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- Sailboat Guide
Hunter 25.5
Hunter 25.5 is a 25 ′ 7 ″ / 7.8 m monohull sailboat designed by Cortland Steck and built by Hunter Marine between 1984 and 1987.
- 2 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 3 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 4 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 5 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 6 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 7 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 8 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 9 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 10 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 11 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 12 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 13 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 14 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
- 15 / 15 Oak Point, TX, US 1985 Hunter 25.5 $10,500 USD View
Rig and Sails
Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3
- SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D : Displacement in pounds.
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Ballast / Displacement * 100
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
Draft for shoal draft/wing keel version: 3.33’/1.01m
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- Sailboat Reviews
Be sure to check out those boats built between 1978 and 1981—owners think they're the best.
By the mid ’80s, after only ten years in business, Hunter Marine had become one of the two leaders (with Catalina Yachts) in the volume of auxiliary-sized sailboats on the US market. And, like Catalina, the corporate philosophy at Hunter was to mass produce low priced boats with as few changes in tooling, hence design, as possible.
As a result, Hunter until 1978 had a line basically consisting of three boats: the Hunters 25, 27 and 30, added to thereafter by smaller (20′ and 22′) and larger ( 31, 34′, 36′, 37′ and 54′) while the original three remained in production. Only after nine years production was the 25 replaced in the line (with the 25.5) and, after 10 years, the 27 (by the 28.5).
The basic marketing program of Hunter has remained remarkably consistent since it produced its first boats in 1974. That policy has made price the single most important factor in selling its boats. With the cost savings from mass production and minimum changes in tooling, Hunter has sold by far the highest volume of the lowest priced boats of their size and type on the market for the last 10 years.
Hunter Yachts came into being amid the energy crunch in the early 1970s. Silverton, a large manufacturer of smaller powerboats, expanded to build “energy-conscious” sailboats. It started with three boats, two John Cherubini-designed performance cruisers, the Hunters 27 and 30, and a Robert Seidelmann/J. Cherubini-designed small (MORC) racer, the Hunter 25.
The original Hunter 25 was a racy boat with a wedge-shaped cabin trunk that limited interior space. That space was further restricted by a design parameter for trailering, an 8′ beam.
From the outset Hunter has maintained a policy of selling its boats “fully equipped” so the original boats came with sails, dock lines and fenders, required safety gear, etc. and no factory supplied options except a shoal draft keel (in the fall of 1978 this sales policy got a name, CruisePac). Price of the 25 in 1974 was quoted at less than $8,000 with the boats reportedly being offered to dealers at closer to $6,000 in order to encourage a high sales volume.
By 1975, the desired sales being apparently unattainable with a boat as performance-oriented as the 25, the boat was offered in a so-called “pop-top” version with a more box-like cabin trunk at a price just $150 above the $8,500 tag on the standard version. The hull, rig and interior layout remained essentially the same. The following year the original model was discontinued and a box cabin trunk model without a pop-top became the standard Hunter 25.
At the same time, in keeping with the cruising image and purpose, a Yanmar single-cylinder diesel engine became an option and much was made of the increased headroom (from 5′ 2″ to 5′ 8″). Later still the transom was made more vertical (cockpit space having been at a premium and helping to cure the problem of mounting a outboard motor) and the headroom further increased.
In all over 2,000 25s were built, the exact number an oddly unavailable figure from Hunter Marine. Today they are probably the most universally recognized boat of their size and one of the most ubiquitous both in anchorages and on the used boat market, in brokers’ listings and classified advertising.
A Look at the Boat
Looking critically at a boat with the sales success of the Hunter 25 invites contention, but it does have notable deficiencies as well as notable virtues. Its virtues start with price just as Hunter Marine intends they should. When low price is a chief priority, it buys a lot of boat in a Hunter 25. This axiom applies just as much to the used 25 as it did to the new. For the entry-level sailor or one moving up into a first boat suitable for cruising, the 25 offers good livability (space, berths, enclosed head, and cookable galley), at least average performance and stability, a functional decor and styling, easily maintained (or neglected) cosmetics, and adequate structural strength for semi-protected waters. And all of this is obtainable at a price that competes with typical prices for the smaller, more cramped 23 footers of similar vintage.
