Pursuit OS 405

On average, I’ll go through two pairs of boat shoes a season.

My favorite pair of Sperry Gold Cup Series, tucked in the back of the closet, I’ve worn sparingly for a decade. Until last month, Pursuit Boats had a favorite boat they were reluctant to retire. Like a good pair of shoes, the old 385 wore well for a dozen years. The electronics would change from year to year, but the hull and ride were solid and customer focus groups liked the layout and functionality.

Evolution of refinements

Enter stage left, Yamaha Outboards, Pursuit’s propulsion partner. This year, Yamaha unleashed the horsepower on the XTO V8 series coinciding with Pursuit’s debut of the new Offshore OS 405. Sporting a slightly more aggressive hull than its predecessor (20-inch vs. 18-inch bottom reverse chine at bow), this model is more of an evolution of refinements than radical changes.

One of the biggest changes is in how the boat evolves from a sketch to a full-size mockup and then mold. Pursuit’s design team is now located under one roof, next to each other with the tools necessary to sculpt and tweak before final assembly. The old building simply didn’t have the footprint to accommodate the growing size of the Pursuit fleet. With a keener eye for detail and the ability to be nimble in mockup, necessary design changes can occur from hull to hull if necessary.

For example, during our test, I found the distance between the Stidd captain’s chair and rocker switches below the Garmin Glass cockpit were just out of my reach while seated. By adding a few inches of decking to where the seat pedestal is fastened, there would be no need for a “Mind the Gap” announcement. Hull No. 1 and 2 will be updated.

Overall, visibility for the skipper is quite adequate. Pursuit uses a custom windshield system with optically clear laminated windshield glass. I used the fold-down platform step at throttle up, but once on plane and with the bow settled I had visibility without the step. Translated another way, if you are tall, there is ample headroom throughout the entire cockpit protected from the elements by a molded fiberglass full-beam hardtop.

Creature comforts

Dual 22-inch Garmin screens for electronics, Yamaha electronic steering control, a standard joystick and autopilot, a bow thruster and a JL media master head unit let you control the entire vessel from your fingertips. At dusk, the backlit displays ooze class and create just the right atmosphere for happy hour.

At night, an interior cabin awaits. Wood treads lead to a custom solid wood tongue and groove floor with solid wood veneers on interior cabinetry. Designers were eager to show off this new wood finish they call Khaya, also known as African mahogany. Three onboard AC units keep you cool during the summer and warm in the fringe seasons.

Here you’ll find the usual hanging lockers, a roomy head and shower, two berths, a TV, a two-burner galley, a refrigerator and a microwave. But what’s cool is the island-style berth sporting a bit of James Bond trickery. Push the button and switch from a recliner to a berth with an additional 12 inches of leg room. In the up position, it’s ideal for lounging, reading, binge-watching or a replay of “Top Gun Maverick” for the umpteenth time.

The need for speed

Ironically, that movie theme is likely to play through your head the moment of throttle up. Triple 450-hp engines bring this 43-foot beast up on plane effortlessly. Our test run found the cruise speed and best range is at 3500 RPM with a speed of 28.5 knots and a range of 320 miles.

Need to get there in a hurry? Wide open will push this boat 55 mph and still deliver a respectable 220-mile range. I did notice that compared to other outboards, they are louder, meaning if you are seated on the fold-down transom bench or one of two aft-facing seats, conversations may require speaking up to be heard.

From a technical access vantage, Pursuit starts with the latest Seakeeper 6 for a stable ride, more stainless steel fasteners and deck hardware than a kitchen convention, and a compact yet thoughtfully designed mechanical space that makes it possible for even the skipper who carries his toolbox in his wallet to think he can actually replace the battery from the slide-out tray, clean a sea strainer without straining to reach a seacock or retrieve that one object playing hide and seek with a bilge pump float switch. Grandkids, gotta love ‘em.

Pursuit is highly regarded for staying close to its roots: Fishing. The new OS 405 fills the bill with rod holders, a dive door, a cutting board and bait prep station, a lighted Oceana Blue 50-gallon recirculating livewell and cockpit floor fishboxes just waiting to be filled. The helm to cockpit to transom layout is set up for single-handed fishing. But when you check out the reclining seats on the bow and the overall refinement of the boat’s profile, you’re likely to want company for a month-long summer vacation.