Fort Pierce, Florida, is a dream destination for anglers. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) with a deep-water channel that provides quick access to Fort Pierce Inlet and the Atlantic, the area is famous for winter sailfish action in “Sailfish Alley.” Offshore waters also hold species such as wahoo, grouper and snapper, and the town has been the home of Pursuit Boats since 1983.
We gathered at Fort Pierce City Marina—recently renovated at great expense—to watch the launch of Pursuit’s new flagship: the Pursuit S 428 Sport. At nearly 44 feet LOA, the S 428 is the largest center-console Pursuit has ever built and represents the top of the builder’s Sport series, which now spans five models starting at 26 feet.
Designed as both a serious fishing platform and a high-end day boat, the S 428 blends functionality with comfort. It offers two expansive cockpit zones for entertaining and lounging, plus a console cabin that includes a V-berth and head. Pursuit’s intent was clear: deliver a boat that excels at fishing without compromising its social or recreational capabilities.
“We really try to push for something you don’t have to compromise,” said Christopher Gratz, Pursuit’s vice president of engineering.
Forward on the S 428 are two large padded sunlounges mounted atop the console—perfect for sunbathing—and each incorporates a lower seat that aligns with the forward cockpit seating to create a social, multi-seat area. The bow settees feature motorized backrests that swing out from the gunwales at the push of a button, using electric trim-tab actuators repurposed in a clever way to provide smooth operation.
The boat’s single-level deck promotes easy traffic flow throughout. Wide, deep walkarounds include hull windows that light the console cabin and give the helmsman a unique view of the water alongside the boat. Those design choices enhance safety, visibility and comfort during passages or on-station fishing.
Pursuit’s engineering team paid special attention to the aft cockpit. At rest, the starboard hull side folds down to form a generous watersports platform, while the port side features a standard diver door. Seating transforms quickly between fishing and social configurations: the rear-facing mezzanine bench slides aft to reveal two tall chairs with folding backrests and an outdoor galley complete with sink, refrigerator and grill. That flexibility supports both tournament-style fishing and family day-boat use.
With room to seat 15 or more people comfortably, plus twin settees in the console cabin that convert to a double berth, the S 428 proved remarkably spacious during our short ICW sea trial. We ran the boat with 11 people aboard and never felt crowded.
The helm is built for long days on the water: three tall captain’s chairs with flip-up armrests, air-conditioning vents for hot climates, and a top-tier JBL audio system. The dash is modern and uncluttered, featuring two 22-inch Garmin multifunction displays in a glass-cockpit style. Yamaha’s Helm Master joystick, paired with quad 425-hp Yamaha XTO Offshore outboards, makes docking and close-quarters maneuvering intuitive and precise.
Options such as a Seakeeper 6 gyro—installed in a dedicated compartment under the cockpit sole—add stability when trolling or anchoring in rough conditions. On the open water we opened the throttles and came close to the factory-verified top speed of 51 knots with the nearly full fuel load for this power package; our trial produced speeds approaching 49 knots even with a full complement of crew and journalists aboard. A comfortable cruising speed for efficient range is around 27 knots.
Although we didn’t get time to fish, the S 428 is well equipped for serious offshore angling. Fish-focused features include locking gunwale rod storage, padded coamings, refrigerated in-sole and transom fish boxes, two 36-gallon transom livewells, a tackle center, outriggers and rocket launchers. Those systems are laid out to support tournament-style operations while keeping gear accessible and organized.
Pursuit’s attention to construction detail is evident throughout. For example, the hardtop includes ladders on both sides that provide stable access to the roof—an intentional feature to support maintenance and rigging. After the sea trial we toured Pursuit’s newest Fort Pierce manufacturing facility, a 185,000-square-foot plant opened in May 2020, where both the S 428 and S 378 are built. Observing hull layup using resin-infusion and vacuum-bag techniques confirmed the company’s commitment to in-house fabrication, rigorous testing and consistent quality.
“Uncompromised functionality is what we are always after,” Gratz said, and the S 428 reflects that philosophy: a flagship center-console that balances high-performance offshore capability with luxury-day-boat comfort and versatile cockpit configuration.
Specifications
LOA: 43’9”
Beam: 13’0”
Draft: 2’10”
Weight: 23,600 lbs.
Deadrise: 22 degrees
Fuel: 547 gals.
Power: (4) 425-hp Yamaha XTO Offshore
Price: $990,835
This article was originally published in the January 2021 issue.