through a slot in the stem below the forepeak. The windlass is a Lewmar Pro Series model, but with this system, the anchor line feeds under a special roller that maintains tension, helping the gypsy keep a secure bite.

Unfortunately, the wahoo proved scarce, so we reeled in the lines and took advantage of the calm sea conditions to gather performance data while offshore. Though carrying 250 gallons of gasoline, 30 gallons of fresh water, live bait, ice, drinks, food, fish and three adult males, the twin F300s pushed the DC 325 to an impressive top speed 49.4 mph. Our best mpg of 1.27 at 4,000 rpm and 32.4 mph means this boat offers a range of more than 380 miles with the 300-gallon fuel capacity.

That kind of range is sure to please anyone who takes delivery of the new Pursuit DC 325. With the comfort and versatility of this boat, most crews will want to stay out on the water for a long time, particularly after they learn how well this dual-console can fish.

PERFORMANCE

POWER: Twin Yamaha F300 outboards

LOAD: 250 gallons of fuel, three adults, fishing gear, ice, full livewell, 30 gallons of fresh water

TOP SPEED: 49.4 mph* @ 5,800 rpm

TIME TO 30 MPH: 10.9 sec.*

BEST MPG 1.27 @ 32.4 mph (4,000 rpm)

* On Yamaha performance tests and with a lighter load, the DC 325 topped out at 51 mph and reached 30 mph in 9.6 seconds.

HULL

LOA: 34 ft. 6 in.

BEAM: 10 ft. 10 in.

DEADRISE: 20 deg.

WEIGHT: 11,775 lb. (dry w/ engines)

DRAFT: 32 in. (motors down); 22 in. (motors up)

FUE:L 300 gal.

MAX POWER: 600 hp

When it comes to boating, I’m afflicted with a split personality, consisting of half obsessive angler and half family day cruiser. I suspect I’m not alone.

Perhaps this is the reason for the popularity of dual-console boats such as Pursuit’s new DC 325. The Yamaha outboard-powered model features a newly designed deep-V hull with a resin-infused fiberglass structural-grid construction system. With beaucoup seating, this supersize dual-console ranks as an ultimate day cruiser. Yet it also has a livewell, rod holders and fish boxes.

My laid-back side took hold as I settled into the wide captain’s chair with fold-down armrests and a flip-up bolster. Nice, but so is the aft portion of the lounger on the port side, with fold-down armrests and a backrest angled comfortably when facing forward. You can also face aft on the same lounger. Bow loungers (each with fold-down armrests) are surrounded by high freeboard for security when kids ride up front.

In the aft cockpit, there’s an aft-facing seat on the port side and two fold-out bench seats (one across the transom and another one on the port side). Coaming bolsters rim the aft cockpit (except the transom door).

The port and starboard swim platforms extend far astern — nearly to the back of the outboard cowlings. This allows you to step farther back (via the starboard transom door) to take a dip or work a hooked fish around the outboards. The starboard platform also has a pull-out Garelick boarding ladder.

The DC 325 comes standard with a rod holder in each gunwale, with an option for three more — one additional rod holder in each gunwale and one in the center of the transom. There is also an under-gunwale horizontal rack for rods, gaffs, boathooks and brushes on the starboard side, and lockable storage for four rods inside the port console.

The hardtop on our test boat featured a retractable electric sunshade. Once deployed from inside the hardtop, this option ($14,860) extends the shade of the hardtop aft over the cockpit, a feature the laid-back half of me appreciated.

Our DC 325 had twin Raymarine e125 HybridTouch multifunction displays, a CP300 sounder module, a Raymarine 4 kW high-definition color radar with a dome antenna, an autopilot, and a 55-channel VHF radio. The Raymarine autopilot was interfaced with the optional Yamaha Helm Master system ($20,530), with a special gateway for seamless steering control of the twin outboards.

While Pursuit had offered electronics packages as factory options in the past, the company now leaves all electronics installations to the dealer and customer.

