Pursuit DC 295 (2016-)

Brief Summary

The Pursuit DC 295 conveys a message of superior design, engineering, and construction synonymous with what is to be expected from Pursuit. With an integrated hardtop, crystal-clear tempered glass windshield, convertible seating arrangements, and product specific storage, the DC 295 comes standard with twin Yamaha F250 horsepower 4-stroke engines. The DC 295 provides seating comfort along with a multitude of functions and features, which make it a versatile crossover in the increasingly popular dual console category.

Key Features

• Horizontal anchor windlass with switch at helm and remote
• Integrated transom platforms extensions outboard of engines
• 3 step telescopic boarding ladder mounted in hull platform
• Molded entertainment center with sink, faucet, trash can, drink holders and cutting board
• Lighted Oceana Blue 22 gallon recirculating livewell
• Cockpit tackle center
• Port and starboard insulated fishboxes
• Folding transom seat with patented adjusting backrest
• Molded fiberglass aft tilting helm with instrumentation visor electronics mounting surface
• Configurable storage that accommodates 4 rods, cockpit table and optional bow table, safety gear, 4 SCUBA tanks and/ or wakeboard

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	31’ 9'' / 9.68 m
Beam	9’ 10'' 2.99 m
Dry Weight	9,700 lbs. 4,400 kg
Tested Weight	11,725 lbs. 5,318 kg
Draft Up	1’ 10'' 0.56 m
Draft Down	2’ 10'' 0.86 m
Deadrise/Transom	21-deg.
Max Headroom	open
Bridge Clearance	7’ 10'' 2.39 m
Fuel Capacity	230 gal. 871 L
Water Capacity	30 gal. 114 L
Total Weight	11,725 lbs. 5,318 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	3.8 sec.
0 to 30	9.2 sec.
Ratio	N/A
Props	15 1/4 x 18'' x 3-blade stainless props
Load	3 persons, full fuel, full water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	70 deg., 65 humid.; wind: 15-20 mph; seas: moderate

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 300-hp Yamaha F300
Std. Power	Not Available
Opt. Power	2 x 250-hp Yamaha F250 2 x 300-hp Yamaha F300

Warranty

Deck Warranty Extended	5
Hull Warranty Extended	5

Captain's Report

Overview

The all-new DC 295 is a development of the DC 265, the first dual console offered by Pursuit, and the intermediate model to the DC 325. From its traditional role as a luxury fishing boat manufacturer, Pursuit answered the need for the seating and comfort of a dual console, married with the multifunction of swimming, snorkeling, and the pure pleasure of enjoying a boat, while still keeping its fishing roots alive.
Powered by twin Yamaha F-Series engines, and with an integrated hardtop, crystal-clear tempered glass windshield, convertible seating arrangements, and product specific storage, the DC 295 conveys a message of superior design, engineering, and construction, which has become the standard for Pursuit.

Features Inspection

Family Features.

The Pursuit DC 295 is all about seating, starting with the bow. With folding armrests, there are side by side lounge style seats, which connect forward to form a U-shaped settee. Speakers are integrated within the bulwarks where the cup holders are located, making the bow area inviting and functional. There is a slot for mounting a table and sun pad filler forward, and there are 12 volt DC outlets to charge phones and electronic devices. The starboard seat has a removable section, allowing for more room to move about.

The Bow

In the bow is the deck storage compartment that provides through access back into the console locker on the port side.

The bow can be closed off from the cockpit and console area with a fiberglass door and the windshield, sealing the helm and console from winds at high speeds. However, there is an articulating center glass vent above the windshield for reasonable ventilation. An optional tonneau cover for the bow as well as one for the instrumentation at the helm is available.
The forward table and a sunpad filler cushion are both optional.

Main Cockpit

Moving into the cockpit from the bow, a stainless steel underside grab rail runs the full length of the hardtop, making for a useful safety feature both in a seaway and at speed. This is an important feature we rarely see on boats built in anyplace except Australia.

The Port Console.

Most DC designs on the market have a head compartment to port and a small storage compartment under the helm console to starboard. Pursuit has taken a different approach and one which seems more practical for the missions at hand.
To port is the side by side seat, which sits at the same elevation as the captain's chair, allowing for equal passenger visibility. Access to the console locker lies just forward of the seat. It is lockable and can be entered with ease.

Inside, there is hanging storage for a wake board, fishing gear, life jackets, and an array of water toys. Moving further into the locker accesses the storage space under the bow deck.

The head

is located forward of the helm station. It is fully accessible with an additional unique -- Patent Pending -- feature, offered by Pursuit: As the door opens the overhead slides back in unison, allowing the head to be accessed without crouching. The compartment houses an electric marine toilet, a molded sink with a Corian countertop, and a vanity mirror. The DC 295 has a 10-gallon (38 L) holding tank with a macerator discharge pump.

Seating.

Here is a comfortable seat facing aft.

Wet Bar.

Opposite to starboard is the molded entertainment center with a sink, faucet, cutting board, drink holders and trash can. The model we tested also had an optional electric grill, with controls located below the sink.

More seating

is provided at the transom, with a fold down seat and patented adjustable backrest. A custom molded cockpit table, which has its own dedicated storage, can be mounted into the deck forward of the seat. An optional Mediterranean sun shade, with stanchions, can be stored in the cockpit locker, and when in place, provides shade for the entirety of the cockpit aft of the hardtop. The aft cockpit measures 4'9" in depth and 9' in width.