On a negative side, the 25 suffers from the original narrowish beam, an unfortunate parameter since the boat never proved practical for trailering. Worse still, the shoal draft version, otherwise a desirable feature in boats of this size and purpose, does not have top-notch performance or stability. The cockpit is short and cramped for daysailing with a crew of more than three or four, and the coaming is too low for back support.
In general the Hunter 25 performs adequately. Under PHRF a fin-keel 25 rates about 222 (shoal draft, 230 or so), letting it sail boat-for-boat with the Catalina 25 and the O’Day 25, two slightly higher priced but otherwise comparable boats in size and type. Windward performance is hurt by shrouds attached at the rail and by the heavy weather helm created as the 25 heels. The shoal version further suffers from excessive leeway.
Perhaps the most serious fault of the Hunter 25 (as well as a lot of other boats of her size) is the inadequacy of an outboard motor as auxiliary power. For a “transition cruiser” auxiliary power is a highly desirable feature. At 4500 pounds with considerable windage the 25 needs engine power unavailable with outboard motors of reasonable horsepower. Add to this problem the tendency of a transom-mounted engine to lift free of the water in pitching conditions as well as the awkwardness of operating engine controls from the end of a tiller in a tight cockpit and you have persuasive arguments in favor of inboard engines in boats of this size even at the considerable additional cost.
Since, with the exception of the short-lived Yanmar option and owner-retrofitted engines (usually Saildrives), Hunter 25s are not available with inboard power, they are probably not a good choice for a buyer wanting a small auxiliary cruising boat.
What To Look For
Anyone in the market for a lower priced boat has to be more aware of possible problems than those prepared to spend more. The reasons are two-fold. In the first place, quality in boats is to a large degree a function of price. Secondly, for the less expensive boat the cost of repairs or replacement becomes a greater proportion of the value of the boat. With this in mind, we suggest looking at the following:
• A number of owners report problems with gelcoat. Crazing, voids, and porosity (pinholes that trap dirt) are commonly cited faults, especially in the deck and cabinhouse. Also, Hunter used a stippled gelcoat non-skid deck surface that deteriorates over the years. This pattern can be restored but it is not an easy task for the average owner unfamiliar with working with gelcoat.
• About half of the Hunter owners (25s and 27s) whose PS Boat Owner’s Questionnaires are in our files report at least “some” bottom blistering. Even if owner-refinished, the cost of ridding the boat of the pox could amount to 10% or more of the resale value of the boat and is unlikely to be more than tokenly recoverable in the sale price.
• Another oft-cited problem with the 25 is deck and cockpit-sole flexing. This flexing, while not a severe structural problem unless delamination has occurred, is unnerving and offends our sense of what a boat should feel like underfoot. To check for delamination (separation of the outer fiberglass laminate from the core material) tap the whole deck lightly with a hard plastic object such as the handle of a screw driver. Voids produce a dull sound.
• Play in the rudder post seems common on the 25s. Of the three we specifically looked at, 1977-1980 vintage, all had a noticeable degree of “slop” between the rudder post and the rudder tube. There is no simple or easy way to cure the ill that is more annoying than dangerous.
• Several readers report—and our findings support-the impression that 25 built between 1978 and 1981 are generally of at least a bit better quality than those built before or since. Note, however, there there can be no similar assurance that boats of that era were better maintained.
In our opinion the Hunter 25 does not recommend itself for any substantive restoration project except as it may help make the boat more enjoyable to own. With the number on the market, the basic functionality of the boat inside and out, and the low cost versus quality, expensive improvements do not produce commensurately higher value for the boat. At the same time, a polyurethane refinishing, bottom fairing (especially the iron keel), some dressing up of the decor (e.g., new berth upholstery), and a good choice of sails can do much to both the appearance and the pleasure of owning a 25.
One owner questionnaire voices the wonder of why Hunter-built boats tend to depreciate in contrast to other less popular boats. The reason is simple: the supply exceeds the demand. With the numbers built there are a lot on the used boat market. Many are also available because they were traded in on new boats, a source on the used boat market that tends to further depress selling price.