When we punched the throttles, the DC 325 climbed to 30 mph in 10.9 seconds. At wide-open throttle, the twin Yamaha F300s pushed the DC 325 to an impressive top speed of 49.4 mph, while carrying 250 gallons of gasoline, 30 gallons of fresh water, ice, drinks, food and three adults.

No matter what direction we ran, the DC 325 offered a smooth and pleasing ride, though I can’t say we found anything approaching rough seas. Handling proved superb. She banked predictably into hard turns without any sliding or tripping.

To shield us from wind blast, we closed the walk-through portion of the tinted wraparound windshield, which reaches all the way to the leading edge of the hardtop. To circulate a bit of fresh air, you can open a visor at the top of the center panel. To completely close off the bridge deck, there are doors for the lower portion of the walk-through. These recess in both sides of the walk-through when not in use.

You can ice drinks and sandwiches in the built-in cooler under the portside aft-facing seat in the cockpit. Order the DC 325 with the cruising option ($30,210), and you can cook on a 120-volt electric grill in a galley module abaft the captain’s chair. This package also includes a small Isotherm refrigerator/freezer, two air-conditioning systems (for the bridge deck and two cabins) and a 4.2 kW Fischer Panda diesel generator.

The DC 325 offers a cozy berth within the port console. In the starboard console, we discovered an enclosed head appointed with a vacuum-flush toilet, a shower and a vanity with a Corian countertop.

The companionway to each console compartment features a dual-action doorway in which the overhead hatch slides out of the way as you swing open the door. I’ve banged my head on overhead hatches enough to appreciate this engineering feat.

Looking for a comparison? The Grady-White Freedom 335 ($406,190 with twin Yamaha F350 outboards) is a popular dual-console that rivals the Pursuit DC 325 in features, performance and handling. It’s 9 inches wider but a foot shorter than the DC 325.

Whether you choose to swim, dive, cruise, raft up or fish, Pursuit’s DC 325 is up to the task. It represents one of the few boats that satisfy both sides of my split personality.

Comparable model: Grady-White Freedom 335

LOA: 34’6″
Beam: 10’10”
Draft (motors down): 2’8″
Displacement: 14,363 lb.
Transom Deadrise: 20 degrees
Bridge Clearance: 8’2″ (to hardtop)
Max Cabin Headroom: 5’0″
Fuel Capacity: 300 gal.
Max Horsepower: 600
Available Power: Twin Yamaha outboards to 600 hp total

Pursuit DC 325: Luxury in a Dual Console
Dual console boats are not the first thing that comes to mind when boaters think of luxury, but on the new Pursuit DC 325, comfort is a standard feature.

By Lenny Rudow, May 3, 2015
The world of dual console boats has changed radically in the past decade or so, and the new Pursuit DC 325 is a perfect example of how. We already knew that DC boats were flexible, and could be used for everything from fishing to watersports to day-cruising. But then they got big—really big—with 30’-plus models hitting the water from numerous manufacturers. Now along comes the DC 325, which not only takes advantage of the extra acreage, but also brings a few yacht-like touches into the mix. End result? You get a day-boat that maintains that DC versatility, yet is a whole lot more than a day-boat.

On the Pursuit DC 325, smiles abound.
Go Big

The first and most dramatic advantage you get in a DC like this is sheer deck space. Those 20-something dual consoles of yesteryear were maxed-out with four or five passengers onboard, but the DC 325 has seating for at least 10 people. And that’s comfortable seating, no squishing required. The transom bench seat has an adjustable backrest, and it folds out of the way to open up the cockpit for fishing trips. An aft-facing port cockpit seat is good for both cruising, and bait-watching while on the troll. The forward-facing passenger’s seat just in front of it combines with a wrap-around to create a lounge. And, as with most dual console designs, you get a bow cockpit with comfy seating (in this case along with fold-down arm-rests) as well.

Another advantage of all this LOA: it allows Pursuit to enclose the helm deck under a hard top, with a full (fold open) windshield and large side windows. That means the 325 can also serve as an all-weather boat, which is quite a feat for a DC.

