When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Pursuit C 340 2009 and the Pursuit OS 285 2009 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Pursuit C 340 2009 measures 34,3 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 31,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Pursuit OS 285 2009 at 3,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Pursuit C 340 2009 tips the scales at 9 685 lbs — 820 lbs more than the Pursuit OS 285 2009 at 8 865 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 700 hp, the Pursuit C 340 2009 has a 200-hp advantage over the Pursuit OS 285 2009's 500-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Pursuit C 340 2009 carries 371 gallons versus 232 gallons in the Pursuit OS 285 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Pursuit C 340 2009 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Pursuit OS 285 2009 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Pursuit C 340 2009 could be the deciding factor.