Pursuit DC 325

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