Conclusions
Frankly the Hunter 25 is best as a used boat when the most boat for the dollars is the overriding concern and, on a buyer’s market, when a good deal presents itself. Yet even then there are roomier, faster, better finished, and more distinctive boats readily available at comparable prices. One example is the Catalina 25. More importantly we think buyers should think smaller if budget constraints are crucial because they will want better performance with outboard power or they should think inboard at 10-15% higher price if needing 25′ and/or 4000+ pounds of boat.
If still otherwise sold on a Hunter 25, we would opt for a deep draft 25 for her performance and greater stability, and look for one that has had better-than-average maintenance to reduce the chances of serious problems. Whether valid or not, we’d also look for one built between 1978 and 1981—they have impressed owners as better boats.
RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR
Looking at trailerable 25’s and read your articles on the Hunter 25 and Catalina 25. Your research and writing style are excellent, and insights greatly appreciated. Planning to buy a basic and clean “grandaddy’s baby” of a ready-to-sail 1982 Hunter 25 deep draft at $2,500 over a nicely outfitted yet 2-year out of water ’87 Catalina 25 pop-top swing-keel with trailer and lots of extras for $10,000 (plus new rudder and 4 new tires plus…?). Two 50-sumthin’ high school sailers looking to get back into sailing and test part-time live-aboard to complement our full-time tiny home lifestyle. Thanks for sharing your perspective. 🙂
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Hunter 25.5 Shoal draft
Sailboat specifications.
- Last update: 15th April 2020
Hunter 25.5's main features
Hunter 25.5's main dimensions, hunter 25.5's rig and sails, hunter 25.5's performances, hunter 25.5's auxiliary engine, hunter 25.5's accommodations and layout, hunter 25.5's saloon.
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Discount Sails-Hunter_25.5. Electric Yacht. New Rudders. Sail Trailers. SeaWaterPro. SBD App - BR. top 1 ads row1. top 2 ads row2. top 3 ads row2. HUNTER 25.5 ... Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat more than the original designed or advertised draft ...
25.5' Hunter 25.5. Year. Length. Beam. Draft. Location. Price. 1985. 25.5' 9.08' 4.50' Texas. $10,500. Description: This is a great boat for someone just getting into sailing. It's also great for the single-handed sailor, with a new Raymarine auto-tiller, which steers the boat while you attend to other tasks. You can enjoy short sunset sails or ...
Hunter 25.5 is a 25′ 7″ / 7.8 m monohull sailboat designed by Cortland Steck and built by Hunter Marine between 1984 and 1987. ... Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay). D: ...
The Hunter 25.5 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim.It has a masthead sloop rig, a raked stem, a vertical transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel.It displaces 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) and carries 1,600 lb (726 kg) of ballast. [1] [3]The boat has a draft of 4.50 ft (1.37 m) with the standard keel and 3.33 ft (1.01 m) with ...
The original Hunter 25 was a racy boat with a wedge-shaped cabin trunk that limited interior space. That space was further restricted by a design parameter for trailering, an 8′ beam. From the outset Hunter has maintained a policy of selling its boats "fully equipped" so the original boats came with sails, dock lines and fenders, required ...
Jenn, I think you will find the Hunter 25.5 ideal for sailing on Narragansett Bay with your three kids. Your kids are more or less the same ages as my older grandkids and they love sailing our 25.5 on Lake Travis here in Austin. Some of the positives for the 25.5: 1. The 25.5 is sturdy and well built.
The Hunter 25.5 is a 25'7" (7.8m) cruising sailboat designed by Cortland Steck Yacht Designs (). She was built between 1984 and 1987 by Marlow Hunter (United States). The Deep draft version displays a deeper fin allowing a lower center of gravity and extra performance especially upwind. The Hunter 25.5 is as well listed, on Boat-Specs.com, in Shoal draft version (see all the versions ...
