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Review of the Hunter 25_73-83 by John Allison

Year built 1979  
Location of boat St Clair Shores, MI  
The boat is sailed on The Great Lakes  
How the boat is used Day sailing  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew solo  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1965  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? definitely, I find the boat to be just what the doctor ordered for the area and the type of waters I sail in. I bought the boat based not only based on a comparison of what it had to offer versus price compared to a number of other boats available at the time but also its asthetics which appealed to me at the time (and still do) and its interior beauty and homeliness (a home away from home).  
Gear that's been added I have added several item which make the boat more user friendly as a solo operated vessel additions include: a tiller tamer, roller furling, routed halyards to the comparative safety of the cockpit.Comfort related items which I have added include: a sun shade to use while anchored or at the docks on weekend cruises; and, a 110vac to 12vdc converter enabling me to access all my 12vdc electronics as well as use my shipboard lighting in addition to all my 110vac appliances, etc. while docked.Electronics added include: gps, loran C. VHF, knot meter, depth finder were part of the procurement package.  
Structural or complex improvements The only two structural changes made are: cut a 10 inch by 12 inch wide hole in the shelf that the gas tank sits on in the aft lazaret (allows easy access to the cockpit drain and replace the outboard motor mount bracket.  
The boat's best features I love the lines and overall layout of the specific model Hunter I own. The interior is warm and cozy making for a nice vacation afloat (in particular during those bad weather days) and the cockpit large enough to be comfortable for several people out for the day. I find it quite easy to sail (especially with the roller furler and rerouted halyards)for those solo days. It appears to be solid and well built yet light enough to be competitive with many of the other racer/cruisers of its class (Catalina 25s, etc.) All in all, I find it to be a nice comfortable boat, well made and well thought out (except for the cockpit drain).  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. My only real problem with the boat is the cockpit drain. It is difficult to get at (or was until I modified the shelf in the rear lazaret) and the cockpit would benefit a forward drain as well.Other than that, I see nothing that has given me any real problems to date or that I would change (other than that which was previously described).  
Sailing characterisitcs This is my second keel boat (my first being a shoal draft O'Day 22 footer) and my fourth sailboat. I find this an easy boat to handle and fun boat to sail. As everyone else says, it is somewhat tender up to 15 degrees of heel and then she seems to harden up, find her groove and settles in. It has weather helm but not to the extent that she is difficult to control. Once trimmed out, she can be sailed quite easily, almost fingertip control, and poses no problems or anxieties. My preferred winds are within the 10 to 15 knot range; however, I have had her out in much stronger winds (gusts in excess of 30 knots) and while I do not like to be there, she posed not real problems once the main was reefed and the genoa furled in. In light airs and choppy seas (Lake St Clair during the day on a typical Saturday or Sunday afternoon), she is somewhat difficult to sail but take away the chop and the sail becomes quite enjoyable (especially with a cruising spinnaker). All in all, I find it to be an easy and comfortable boat to sail.  
Motoring characterisitcs I have a 9.9 Mercury outboard which pushes my Hunter along at between 5.3 and 6 knots. I have used the motor for one 15 mile leg of a cruise last year and, other than noise, found it to be up to the task at hand. In choppy water, it cavitates a lot which is not only annoying but hard on the motor as well. Basically, I run the motor only long enough to get out of my slip, out of the marina thru, a narrow and short channel, and (once on the lake) only long enough to raise the sails (a period normally less than 15 minutes)  
Liveability As pointed out before, this was one of the selling points which determined what craft I was to purchase. My wife was mostly impressed by the roomy and yet cozy interior. I have done a number of overnighters and found the boat to be totally adequate for that. I have also made several 4 to 5 day cruises with my family (3) and found it to be quite adequate for that. The sun shade that I use when moored or docked adds to that  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) My only experience with Hunter was in trying to find a brochure or manual relating to my particular model. I contacted them and found them to be cordial and cooperative. They sent me a  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any I agree with one other person who stated that he found the dealer/broker to be more interested in those who aspire to the larger boats. They are more than eager to point out that this is the boat for you; however, once that  
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