If you’re in the market for this year’s edition of a me-too cruiser, you’ve come to the wrong place. In fact, this new launch — the SC 365i Sport Coupe — is such a radical departure for this builder of sport fishing boats you may not have realized it was a Pursuit. That’s because this is the first time the company has really ventured into this market, and along the way it’s created quite a stir.
At the core of the 365i is a new bluewater-ready hull that was specifically designed for a pair of 350-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke outboards. Now, here’s the radical part. The outboards are completely hidden beneath a covering lid at the transom. This provides several advantages over traditional cruiser designs with sterndrive power. First, test-drive reports from Pursuit dealers say the ride is extremely quiet. Of course, four-stroke outboards are known for their low noise levels, but when you enclose them, the decibels drop even more. Second, because the outboard motors are mounted far aft, there’s more interior room in the cabin, space that would be taken up by the powerplant on a conventional sterndrive boat. And there’s another advantage, too. In the event the engines need service, they are very easy to access.
In terms of performance, the SC 365i should hit a top-end speed of 47.7 miles per hour at 6000 rpm, according to tests conducted by Yamaha. Best cruise is at 4500 rpm, where speed is 33 miles per hour and range is 255 miles. At that pace, the Pursuit burns 34.9 gallons per hour and gets .95 miles per gallon.
Aside from the interesting propulsion installation, the boat’s most striking feature is the single-piece windshield system that’s fully integrated with the fiberglass hardtop. That hardtop is equipped with a large sunroof, too. Thus, it seems Pursuit’s top priority was to maximize the amount of natural light on the bridge deck, and the builder succeeds in that mission. Visibility is not too shabby, either. From the helm, you can see the standard anchor windlass and stainless anchor. The recessed sun pad is an option. Nice features at the helm include a suite of Raymarine electronics, such as the e-125 Hybrid Touch multifunction color display. Across from the helm is U-shaped raised seating for three passengers. More guests can stretch out on the L-shaped seating in the cockpit, where there’s also a sink, grill and refrigerator.
The SC 365i is designed to sleep four, with two at the queen-size island berth forward that converts to a V-shaped settee. A wood table with electrically actuated base is standard equipment, and the entire cabin benefits from two sources of natural light — overhead and hullside. This cruiser is also an entertainment powerhouse, with a 26-inch LED smart TV, Apple TV, iCloud account, iPad, stereo with internet radio, eight speakers (four in the cabin and four in the cockpit) and Bluetooth remote. At the aft end of the cabin is a full-beam stateroom for two with door for privacy.
Amidships and to port is a galley with Corian countertops, cooktop, refrigerator/freezer, convection microwave and plenty of stowage. The appliances (and the 16,000-BTU reverse-cycle air conditioning system) can be powered at any time, courtesy of a Panda diesel generator with sound shield. The head is opposite the galley, to starboard.
In the SC 365i, Pursuit has executed the installation of outboard power in a creative and elegantly simple manner. The result is a boat that couples the efficient performance of that proven propulsion with the fluid lines of an inboard-powered cruiser. She’s low-slung and sexy, and should turn heads wherever she goes. www.pursuitboats.com
Pursuit SC 365i
Length Overall 41 feet, 2 inches
Beam 12 feet, 6 inches
Draft (engines up) 2 feet, 2 inches
Dry Weight 17,750 pounds
Fuel Capacity 300 gallons
Water Capacity 75 gallons
Power Twin 350-hp Yamaha V-8 F350 outboards
Base Price $408,576
