The Tolunay family, based in Orlando, Florida, are adventure-seekers and specialist fun-havers. When they're not running their successful events company in Orlando, Florida, you can find them offshore of Treasure Island, enjoying the Gulf onboard their OS 325 by Pursuit Boats.
We spoke with Mom Luna and Dad Kemal about how they prefer to use their boat and what their family loves about boating onboard the Pursuit OS 325.
Read on to hear about their adventures on their beloved Pursuit.
Work Hard, Play Hard
Kemal and Luna Tolunay live with their three sons - 14-year-old Ender and twin 13-year-olds Tanner and Tai. The couple owns and runs an Orlando-based events interactive events company called Fun Planners.
The family's Pursuit OS 325 lives at their second home in Treasure Island, a short two-hour drive west of Orlando. "We spend most of our time at our Treasure Island home and it's where our boating adventures stem from," said Luna.
The Tolunay family is pretty sporty and regularly engages in a variety of active hobbies around the world. "We're adventure people. We go snowboarding every year in the mountains and we travel to Turkey every summer for a few weeks at least, too," Luna revealed. "We are always on the go, always looking for the next fun thing. We work hard and play hard."
From Center Console to Offshore Series
Before purchasing their current boat in 2023, the Tolunays owned another model from Pursuit Boats: An S 328 Sport Center Console. "We owned it for almost five years and put many miles and hours into it; we have been almost everywhere with it," said Luna. "Most of the time we spent on the boat involved multi-day trips, going to the Bahamas for two weeks at a time, or through South Florida to the Keys. After many long cruises, we found ourselves looking for something with more protection from the weather. Part of the reason was that we have these famous, heavy afternoon storms that come through for an hour or two. In the center console, you are exposed to the weather and must either turn back or try to go around the storm."
Ordering the OS 325
While visiting some friends in the Bahamas, Kemal fell in love with that couple's OS 325. "We go to the Pursuit Boats Rendezvous often, so we had seen all the different types of Pursuit Boats. The OS stood out to us as being our style and from seeing it at the Rendezvous, we already knew how it runs," Kemal explained. "One day we were chatting about getting one and we decided it would be a great idea, so we called up our friendly dealer in Jacksonville and we had one on order within a week."
More Protection, More Space
The weather protection offered by the OS 325 was one of their biggest reasons for the switch from a center console, but not the only one, as Luna explained. "Since we like to do long-distance trips and often stay onboard overnight, we wanted more storage and some sleeping space. We have all of that now."
Space and Comfort
"Right now we have a completely covered helm with an air-conditioned or heated space," she continued. "The center console was fun but I wanted to be more organized onboard and have the space for everything we need. The OS 325 delivers on all of those aspects. It feels like a camper on the water because we can have fun, do our sports, and fit our paddleboards, fishing, and swimming gear."
The family's OS 325 is aptly named, 'Reel Fun'. "It comes from our company name - Fun Planners - because without Fun Planners, we don't have anything. And then we thought it would be great to incorporate the boys' obsession with fishing. We actually have a little lake boat here too, and we call it 'Little Fun'," she added with a chuckle.
In Pursuit of Perfection On Board
Though the couple has owned boats from various other manufacturers, the Tolunays were very clear about the reasons why they had chosen to buy their first, and then a second Pursuit. "When we were shopping for our first Pursuit Boat, we looked at a lot of different brands, all offering very similar boats to one another. After test-driving them all - including the Pursuit - and looking carefully at the finishes and features offered by all of the boats, the Pursuit was the hands-down obvious choice," Luna revealed. "It was plain to us that the looks and features of Pursuit Boats were simply better, and various small features onboard made life so much easier. Pursuit just puts more effort in. The other brands were missing all of these features and didn't feel the same quality. In the end that's what won us over. "
Pursuit's After-Sales Service
But beyond the yacht quality amenities for which Pursuit Boats is famous, the Tolunays also grew to value other aspects of the Pursuit Boats brand. "It's the people!" Luna emphatically stated. "Every time we have a question and need an answer, there's always a solution. When there's an issue, it gets fixed immediately. The people at Pursuit create that relationship and loyalty," Luna noted.
"When we were building the boat, I went to visit the factory and I was really impressed," Kemal added. "The delivery of the boat, the touchpoints with the teams from Pursuit, and the after-sales service have all exceeded our expectations. We are not just a number to them; they treat us as a good customer. I can feel it every time I deal with Pursuit. So the reason we stayed with the brand was our experience overall."
The Boat that Does it All
Having owned their Pursuit OS 325 Offshore for almost two years, the Tolunays have kept their boat busy with frequent cruising, fishing, and adventures all around Florida, and Reel Fun has capably handled it all. "The thing that we love the most about our boat is the fact that we can do it all with it," said Luna. "There's plenty of room for everyone to fish off the back, and large fish boxes to store the catch. If someone wants to take a nap, they can do that in the air-conditioned cabin. We can grill off the beach. You have everything you can possibly want, in one vessel. That's what makes it the best boat for us."
Kemal agreed. "It's particularly comfortable for cruising long distances. Last Summer, we went to Key West, it was 280 miles one way - about an eight-hour trip non-stop. We stayed there for a week and then we crossed to Bimini to meet the Pursuit Boats Rendezvous."
"Yeah, we spend a lot of time on the boat. Eight-hour days on the water are not unheard of, going 100 miles offshore with no cell service or anything else," Luna added.
Quality Family Time Offline
As parents to three teenage sons, the Tolunays really appreciate the quality time together as a family that their OS 325 enables every time they are on Reel Fun. "Getting the kids away from all the TVs, cellphones, and video games to connect and be together as a family is what we look forward to the most about being out on the boat.
"The boys are often so busy with sports, school, and their friends that there are weeks where we feel like we are just passing each other and not even seeing one another. But on the boat, everyone connects. And on a boat, everyone has to work together. Someone must do the lines, another must wash the boat, or clean the fish. As a mom, I just enjoy having everyone together and working together to help each other out, which you don't get under normal circumstances."
What Boat is Next for the Tolunays?
Like most boat owners, the Tolunays are already discussing what boat is next. With their teenage boys growing at a steady pace, space onboard is at a premium and the next boat will need to be bigger. "We are speaking about possibly getting the Pursuit OS 405 as everyone is getting older and bigger, so having more space would be ideal. If we were spending a week or two in the Bahamas, everyone would have enough space to sleep and bring all their things. As it is, after putting in three kids and all their stuff, I look at it and think, like, 'Where are we putting all these bags?'" Luna concluded, laughing.
What Boat is Next for You?
What boat is next on your list? Do you also dream of long-distance cruising to the Bahamas with your family, like the Tolunays? Look no further: The Pursuit Boats portfolio has a boat that is perfect for your needs. If you are ready to check out a Pursuit in person or meet with a dealer, our handy Dealer Locator will find your nearest authorized Pursuit Boats dealer, and see their current inventory, within seconds.