The Hunter 25.5 is a 25'7" (7.8m) cruising sailboat designed by Cortland Steck Yacht Designs (). She was built between 1984 and 1987 by Marlow Hunter (United States). The Shoal draft version features a shorter keel to grant access to shallow areas. The Hunter 25.5 is as well listed, on Boat-Specs.com, in Deep draft version (see all the versions compared).
2024 Yamaha Boats 255 FSH Sport E. US$86,799. Performance East Inc | Goldsboro, North Carolina. <. 1. >. * Price displayed is based on today's currency conversion rate of the listed sales price. Boats Group does not guarantee the accuracy of conversion rates and rates may differ than those provided by financial institutions at the time of ...
Hunter 25.5 1985 is most beautiful boat ever builds in her class. The unique standup headroom of the lift top cabin top again separates itself from other comers. Headroom goes from 5' 6" to 6' 5" with the pop-top raised. It has large cockpit with a lot of space only find in the bigger boats. Shoal keel model, you'll find that the Hunter 25.5 is ...
Hey, Kper. So glad to hear you guys love sailing too! I own a 1986 Hunter 25.5 and would be glad to share my thoughts. My marina neighbor has a Catalina 25 about same vintage, and they are quite different. The Hunter is a much larger boat with higher freeboard (taller) and more beam (wider). The result is a much roomier, comfortable boat than the C25 (even though same length class).
1985 25.5' Hunter 25.5 sailboat for sale in Galesville Maryland. Turn key pocket cruiser, easy to sail single-handed and ideal for the Bay.
The 25.5 is a reasonably nice little boat offering a nice balance of accomodations,and performance. This should be a reasonably easy and forgiving boat to sail and one that world be a good boat to develop skills on. While Hunters are not the most robust boats, a boat like the 25.5 should be fine for daysailing, weekending, PHRF club level ...
Its sail area/displacement ratio 16.60. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined. HUNTER 25.5 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about HUNTER 25.5 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.
1986 Catalina SloopC-27. $10,000. North Muskegon, MI 49445 | Private Seller. Request Info. <. 1. >. Find 28 Hunter 25 boats for sale near you, including boat prices, photos, and more. Locate Hunter boat dealers and find your boat at Boat Trader!
Model 25.5. Category -. Length 25'. Posted Over 1 Month. 1985 Hunter 25.5,Hunter 25.5 1985 is most beautiful boat ever builds in her class. The unique standup headroom of the lift top cabin top again separates itself from other comers. Headroom goes from 5' 6" to 6' 5" with the pop-top raised. It has large cockpit with a lot of space only find ...
Missouri. $6,800. Description: 1985 Hunter 25.5 available now. Docked at Stockton State Park Marina (Stockton, MO). Fixed keel,sliding companionway hatch w/ pop-top for added head-room. Family boat - sleeps 6. V-berth with privacy door; flushing marine head w/holding tank, vanity and sink.
Category Sailboats. Length 25'. Posted Over 1 Month. 1984 Hunter 25.5 Sailboat FRESHWATER 1984 HUNTER 25.5 SAILBOAT The Hunter 25.5 is a popular Family Cruiser, she is quick and stable. She has a galley with icebox, alcohol stove and 3 berths. She has a main, 2 jibs, genoas, self tailing sheet winches, mast winch and much more.
Jan 10, 2003. #13. Hunter Says. I just got off the line with Hunter. According to them a 10HP motor cannot push the 25.5 at hull speed. The only reason they stick with the 10HP is because the transom cannot withstand the torque of a larger motor - it can stand the weight, but not the torque.
1985 Hunter 25.5 Sailboat: Great all around sailboat- Sloop Style - Easy to sail single handily - Fast and Nimble with good looks and style- Clean inside nice interior- Good Sails still crisp and ready to enjoy the lake - Awesome Marina assume slip if desired - Hot and Cold Showers plus Bar and Resturant next to lake Lanier Islands @ Holiday Marina where's everyday is a Holiday - Pop top for ...
At least four mast-raising systems have been developed for the H23 by owners in this forum. Most have detailed photos in the Photo Forum as well. Select "23" for boat model, enter the key words "mast raising" and step back. With slight modifications for the slightly longer foredeck, any of the these systems should work for the 25.5.