March 26, 2026
Pursuit D 286 Denali: Big-Boat Confidence in a Manageable Package
At 30-foot with twin Yamaha F300s (600 hp), the Pursuit D 286 Denali delivers big-boat confidence in a manageable package—full-width hardtop…
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Expert Review, Technical Specifications & Market Analysis
The Essentials
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 30' 0" |
| Beam | 9' 6" |
| Draft | 2' 0" (motors up) / 2' 11" (motors down) |
| Displacement | 9,340 lbs (with twin Yamaha F300 engines) |
| Engines | Twin Yamaha F300 V6 Offshore or Twin Mercury 300 V8 Verado |
| Fuel Capacity | 217 US gallons |
| Water Capacity | 26 US gallons |
| Cabins / Heads | Enclosed head with electric marine toilet, 9-gallon holding tank, Corian countertop |
| Max Speed | 55.0 mph @ 6,000 RPM (twin Yamaha F300) |
| Cruise Speed | 30.3 mph @ 3,500 RPM (twin Yamaha F300) |
Source: Spec & Photos courtesy of Pursuit. Specs verified by Tony Smith, USCG 100 Ton Master, on August 11, 2026.
Part of the Pursuit Denali series — see how owners step up through the lineup.
Quick Verdict
- Pursuit's published test sheet puts the D 286 at 55.0 mph wide open on twin Yamaha F300s, with best cruise at 30.3 mph burning 16.5 gallons an hour for 330 miles of range
- A genuinely enclosed head with an electric marine head, Corian vanity and 9-gallon holding tank, in a 30-foot dual console — the reason this boat gets used on days a center console stays on the trailer
- The full-width hardtop and elevated fiberglass windshield are what separate it from the T-top crowd: weather protection across the whole beam, not just over the helm
Our Take
The D 286 is the boat I point people at when they tell me they want a center console and their spouse tells me they want a windshield. Thirty feet, 9 feet 6 inches of beam, 21 degrees of deadrise at the transom, and a full-width hardtop over a fiberglass windshield that runs the whole way across — that last part is the difference. A T-top keeps the sun off the person driving. This keeps the weather off everybody, which is why boats like this get used in March and October when the center console stays on the lift.
What sells me on it is the performance sheet, and Pursuit is one of the few builders that still publishes one honestly. Twin Yamaha F300s take it to 55 mph, but the number that matters is 30.3 mph at 3,500 rpm burning 16.5 gallons an hour — 1.83 miles to the gallon and 330 miles of range out of 217 gallons. That is a genuinely efficient 30-footer, and it means a Bahamas crossing or a long run down the coast is a fuel-planning exercise rather than a gamble. Nought to thirty in 7.8 seconds is quicker than the boat looks, too.
Here is the honest limit. This is a day boat with an enclosed head, not an overnighter — there is no berth, no galley and no air conditioning to sleep behind. If you want to sleep aboard, you want the D 326 or you want a different kind of boat entirely. And at 9 feet 6 inches of beam it is a permit tow, not a hitch-and-go. Buy it because you want a fishing boat the whole family will actually get on, and it will be the most-used boat you have owned. Buy it expecting a small cruiser and you will be disappointed in it for the wrong reasons.
Official Pursuit Premiere: Inside the Pursuit D286
Video courtesy of Pursuit.
Pursuit D286 Photo Gallery
Photos courtesy of Pursuit.
Pursuit D286 Articles & Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sleep on a Pursuit D286?
No. The D 286 is a day boat with an enclosed head rather than an overnighter — there is no berth, no galley and no cabin air conditioning. What the console does hold is an electric marine head with a Corian vanity, overhead lighting and a 9-gallon holding tank, reached through the companion seat to starboard. If you want to sleep aboard in this range, the D 326 has convertible berthing in its port console.
What is the difference between the Pursuit D286 and D326?
Four and a half feet, a berth and 83 gallons of fuel. The D 286 is 30 feet on a 9-foot-6 beam with 21 degrees of deadrise, weighs 9,340 pounds dry and carries 217 gallons for 330 miles at cruise. The D 326 is 34 feet 6 inches on a 10-foot-10 beam with 20 degrees of deadrise, weighs 12,900 pounds, carries 300 gallons for 394 miles, and adds convertible berthing, a vacuum-flush head and a standard bow thruster. The D 286 is the more efficient boat at 1.83 miles per gallon against 1.40. If nobody will use the berth, the smaller boat does the same job on less fuel.
How efficient is the Pursuit D286?
1.83 miles per gallon at best cruise, which is the highest figure of the five Pursuit models reviewed here. Pursuit's own test sheet marks best cruise at 30.3 mph at 3,500 RPM on twin Yamaha F300s, burning 16.5 gallons an hour for 330 miles of range from 217 gallons. Top speed is 55.0 mph at 6,000 RPM and nought to thirty takes 7.8 seconds. A second Pursuit test sheet covers the twin Mercury 300 Verado option.