Pursuit OS 285 2008 vs Pursuit S 280 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Pursuit OS 285 2008 or the Pursuit S 280 2011?

The Pursuit S 280 2011 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Pursuit OS 285 2008 comes in at 3,0 feet, making it roughly 25,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Pursuit OS 285 2008 or the Pursuit S 280 2011?

For trailering, the Pursuit OS 285 2008 has the edge at 757 lbs dry weight versus 838 lbs for the Pursuit S 280 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Pursuit OS 285 2008 is rated to a maximum of 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Pursuit S 280 2011 tops out at 500 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Pursuit OS 285 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Pursuit S 280 2011 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Pursuit OS 285 2008 and Pursuit S 280 2011 share an 9 ft. 6 in. (2.92 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Pursuit OS 285 2008 or the Pursuit S 280 2011?

The Pursuit OS 285 2008 has the bigger tank at 232 gallons, versus 22 gallons on the Pursuit S 280 2011. That 210-gallon difference translates to roughly 630–1050 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Pursuit OS 285 2008 and Pursuit S 280 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Pursuit OS 285 2008 and the Pursuit S 280 2011 are built by Pursuit. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Pursuit OS 285 2008 vs Pursuit S 280 2011

Pursuit

Pursuit OS 285 2008

2008

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Pursuit

Pursuit S 280 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Pursuit OS 285 2008 vs Pursuit S 280 2011 — Which Deep Vee Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Pursuit OS 285 2008 and the Pursuit S 280 2011 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 S 280 2011 measures 28,0 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 25,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Pursuit OS 285 2008 at 3,0 feet (2008). At 757 lbs and 838 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 600 hp, the Pursuit OS 285 2008 has a 100-hp advantage over the Pursuit S 280 2011'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 OS 285 2008 carries 232 gallons versus 22 gallons in the Pursuit S 280 2011. 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 OS 285 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Pursuit S 280 2011 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Pursuit OS 285 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Pursuit OS 285 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 3,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Pursuit S 280 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakePursuit

ModelOS 285

ModelS 28

Model Year2008

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam9 ft. 6 in. (2.92 m)

Beam9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m)

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Inches114

Bridge clearance - DetailWith Hardtop: 8 ft. 4 in. (2.56 m)

Bridge clearance - DetailWith Hardtop (From Waterline): 7 ft. 11 in. (2.41 m) Without Hardtop (From Waterline): 6 ft. 3 in. (1.9 m)

Bridge clearance - Meters2.54

Bridge clearance - Meters2.41

Bridge clearance - Inches1

Bridge clearance - Inches95

Deadrise22℃

Deadrise24℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail1 ft. 9 in. (0.57 m)

Draft [drive up] - DetailMotors Up: 1 ft. 7 in. (0.51 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.53

Draft [drive up] meters0.48

Draft [drive up] inches21

Draft [drive up] inches19

Draft [max] - Detail2 ft. 6 in. (0.79 m)

Draft [max] - DetailMotors Down: 2 ft. 10 in. (0.64 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.76

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inches3

Draft [max] - Inches34

Weight - DetailWith Twin 250 4-strokes: 7,570 lbs. (3,433 kg)

Weight - DetailWith Twin 250 hp Engines: 8,380 lbs. (3,801 kg)

Weight - kg3433.69

Weight - kg3801.1

Weight - lbs.757

Weight - lbs.838

Length - Meters9.14

Length - Meters8.53

Length - Feet3

Length - Feet28

Length - Inches8

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - DetailWith Pulpit: 30 ft. 8 in. (9.14 m) Without Pulpit: 28 ft. 0 in. (8.53 m)

Length overall - Detail28 ft. (8.53 m) without pulpit

Length overall - Meters9.35

Length overall - Meters8.53

Length overall - Inches368

Length overall - Inches336

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard500 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail232 gal. (878 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail220 gal. (832 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters878.22

Fuel tank capacity - Liters832.79

Fuel tank capacity - Gal232

Fuel tank capacity - Gal22

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard - Twin

Engine max600 hp

Engine max500 hp

Operational Info

Head1

HeadManual

Sleeping capacity3

Sleeping capacitynot available

Water capacity30 gal. (113 l)

Water capacity20 gal. (75 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detail18 gal. (68 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75 l)

Holding tank capacity - Liters68.14

Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71

Holding tank capacity - Gal18

Holding tank capacity - Gal2

Pursuit OS 285 2008 vs Pursuit S 280 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Pursuit OS 285 2008 or the Pursuit S 280 2011?

The Pursuit S 280 2011 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Pursuit OS 285 2008 comes in at 3,0 feet, making it roughly 25,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Pursuit OS 285 2008 or the Pursuit S 280 2011?

For trailering, the Pursuit OS 285 2008 has the edge at 757 lbs dry weight versus 838 lbs for the Pursuit S 280 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Pursuit OS 285 2008 is rated to a maximum of 600 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Pursuit S 280 2011 tops out at 500 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Pursuit OS 285 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Pursuit S 280 2011 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Pursuit OS 285 2008 and Pursuit S 280 2011 share an 9 ft. 6 in. (2.92 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Pursuit OS 285 2008 or the Pursuit S 280 2011?

The Pursuit OS 285 2008 has the bigger tank at 232 gallons, versus 22 gallons on the Pursuit S 280 2011. That 210-gallon difference translates to roughly 630–1050 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Pursuit OS 285 2008 and Pursuit S 280 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Pursuit OS 285 2008 and the Pursuit S 280 2011 are built by Pursuit. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Pursuit OS 285 2008 full specs ← Pursuit S 280 2011 full specs