Pursuit has never been a slouch when it comes to high-quality fishing boats. However, with the advent of the company’s largest boat to date, Pursuit has upped the ante considerably in the elegance arena.
Performance
I don’t know what it is – perhaps global warming or just pure dumb bad luck – but every boat test I’ve done on Florida’s east coast this year has proffered the same undesirable conditions: wind against tide with a stiff easterly breeze and seas running 3 to 4 feet, close together. When I ran out through the historically dangerous Fort Pierce Inlet in the Pursuit 375, I nonetheless managed to cruise along at 25 mph with impunity. And with Pursuit’s engineers and marketing director aboard, I didn’t dare abuse their new baby.
Outside the inlet, in somewhat smoother seas, I cranked in a wheel-hard-over turn (much to the chagrin of that marketing director) at 35 mph, and the 375 leaned into it, bled speed rapidly and reversed course in under two boat lengths – most impressive.
The Yamaha electronic throttle and shift are very responsive as is the standard power-assist steering; the one-button switch makes it quick and easy to select which of your three engines you want “in the loop.” Again, I’d personally disconnect the three individual engine trim switches on the throttle binnacle and replace them with remote switches on the dash so that the palm of my hand didn’t inadvertently mis-trim the drives.
In the calm of the Intracoastal, I managed a top speed of almost 54 mph at 6,100 rpm, while the triple Yamaha 350 hp V-8s gulped 103 gph for a scant 0.52 mpg. Fortunately, people don’t run at top speed very often. Though technically the optimum cruising speed is 28.7 mph at 3,500 rpm (31 gph), you can bump that up to a more acceptable 34 mph at 4,000 rpm burning 37 gph and get only 1/100 mpg less than at optimum cruise.
Fishing
I happened to bring a fly rod with me, and just offshore we spotted a mammoth tripletail. Drifting in neutral, beam-to the 4-foot seas, I had absolutely no problem keeping my balance on the bow while casting – a testament to this boat’s stability. Additionally, the 375’s very wide walkway eliminates any problem walking forward with a rod in hand. Between the superb handholds and the very wide side deck, you can feel totally secure moving to the bow to fight a fish.
Had I boated the tripletail, we would have been ready thanks to a 300-quart insulated refrigerator/freezer transom fish box with the coils on the outside. This box actually turns seawater into icy slush. I know of no better way to preserve fish than that.
Other standard fishing features worth noting include a 50-gallon livewell with baby-blue interior and the high performance SS Cyclone livewell pump and bronze strainer, plenty of rod holders and tackle boxes, plus the reinforcement required for outriggers and a fighting chair. Pursuit also installs twin 68-gallon heavily insulated in-deck fish boxes.
The 375 OS (for offshore) also boasts an amazingly well-designed tackle station in the centerline cockpit module.
The cockpit corners hide freshwater and saltwater washdowns, plus you get a hot and cold freshwater shower by the transom door. And kudos to Pursuit for its water-deployable swim ladder hidden beneath a fiberglass cover on the transom.
Design and Construction
Without sacrificing any of Pursuit’s signature fishing ability, the company has escalated the yacht qualities. For example, the company integrated the windshield into the handsome custom hardtop for a seamless connection requiring no canvas extension to mate the two parts. You’ll never get spray intruding at the helm, yet it still allows ventilation via the opening center window.
Out on deck, the integral pulpit with its standard anchor roller and windlass even has a freshwater washdown in the anchor locker – a feature rarely seen on boats this size. In addition to expansive, comfortable seating around the helm, Pursuit has unique foldaway transom seats that raise the backrest to the proper height when the seat deploys, rather than having it too low and uncomfortable underway.
The aft-facing seatback on the L-shaped guest settee on bridge deck lets your guests lounge or your mate watch the trolling spread in sybaritic comfort. Oh, and in addition to the refrigerated transom fish box, another thermostat-controlled refrigerator/freezer in the forward cockpit module handles drinks or bait.
You can find impressive attention to detail even on the back of the electrical distribution panel. Open the face and you’ll find the names of the circuits printed on the backside as well, making troubleshooting and tracing a breeze. The designer lighting below is truly beautiful, and now, Pursuit uses only LEDs for cool burning and long life.
Our test boat came unbelievably well equipped, yet it only had three options: six rod holders across the transom, outriggers and a colored hull. And you’ll be surprised at how short the options list is on this boat. You can also order a factory-installed Raymarine electronics suite if you wish. Of course, your choice of engines constitutes an option, I suppose.
LOA…….39 ft. 2 in.
BEAM…….13 ft.
HULL DRAFT…….2 ft. 1 in.
DEADRISE…….18 deg.
WEIGHT…….18,400 lb. (w/ triple 350 hp OB)
FUEL…….370 gal.
MAX HP…….Triple 350 hp OB
MSRP…….$444,345 (w/ twin 350 hp OB)
_Pursuit Boats / Fort Pierce, Florida / 772-465-6006 / _www.pursuitboats.com
