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Call Us : 207-994-5109
Mon – Fri: 8 am to 9 pm & Sat – Sun: 10 am to 8 pm
Pursuit Sport Center Console family combines open fishing circulation with more seating, weather protection and cabin capability than a stripped-down tournament center console. The smaller boats are day platforms; the larger models add heads, cabins, refrigeration, generators and yacht-like entertaining systems.
Pursuit’s Sport Center Console family covers a much wider ownership range than the name suggests. At the small end,
the S 248 and S 268 are focused day boats with straightforward fishing layouts. By the time the range reaches the S
388 and S 428, the boats carry cabins, refrigeration, climate systems, generators and enough beam and fuel to behave more like open yachts.
What stays consistent is circulation. The center-console layout lets anglers move around the helm and reach both sides of the boat, while Pursuit adds bow seating, hardtop protection and social features that keep the boats useful when nobody is holding a rod.
The major choice is therefore not ‘fishing boat or family boat.’ It is how much cabin, engine count and yacht-level equipment the owner actually needs around the fishing platform. A buyer who answers that honestly can eliminate half the range before worrying about color or electronics.
The S 378 needs a special note. It remains relevant to late-model pre-owned buyers, but the current Pursuit lineup has moved to the S 388 in that size class. Compare the 378 on condition, equipment and price rather than treating it as a current new-build alternative.
The S 248 begins with one F350. The S 268, S 288, S 328 and S 358 use two engines in the reference packages. The S 378 and S 388 move to triples, and the S 428 finishes the range with four F450 XTO outboards. That progression changes annual service cost as dramatically as it changes acceleration.
Hull design also varies. Most of the line uses transom deadrise in the 20-to-22-degree range, while the current S 288 stands out with 24 degrees. Buyers should not reduce that number to a quality score. Deadrise works with beam, weight
and trim; the sea trial still decides whether the ride fits the owner’s water.
Cabin capability arrives gradually. The S 248, S 268 and S 288 are day-focused boats. The S 328 introduces a convertible two-person cabin. The 358, 378, 388 and 428 add more serious below-deck space and systems. Owners who expect regular multi-night cruising should still compare the Offshore range because its interiors are designed around that use from the start.
Fishing equipment remains a reason to buy the series. Livewells, fish boxes, tackle storage, rod holders and side doors are integrated rather than treated as afterthoughts. On a pre-owned boat, every pump and latch should be operated because these are the systems that separate a functional fishing cockpit from a cosmetic one.
Pursuit’s series names describe different deck and cabin priorities rather than simple trim levels. Compare another
buyers who prioritize full-windshield protection and lounge seating.
buyers who want full cabin-cruiser protection and more dedicated overnight accommodations.
The range runs from the S 248 at 25′ 8″ to the S 428 at 43′ 9″. Read the differences in engine count, beam, tankage,
Start with engine count. If one engine is enough for the owner’s water and risk tolerance, the S 248 is difficult to beat for simplicity. Buyers who regularly leave the inlet often prefer the redundancy of the S 268 or S 288. Above the S 358, the question shifts from whether multiple engines are justified to how many the owner is willing to maintain.
The S 288 is a particularly important fork in the range. Its 24-degree hull, large cockpit and optional trolling-motor integration make it an attractive fishing-first 30-footer. A buyer who does not need a cabin may prefer it to a larger model even when the budget allows more boat.
The S 328 and S 358 are crossover points. Both add cabin capability, but the 358 brings more beam, a much heavier platform and twin 450 power. The larger boat makes sense when the crew uses the cabin, mezzanine and entertainment systems regularly. Otherwise, the 328 keeps the same basic mission at a lower operating scale.
Between the S 378 and S 388, condition and equipment matter as much as model year. The 388 is the current design with updated storage, mezzanine and cabin work; a well-kept late-model 378 can still be an excellent purchase when priced appropriately. The S 428 should be treated separately because four 450s and 13 feet of beam create a different class of ownership.
The lightest boat in this set is the S 248 at about 6,050 lb dry. The heaviest is the S 428 at about 26,519 lb. That spread is large enough to change service logistics, dockage, fuel use and the kind of waterfront infrastructure an owner needs.
Sport ownership cost tracks engine count, electronics and onboard systems. A small model may have one engine, basic refrigeration and a few pumps. A large Sport can have four engines, generator, air conditioning, multiple refrigerators, powered seating, stabilization and a large marine-electronics network. The maintenance plan should grow with the equipment list.
Fishing use creates its own wear. Salt, scales, bait and repeated washdowns find weak seals and neglected hardware quickly. Inspect fish-box macerators, livewell pumps, deck drains, raw-water pumps and side-door latches rather than focusing only on upholstery condition.
Large center consoles are also sensitive to dockage and fuel planning. The S 388 carries 500 gallons and the S 428 carries 518. Those numbers support serious range, but a full tank changes both the fuel bill and the boat’s operating weight. A buyer should know the normal trip rather than habitually carrying maximum fuel.
Add insurance, engine service for the actual engine count, marina or lift costs, fuel, bottom care where applicable and a reserve for electronics and powered accessories. The most enjoyable Pursuit is the one the owner can afford to run as often as intended.
These topics help turn a model comparison into a complete purchase plan.
The S 248 is the smallest model covered here at 25 feet 8 inches. It uses a single F350, carries 120 gallons of fuel
The S 328 is the first model in this set with a true convertible two-person console cabin. The S 358, S 378, S 388 and
The current S 288 uses a 24-degree transom deadrise, a large open cockpit, a 180-degree side boarding door and
Yes, primarily in the late-model pre-owned market. Pursuit’s current lineup has moved to the S 388, which updates the
The S 388 uses triple 450s, a 12-foot beam and 500 gallons of fuel. The S 428 grows to a 13-foot beam and four 450s
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