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Pursuit DC 265 Review

The 265 is a great boat for fishing a half-day offshore; then come in and play/cruise for the rest of the day.
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Everything in life today seems like a blend or compromise. Such is the case with Pursuit’s newest model, the DC 265.

Pursuit – the Slikkers family’s line of dedicated fishing boats – wanted to offer families the ability to fish hard and even travel a bit far afield, but also allow them to engage in other water sports as well. Hence, the 26foot dual console.

A friend of mine just took his three children and wife to Bimini, Bahamas, from Fort Pierce, Florida, for a weekend on this boat. They fished, snorkeled and had a great time. And yes, they made it home across the great Gulf Stream perfectly safely.

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Performance 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 threefoot 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.

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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.

Interestingly, with the enclosure and hardtop, I felt equally comfortable driving seated or standing – a rare quality among dual consoles!

Fishing

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The standard-equipment list cites one rod holder in each gunwale and two more under the starboard gunwale, the latter accommodating short, stand-up rods only. Those choosing the hardtop can mount holders along the trailing edge. In the transom, a fish box on centerline abuts a sky-blue baitwell outboard to port.

Bottomfishermen will appreciate the large anchor locker in the bow with a through-stem anchor, a roller and windlass. If you prefer manual deployment, the anchor hatch has a notch for the line, so you needn’t leave it open while on the hook. Though anglers need to negotiate the helm seat/module and passenger seating, the cockpit does have bolsters and a foldaway transom seat, making the fighting arena very functional.

Design and Construction Pursuit offers numerous innovations that make boating and fishing easier. I love that you needn’t unsnap any cushions to access the under-seat storage. That also means your cushions won’t fly overboard while under way. Also, all storage boxes drain ­overboard rather than into the bilge.

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For passengers seated forward, Pursuit supplies seatbacks on the aft bulwark as well as bolsters along the gunwale and low-profile rail. In colder or inclement weather, the single-piece door and fold-open windshield close off the forward seating area from the helm and cockpit.

Moving aft, you’ll find the obligatory dual-console head to port with a larger-than-average access door, molded sink and toilet, and a large storage compartment opposite in the helm. A shower by the transom door rinses the salt off after a swim.

The center of the aft-facing companion seat has a cushion with an interesting hinge mechanism that lets you lift it up, exposing an insulated drink box. And in addition to the foldaway transom seat, Pursuit provides an innovative foldaway seat that makes the companion seat into a sunpad/chaise arrangement in the port bulwark.

I’d expect most buyers to opt for the hardtop with its additional rod holders, other fishing accoutrements and enclosure. A tall 360degree nav light fits into a receptacle on the starboard gunwale – right by the transom door. If someone loses his balance and grabs it while cruising at night, well, you get the idea. If you get the hardtop, the light is permanently affixed to its topside. Besides that, the hardtop also serves as a perfect mounting platform for your outriggers.

Pursuit builds the 265 using resin ­infusion to optimize the resin-to-­fiberglass ratio as well as to eliminate any possible voids in the laminate. It makes for a lighter, stronger hull. Even the innovative windshield has a resin-infused frame! The DC 265 represents a dual-console fishing boat that even a serious angler can be proud to run.

LOA……25 ft. 10 in.
Beam……8 ft. 9 in.
Hull draft……1 ft. 9 in.
Deadrise……21 deg.
Weight……5,874 lb. (dry w/ 350 hp OB)
FUEL……150 gal.
MAX HP……350 hp outboard
MSRP……$112,765 (w/ 350 hp Yamaha OB)

Pursuit Boats / Fort Pierce, Florida / 772-465-6006 / www.pursuitboats.com

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