Another way Pursuit brings more luxury into the versatility mix is how the cockpit and helm deck are outfitted. Along with the 24 gallon livewell, there’s also a wet-bar with hot/cold water, a sink, trash bin, and cutting board. Besides the cockpit tackle center, there’s also a 12-v stainless-steel refrigerator. And aside from getting stainless-steel gunwale-mounted rodholders, you also get an entertainment center with seven speakers, a sub-woofer, amplifier, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Of course, lots of large DC’s that boast gobs of seating and multiple value-adding features are on the water today. What makes this one different can be seen in the details. All of those seats, for example, are filled with dri-fast foam and are backed with mesh so they can drain. The stowage compartments beneath them are insulated. And the hatches are both gasketed and guttered to drain overboard. On top of that, the detail work is flawless. When I climbed through the 325 I did my best to find a snafu in the finish to criticize, but it simply didn’t exist.

Of course, no one boat is perfect in all ways. The one knock I’d make about the 325’s topsides can be said of virtually any dual console boat: if you’re a hard-core angler, between the hard top, pipework, and consoles, you can’t work a rod 360-degrees around the boat. And on the flip-side, if you’re a day-boater who doesn't care to use the livewell or tackle station, these items are a waste of space. Remember: the dual-console design is all about flexibility, not honing down to one specific mission.
Go Below

Another plus of owning a big DC is that these days, it means you get a cabin. Well, actually two cabins, in this case. The passenger’s side console houses a surprisingly large berth, plus a rod-rack for four rods. Again, note the attention to detail down here. Pursuit adds a cushioned strip on the end of the rack where the reels go, so they don’t bang and rattle against fiberglass when you’re charging through three-footers. That’s a rare and much-appreciated touch.

In the starboard-side console you’ll find a fully-enclosed head with a vacuum-flush commode, a sink, and a pull-out shower. There’s also a Corian countertop, hangers for wet gear, and a vanity mirror. If you want to make these cabins even more luxurious, add the optional 6,000 BTU air conditioning with reverse-cycle heat. And if you want to make the entire boat more luxurious, perhaps to the point of excess, get the 12,000 BTU system that sends cool breezes through the whole bridgedeck.
Performance Data
Performance data courtesy of Pursuit.
RPM MPH GPH MPG
1000 6.6 2.6 2.5
2000 10.1 7.2 1.4
3000 16.1 13.5 1.2
4000 33.8 24.5 1.4
5000 43.7 39.4 1.1
5800 51.0 52.5 1.0
Power Twin Yamaha F300 four-stroke outboards, swinging 15.25" X 18" three-bladed stainless-steel props.

Go Faster

If you’re familiar with Pursuit boats, it won’t come as a shock that the DC 325 performs as good as it looks. With a pair of Yamaha 4.2 liter V6 F300 outboards providing the power the boat cruises in the mid to upper 30’s, and with the throttles firewalled, hits a hat-stripping 51 MPH. Throughout the upper RPM range it gets between one and 1.4 miles to the gallon; that’s not eyebrow-raising efficiency, but is in line with the competition. And note that with a whopping 300 gallons of fuel capacity, you have an effective range of over 300 miles at cruising speeds—that’ll more than do the trick whether you’d like to run to the canyons for tuna fishing, or run across the bay for lunch.

Whatever purpose you’re putting the DC 325 to, the boat has one more feature that’s both unique and handy. We looked this boat over while judging the NMMA Innovations awards at the Miami boat show—and yes, it was a serious contender—and boarded from the stern. As each judge walked onto the transom, we first stepped onto swim platform wings that extend way back, beyond the outboards. They not only make aft boarding easier, but also allow better access under the outboard’s cowl while away from the dock. Smart money says this is a feature that other builders will come to mimic.

You want luxury? You’ve got it. You want perfect detailing? Present and accounted for. You like fishing? No problem. You want a boat that has that extra something special? Then you need to check out the Pursuit DC 325.
Specifications
Length 34'6"
Beam 10'10"
Draft (hull) 1'10"
Deadrise 20 degrees
Displacement 11,775 lbs
Fuel capacity 300 gal.
Water capacity 30 gal.

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

Joystick Control