Tested: Pursuit S 358
Pursuit launches the S 358 center console
Pursuit S 358
You’ll often hear people say “There’s no such thing as a perfect boat,” the idea being that boaters have diverse wants and needs and you can’t really check the boxes for all the different uses. Well, I think it’s safe to say the Pursuit Sport Boat Series crumpled up that notion and threw it in the trash.
This series of center consoles are all about versatility, and the latest vessel to join the ranks, the S 358, falls right in line. The boat has a bit of everything: room to fish, entertaining spaces fore and aft and a small cabin with a separate head for an overnight. And with its 22-degree deadrise and aggressive reverse chine, the boat rides soft and dry.
Pursuit designed the S 358 around a twin 425-hp Yamaha XTO power package. By going with twins instead of trips, you get more space on the swim platform, especially with the transom extensions on both sides of the outboards that reach out to the end of the motors. Pursuit also covered up the splashwell, so there’s plenty of room to walk from one side to the other. This makes boarding the boat and accessing the motors a breeze. The starboard hull-side door also helps with loading, whether stepping off a dock or climbing aboard from the water.
There are two sets of folding bench seats in the cockpit, one on the aft bulkhead and a split bench on the mezzanine. When the seats are folded away, you have plenty of room to work a full fishing spread. Pursuit makes good use of the 11-foot, 4-inch beam, and the cockpit is definitely roomy for a boat this size. After fishing, open up the seats and you’ve got a nice entertaining area to chat. Even better, put the grill on the mezzanine to use and give your guests a nice cold drink from the refrigerator right beside it.
There’s a giant storage box and livewell in the transom, fish boxes in the deck and rod storage all over the boat. A hatch in the cockpit sole reveals a spacious mechanical area where you really see Pursuit’s eye for detail. The wiring is super clean, and fuel filters and strainers are all mounted within easy reach. A Fischer Panda diesel genset also lives in this space.
Pursuit S 358
The helm is both roomy and comfortable with three captain’s chairs all with their own armrests so you’re not bumping elbows. The cabin door sits on the port side of the console, taking up some of the real estate here, but you honestly don’t feel it when running the boat. There’s room for two 16-inch MFDs, Yamaha Helm Master EX joystick control, charging outlets and just about everything else you could want or need. Visibility through the large tempered-glass windshield is fantastic, and the vent on the top of the windshield allows the air to flow in. There are also AC vents on the dash for the dog days of summer. Like the other Sport Boat Series models, the oversized hardtop on the S 358 throws a lot of shade but doesn’t get in the way of fishing because the support legs are placed alongside the console.
The S 358 exhibits little bowrise when jumping up on plane, and she can run 44 knots on the pins. At 4,000 rpm you’re looking at a cruise of 27 to 28 knots and a range of 327 miles. This boat is more than capable of making long runs to fish the Northeast canyons or steal away to the Bahamas Out Islands.
Pursuit S 358
While the cabin isn’t meant for hosting Thanksgiving dinner, it doesn’t feel cramped thanks to side windows and plenty of head clearance. The forward berth has filler cushions and can sleep two.
The bow seating is arranged for entertaining with an electric hi-lo table and actuated backrests on the benches. The seat on the forward side of the console slides to change the angle and make it more of a lounger. The through-stem anchor makes dropping the hook as easy as pushing a button, and there’s enough room on top of the anchor locker to use it as a forward casting platform.
The Sport Boat Series has been a home run for Pursuit because these boats run great and offer the versatility you want in a multidimensional boat. The S 358 falls nicely in between the 328 and 378. It’s Pursuit’s first 35-foot center console, and it’s pretty close to perfect.
Pursuit S 358 Test Report:
* Range Based on 90% fuel capacity
Standout feature: A cuddy cabin sleeps two with a separate head.
Pursuit S 358 Specifications:
LOA: 37’4”
Beam: 11’4”
Draft: 3’3”
Displ.: 16,600 lbs. (dry)
Fuel: 343 gal.
Water: 36 gal.
Power: 2/425-hp Yamaha XTOs
Pursuit S 358
