As I walked down the dock and got my first glimpse of the new Pursuit S 280 Sport, I heard a voice: “Fish me, fish me” resonated in my head. Stepping aboard, the voice bellowed, “Fish Me!” Taking a glimpse around, now I understood. The Pursuit S 280 is a boat designed and built to fish, and that’s what it wants to do. Cruising is its other forte, as you will discover.
The latest edition to Pursuit’s Sport Series and the little sister to Pursuit’s S 310 may start a case of sibling rivalry, as the S 280 can mix it up on the fishing grounds with larger boats.
If you want a big livewell, it’s here and if you dream about a forward casting area, no problem. It also has dual in-deck fishboxes, included. If you want to get to the fish fast and have a stable platform underfoot, then you need to pay attention. But don’t let the size fool you. Pursuit packs more features in this 28-foot center console-styled fishing machine than you would think possible.
Along with standard features such as a command console with an integral teak-lined footrest, a custom extended fiberglass hardtop supported by a structurally sound powder-coated aluminum frame and an enclosed compartment with freshwater sink, a manual head and 20- gallon holding tank, the fishing features will have you doing a double-take.
Under the gunwale and forward you’ll find locker rod storage with padded reel protectors (a nice little feature), a tackle center with three slide-out removable trays, a bait prep station complete with molded rigging cutouts and a sink with a freshwater sprayer hose. Twin in-deck, insulated fishboxes (29 gallons each) with pumpout macerators will keep your catch, and the four stainless steel gunwale holders will keep your fishing rods. A locker under the helm seat is large enough for several stacked 5- gallon buckets, and five lure tubes are mounted in a plastic holder on another locker door. Opt for the 45- gallon insulated, recirculating Oceana Blue livewell with a hinged and piston-assisted clear cover (the cover stays open, freeing your hands to reach for bait), and you have everything you need for fishing, except the fish.
Outriggers can easily be added thanks to the beefy aluminum mounting plates built into the underside of the gunwale structure. You can fish from just about anywhere on the S 280. The cockpit has ample padded coaming bolsters around the gunwales and also a leaning post on the aft of the helm seat.
A fish can be worked around the boat, but may be a little tricky around the aforementioned hardtop frame as it mounts to the gunwale and not the console. This configuration does offer more shade and sun protection, so the trade-off may be worth it.
Just forward is the optional bow casting platform, which is a one-piece molded fiberglass deck that sits flush between the forward seats. It converts the forward seating area to a clean casting/baiting/fish-fighting deck. Cool idea for the serious fisherman. It’s hinged to allow access to the deck storage. When out for a cruise, toss on the fitted sunpad for room to relax and soak up the rays or remove the deck entirely to allow for forward seating.
Speaking of cruising, the S 280 packs in a few surprises here, also. Foldout padded bench seats in the cockpit are cleverly hidden out of the way when closed. Pop them open and they offer generous seating areas.
The helm accommodates two, either standup against large bolsters or on padded seats with backs and armrests when the bolsters are folded down. Seating is adjustable fore and aft for optimum comfort.
The Command Console has everything at your fingertips in a clean setup. Our test boat has a Raymarine E120 electronics package with one display, but the dash can easily house a second E120 display. Digital engine tach, speed and fuel displays fit in the dash also, all just above a row of rocker switches for lights, horn, bilge pumps, wipers and such.
In the overhead console there’s a lockable compartment that takes up about two-thirds of the space, with the other side space usable for electronics, perhaps a VHF radio. The hardtop includes a canvas storage pouch, six LED tricolor lights, four molded speaker mounts (with Clarion stereo and CD player) and spreader lights fore and aft.
Thankfully, there’s a tempered glass windshield that curves around the dash as it gives you a spot to duck behind once you get the S 280 screaming across the water.
Firing up the twin Yamaha 250 electronic outboards and motoring out of the marina, my test captain, Eric Hess of Pursuit Boats, opened it up. Let me tell you, using a word like “exhilarating” would be an understatement. A check of the speed log had us cooking along at 52 mph, at around 5600 rpm, burning 45 gallons per hour.
I had a turn at the wheel, running over the 2-foot chop at breakneck speed. Whitecaps streaked by in a blur, but I felt in command the entire time, thanks to the Teleflex hydraulic steering, with an adjustable 14.5-inch comfort-grip stainless wheel and speed knob. In part, that commanding feeling is because it takes almost eight revolutions of the wheel to go from click-to-click. This way, at high speeds, a sudden jerk of the wheel doesn’t send the boat careening off course. It’s good to know the S 280 has the speed to run for cover and the ability to do it in adverse offshore conditions, if necessary.
There are grabrails in all the right places and diamond-pattern nonskid decking will help keep passengers in a vertical posture, not flopping all over. The generous bow flare keeps the sea outside the boat by pushing it away from the hull, resulting in a dry ride at most any speed. Backing was true to the direction the outboards were turned, with the bow following very close to the track and virtually no backwash over the transom into the cockpit.
The hull shape offers a fast but stable platform. Hess took me back to the factory after our sea trial for an underside look (see sidebar for the Pursuit building process). This deep- V with a 24-degree deadrise and reverse chines has the right stuff for biting into the water while staying on track and not skipping. Recessed trim tabs help to keep the running surface clean. Two lifting strakes that run from the bow to about halfway back help to get this speed demon up and out of the water.
Adding to its slightly raised sheerline and low-profile bowrail that produces a fast-looking style is a through-hull bow roller with an anti-chafing chute that keeps the anchor just below the sheer and not dangling off the end of a davit from the bow. It’s also one less thing to snag a fishing line or cast net.
Electrically speaking, the S 280 takes 110v/60 cycle shore power mainly for the 20 amp battery charger. Most everything runs off 12 volts, supplied from three batteries. Below the nonskid deck in the aft section is a mechanical area that contains the batteries and bilge pumps, water pumps, fuel filters, baitwell strainer and through-hull connection. Convenient that it’s all together in one area.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the niceties, such as the molded 140- quart cooler under the forward seat complete with cushion and backrest, an Isotherm stainless steel drawer refrigerator, two 12v receptacles at the helm with an MP3/iPod jack, six 8- inch flush pull-up cleats, saltwater washdown, 20-gallon freshwater system, front and side helm curtains, split bow seating and a boarding ladder.
You’ll be hooked on the new Pursuit S 280 Sport before you even set the hook on a fish. And listen to those voices: Sometimes they know what’s best.
This article first appeared in the November 2009 issue of SEA Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
