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Review of the Hunter 25.5 by Dick Vance

Year built 1985  
Location of boat Cherokee Lake, East Tennessee  
The boat is sailed on Lakes  
How the boat is used Racing  
Normal wind strength less than 10 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1992  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely! This boat was the most boat for the money at the time (always a purchase factor) I'd narrowed my choice between the 25.5 and a Catalina 25. The Cat was nice and had more equipment, but the owner's price was much greater. The Hunter was approximately the same asking price but the owner was more desperate to sell! I'm glad I ended up with the 25.5. There are 3 Catalina 25's in our fleet and my boat has more room; is faster and has a much better layout and controls.This is an ideal boat in this size range for lakes and bays.  
Gear that's been added My boat was factory stock with no add-ons when I bought it. I replaced the pin-stop traveler with a line adjustable traveler(a very important feature!); tiller extension; bimini top; genoa T-track extensions; spinnaker rigging, including all lines led aft and a port side cabin top winch; boom vang; tiller tamer (another critical piece of gear - poor man's autopilot); automatic bilge pump; 3 more genoas; cruising spinnaker with sock and a true radial racing spinnaker. I also added two cabin fans (Hella's the best!) and port and hatch screens (homemade with velcro strips).Most of the gear was for racing but much of it also makes cruising more enjoyable.  
Structural or complex improvements The most complex improvement was the spinnaker rigging. This required a triple line organizer on the port side; blocks on the mast for halyard, topping lift and downhaul; triple line stopper and another winch on the port cabin top; twing lines and sheet blocks for the toe rail.The T-track extensions looked simple but required exact measurements and through bolting through the deck.The toughest project was a bimini top. The boom is too low to allow standing so I mounted a top on slider tracks and split the top behind the center support for the backstay. The top just clears the leech of the main above the boom while sailing and provides shelter and shade for a good portion of the cockpit. This allows standing room and I can slide the top forward to cover the whole cockpit when at anchor by swinging the boom to the side.  
The boat's best features The 25.5 is perhaps one of the most under-rated boat of its size. It has an enormous cabin for a 25 footer and is very well laid out. Weekending is a real pleasure and the separate fore cabin affords privacy, though the vee berth is too small for two adults.The real forte' of the 25.5 is its performance. It's outstanding in light air with a nylon 170; points higher than most boats exept the pure race machines and takes off like a rabbit in a stiff breeze. Though initially tender and sensitive to the proper headsail to avoid excess heel and weather helm, with the right sails it will stay in a groove even in 20 winds. The layout is ideal for single handing, which I do a lot, even in our club races if I can't round up my crew. With the tiller extension I can easily reach all control lines and handle the boat efficiently during a tack. Very simply, the boat is a lot of fun to sail!  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The 25.5 is quite solidly built and has good hardware. The gelcoat on deck is, however, not as good as some other boats. I've experienced a fair amount of gelcoat crazing and spider web cracks in the surface coat. This could lead to water penetration of the deck and potential delamination. I would have preferred a lead keel rather than the cast iron. Any damage or crack to the gelcoat over the iron will cause rust and corrosion resulting in separation of the gelcoat. I had to peel most of it off when I bought her and used fairing compound and VC Tar to seal before repainting. I've sailed the boat hard and often and absolutely nothing has ever broken! Not bad for a 12 year old boat with all the original hardware and rigging. I did have a tiller break during a race because of rot at the bolts to the rudder fitting, but after all, it had been in the weather for 10 years. By the way, we finished the race with a hammer duct taped to the two broken pieces as a splint!  
Sailing characterisitcs This boat is fast and points exceptionally well. As mentioned above, it is sensitive to the proper headsail. I have hank on sails, which requires at least a small, medium and large genoa. The boat should be reefed early with a larger genoa, at about 12-15, to keep it on its feet. It holds a groove well up to about 25 degrees of heel. This is where the line-adjustable traveler is important. I steer with one hand and play the traveler line with the other to play the gusts and relieve weather helm without releasing the mainsheet. In light air, the big 170 nylon diesel keeps me sailing when others are dead in the water. In heavy winds, with reefed main and small jib, it sails well, though weather helm develops rapidly as the wind picks up. I have sailed in winds of 25-30, and gusts to 35, while racing with crew, but it was a real handfull!This is a sailor's boat. It handles well and performs well. It is also very forgiving to the novice as long as it isn't overpowered.  
Motoring characterisitcs My boat has a 6 hp Evinrude, which was the factory standard issue. This is adequate for docking and motoring on the lake in good weather, but it should have at least an 8-10 hp to handle rougher water and punch through chop and waves.Because the motor is mounted on the port side of the transom due to the outboard rudder, the motor needs to be turned about 10 degrees to keep on a straight course.  
Liveability Because of the large interior volume, Hunter put a lot of living space into a 25-1/2' boat. The separate fore cabin gives privacy to the potty and room for changing clothes. The aft berth is a real full size bed, though head room is low on the inside half. With a 2-burner Origo alcohol stove; built in ice box and stainless steel sink, the galley is fine for weekend cooking. Standing room is about 5'6", so I have to stoop a bit, though not uncomfortably so. The pop-top opens the cabin up to about 6'6". I like the dinette layout better than the new open layouts as there is no obstructions to moving fore and aft inside and no tables to fold up. The dinette does convert to a berth, though we've never slept on it. The boat has plenty of storage for gear and supplies and should be comfortable for 2-4 adults or a couple with children, for a week's cruising. I have corresponded with a couple who cruised a 25.5 for 3 months on the Sea of Cortez and loved it.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) I've only had to contact Hunter about minor things; like where to place the depthfinder transducer, a couple of times. Each time the rep was very helpful and responsive. Since I've had no real problems with the boat, I have no complaints.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any I bought my boat from Andre' Rijsdyk, owner of Sale Creek Marina, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. If I ever buy another boat through a dealer, It definitely will be from Andre'! He's one of the nicest and most knowledgeable guys you will find in the business, even if he is a Catalina Dealer! Besides being helpful and honest during the sale, he went over and beyond.Rather than incur transportation charges to move the boat about 100 miles, Andre' loaned me a trailer he had, at no charge. When the trailer broke down about halfway home, (I'll relate that experience in "Funny Sailing Stories" someday) Andre' drove up the next day with his welding equipment, worked half a day, got me back on the road again, and wouldn't accept any payment! He will definitely have first chance to sell me another boat and I recommend him to anyone in the market for a used boat (or, heaven forbid, a new Catalina!).  
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