The family-friendly features of the DC 295 continue into the water, with access to the integrated swim platform through an acrylic transom door. With room to move around the engines, the port and starboard platforms extend to the length of the boat to take advantage of its full length, and in the starboard platform, there is a retractable three-step swim ladder. Once back in the boat, there is a cockpit shower.
Another multifunction feature of the DC 295 is the optional towing pylon, which had been installed on the boat we tested.

Night Lighting.

Sunset brings the DC 295 into a new view, with LED underwater lighting, LED cockpit accent lights, four tri-color LED overhead lights in the hardtop, and spreader lights, which illuminate both the bow and aft cockpit. A Bluetooth compatible stereo system with seven JL speakers, a subwoofer and amplifier, is remotely operated from the helm to ensure entertaining aboard the DC 295 is not at a loss.

Fishing Features

As with any Pursuit, fishing is a priority, and the DC 295 holds true to Pursuit tradition, with four stainless steel rod holders in the gunwale, four on the aft structural hardtop supports, and an optional single center rod holder on the transom. There are port and starboard insulated fish boxes and a lighted Oceana blue 22-gallon (83 L) circulating livewell.

Rod storage

is available both under the gunwale and inside the port console. There is a standard cockpit tackle center under the port console seat that can be optioned out for a refrigerator/freezer. Raw water wash down is standard.

Helm Features

The tempered-glass windshield has a wiper dedicated to the helm station. Operation of the DC 295 is ergonomic from the fore/aft adjustable captain's chair, which has foldable armrests and lies within comfortable reach of the Teleflex tilt sport helm with stainless steel steering wheel. The electronics on the console -- to include engine diagnostics, Garmin multifunction display, and stereo --are all flush-mounted.

Trim tab controls

with indicator lights, electrical switches, and Yamaha joystick are located just below. The throttles are comfortably positioned to the right of the wheel. Below the captain's chair is additional storage for flares, first aid kit, keys, and charts.

Hardtop.

The molded fiberglass hardtop is integrated into the windshield along with 60 mil Strataglass side curtains. Atop is the VHF antenna, masthead light, and radar dome. The hardtop provide 6'5" (1.95 m) of headroom in the cockpit. Mounted on the aft structural supports are the four aforementioned rod holders.
There are four speakers integrated into the hardtop, providing sound to the cockpit along with two Bomar hatches with screens above each console seat for ventilation. The optional Mediterranean sunshade attaches to the trailing edge of the hardtop to its support stanchions on each quarter, along with an optional Sunbrella aft curtain.

Mechanical Room.

Located in the center of the cockpit, the mechanical space is accessed through a hatch where the compartment is readily accessible, containing all filters and pumps within easy reach. The batteries are located beneath the removable well on the starboard side of the transom.
This space is a thing of beauty with gelcoat finished vacuum-infused stringers making the compartment easy to keep clean.

Engines.

The Pursuit DC 295 we tested was equipped with twin Yamaha F300 horsepower engines with electronic link. These engines are an option, up from the F250s, and produced power to run the DC 295 up to 50 miles per hour at 5900 rpm, with three adults on board.

Construction.

The hull of the DC 295 is hand-laminated with vinyl ester resin and has an vacuum resin-infused fiberglass structural grid system with a molded finish and an integrated bilge water management system. The fiberglass transom is reinforced with marine ply and a transom reinforcement grid. There are bronze thru-hull fittings below the water line and chrome over bronze thru-hull fittings below the 7-degree heel line. All upholstery is double-stitched for durability.
In virtually all respects the Pursuit DC 295 is built with state-of-the-art materials and techniques. The fit and finish of the glass work both visible and below decks is second to none.

Performance and Handling

We did not perform our normal sea trials and fuel flow tests on the Pursuit DC 295. However, the folks at Yamaha and Pursuit have, and they report that when the boat is powered with twin 300-hp Yamaha F300 4-stroke engines turning 15-1/4” X 18” props, the boat hit a top speed of 52.5 mph at 5950 rpm. They found best cruise to be at 3500 rpm where the vessel when 29.1 mph and burned 17.9 gph getting 1.62 mpg.

Handling.

When we operated the boat, she came easily out of the slip on just the throttles with a nimble and accurate response – we felt no need to use the available joystick. Operating the Pursuit DC 295 was a pleasure, and her handling was agile and stable.
We reached planing speed in 3.8 seconds and achieved 20 miles per hour in 6.2 seconds. The boat went from 0 to 30 miles per hour in 9.23 seconds.
Once on plane, bringing the trim tabs down allowed us to take full advantage of what is arguably unencumbered visibility through the wrap around windshield.

We operated

the Pursuit DC 295 in the Intracoastal Waterway and used our chase boat to create a wake to get a sense of her stability in a seaway, and found her to be remarkably stable. Once back at the marina, her joystick control made backing into the slip more than simple -- although she's just as easy to handle using the throttles, in our opinion.

Observations

The Pursuit DC 295 comes delivered with a deluxe Coast Guard Package, shore power package, full fuel, freight, and prep.
Regular readers know that we like the DC design concept because it makes a vessel so versatile and comfortable for the whole family. Pursuit has taken that concept, integrated its traditional fishing functionality, and melded it with their top-quality build to produce what is, in our opinion, one of the finest, boats in class.