Pursuit launches the DC 306

This dual console dayboat is well-suited for gatherings near the beach.

By Gary Caputi

May 20, 2024

On any sunny summer weekend you’ll find groups of boaters beached, rafted up or anchored alongside sandbars. From Tice’s Shoals in New Jersey’s Barnegat Bay to Peanut Island in Florida’s Palm Beaches, and at hundreds of spots in between, the fascination with these impromptu public gatherings has created a subculture within the boating community. While you can hit the nearest sandbar with almost any boat, some are more suited to the pastime than others. That includes Pursuit’s recently launched DC 306.

“We call it a sport utility boat because it was designed to do pretty much anything a family could want in a vessel of this size, and it has plenty of features that make it a standout for group outings,” says Mark Taiclet, Pursuit brand manager.

This Swiss Army knife of boats rides on a deep-V hull powered by a pair of Yamaha F300 outboards mated to Helm Master EX digital electric controls. The combination of the integrated fiberglass hardtop, tempered glass windshield and side windows create a dry, wind-free enclosure when the boat is underway and add to the boat’s sporty lines.

The features that make it sandbar-party friendly start at the bow. Unless you’re beaching the boat, a practice that can leave you high and dry on a falling tide, anchoring is a must. The standard anchor system incorporates a windlass with a wired remote. It makes anchoring duty a hands-free, push-button affair that’s easy enough for even the kids to handle.

When socializing on a sandbar, much of the fun takes place in the water. On the Pursuit, you can exit and reboard using a stainless-steel telescoping ladder that can be mounted at the hullside door in the cockpit and in the anchor locker at the bow. When not in use the ladder gets stowed in a rack in the mechanical area. A separate retractable boarding ladder at the swim platform is ideal for watersports. An optional pop-up pylon turns the boat into a tow vehicle for tubing, wakeboarding and water skiing.

The DC 306 has plenty of room for passengers in social zones located in the bow and in the cockpit. Bow seating is accessed through a centerline door and swing-open section of the windshield. Lounges with fold-down armrests to port and starboard and an aft-facing center seat are upholstered in pleated vinyl. The area is surrounded by coaming pads, recessed grabrails, drink holders, USB charging ports and speakers for the stereo system. Under the center seat cushion is one of the boat’s two insulated drink boxes. An optional fiberglass table can be set up here; it comes with a drop-in cushion that turns the bow into one big, padded sun deck.

The cockpit is also well appointed, with aft-facing mezzanine seating for two, a standard fold-down bench seat in the transom and an optional fold-down seat to port opposite the hullside door. With the fiberglass table in place, you can entertain your entire entourage or just use the area for catching rays. If the sun gets to be too much, Pursuit offers Mediterranean-style sunshades that mount fore and aft of the hardtop. Shade is a good thing when spending a day beside the sandbar and so is sunscreen so come prepared.

The helm is nicely laid-out for efficient operation and features twin 12-inch Garmin multifunction displays, a Yamaha gauge package and engine controls, VHF radio and stereo. The adjustable captain’s chair swivels 90 degrees so the skipper can socialize with guests in the cockpit.

For a long day on the bar, the head compartment forward of the helm is sure to come into play. Pursuit designed a patented entry system that’s clever. When you open the door, the top panel slides back for easier access, since you don’t have to worry about bumping your noggin.

Behind the helm chairs on the starboard side is a freshwater sink with Corian top and a cabinet below that includes storage and a trash receptacle. To keep your lunches cold you can order the optional 12-volt refrigerator that resides opposite the sink. Fresh and saltwater washdowns are placed for easy access when you need a rinse after a dip.

“The unobstructed swim platform is great for getting from boat to boat when rafted up at a sandbar or beach,” Taiclet says. “We do that a lot at our Pursuit owners’ rendezvous. And when it comes to family days like these, you need a lot of storage space for everything you bring along.” The DC 306 has large dry stowage compartments in the bow and cockpit, but the space just forward of the companion helm chair is like nothing you’ve seen before. The whole face of the console swings open to reveal a massive area with dedicated racks for the tables, up to eight fishing rods and a ton of gear. It runs forward under the portside bow seat and can easily fit wakeboards and skis.

Pursuit is renowned for its fishing boats and this 306 wouldn’t be part of the builder’s family if it didn’t address the needs of anglers. It has two fish boxes, a transom livewell, rod holders in the gunwales, transom and on the hardtop, plus a rocket launcher. The boat comes with outriggers too.

Outboard boats like the Pursuit dominate the sandbar scene, for a few reasons: They typically have a shallower draft than inboards, and the engines can be raised easily out of the water. On the 306, draft with motors up is just 2’2”. The boat is powered by a pair of 300-hp Yamahas that offer a cruising speed of 28.5 mph at 3500 rpm; at that pace, the motors burn 17.4 gph and yield a range of 346 miles. Top speed is about 52.3 mph.

If joining the clan on the nearest sandbar is something you find appealing, then take a close look at the DC 306 from Pursuit. It is a fine example of a modern sport utility.