Hi and one question

[350thunder]

Hi, I am the owner of a 345 OS, I bought the boat new in the spring of '10. I love the hull and power, especially the ride in a 2'-3' chop! Since I have owned the boat, I have been working through some small design issues (boarding ladder too short, grill & sink hatches close dangerously fast) the one issue I have noy been able to solve is that the lever for the toilet over travels, allowing the fresh water valve to lose its top, which does not allow for fresh water to enter the bowl. I have taken it apart probably 20 times, tried gluing it, drilling and installing a cotter pin and the dealership took their turn at it. Some of this may be due to my unknowing guests or kids, flushing the toilet like they are kick starting a Harley! My solution at this point, that has produced great results, is a small inflatable football under the lever, which does not allow the lever to over travel. Any other suggestions? While this works, it is a little low rent!

[MarkT]

Can you supply a picture of the lever?

[350thunder]

Yes, I will take one and upload it (I hope!)

[luife]

I'm interested in the OS 345 and the OS 385. I'm curious about the small design issues you mentioned and how you have been able to deal with them. Also, by looking at the performance numbers in Pursuit's website, it seems that the OS 345 takes sometime to get on plane and that the RPM to keep it at plane might by over 3500. I will appreciate any comments you can provide. Thanks in advance and keep enjoying your great boat!!

[350thunder]

Hi,

Let me start off by saying they are both great boats! I have been happy with the time it takes to get on plane. Realizing that these are heavy boats, It planes in a very reasonable time in my opinion. A couple of weeks ago, I had about 12 grown ups on for a short trip, I was a little worried that I would have to move people to the bow, but to my and others amazement, the boat got up very solidly.

Regarding the little issues, these are things I would check out:

Boarding ladder- mine only went about 1' below the surface, very hard for older or weaker people to pull themselves up out of the water. My dealer pulled a 4 rung ladder off a 31' and was able to install it in the recess provided... Pursuit was no help!

Grill & Rear sink covers- on mine, during closing, they came about halfway down, then the piston would release. Given were the fingers recesses were, if your fingers were not in the recess, you were in for a sudden and maybe painful surprise. I ended up installing a stainless cabinet pull on each of them. At least when the release now, your fingers are out of the way. Again Pursuit was no help!

The toilet issue that i mentioned before, still brainstorming on that one! Despite these annoyances, I absolutely love the boat! The ride is awesome, I get a lot of comments about the boat. Just one note about the 38' with the trip 350's... expensive to maintain, if you can live within 35' I don't think you will have an issue with performance. I live near Cape Cod, if you are in the area, I will take you out.

[luife]

Thank you very much for the feeback!!

[350thunder]

A picture of the toilet lever

[chibbett]

The comment on the boarding ladder was a great one! I have a OS 315 and we use it for casual cruising around Marthas Vineyard and swim off of it always. As we are older, the boarding ladder is a challenge and I will be checking out the space for a 4 step ASAP....that will make boarding much easier as our knees will not be bent as much during the initial pull up...thanks for the solution

[350thunder]

Again I will try to add a picture of the toilet for anyone with ideas about it over travelling. Glad the ladder suggestion may help, I was told the ladder was taken from a 31', a four step ladder may take some research to find. I got mine from Craig Hudson @ Hudson outboard in Salisbury Ma.