I just want to leave a comment here. 70s and 80s Hunters are as good as almost any other boat from the same era. I have a C&C 29-2 and a Hunter 25. Thick strong fiberglass hulls, industry standard bulkhead tabbing. Anyone trash talking this boat is a fanboy that certainly has never stepped foot on a classic Hunter.
I'm new to sailing and was thinking of buying a used Hunter 25 footer. I've sailed flying scots. Is this a good starter boat? I'm on the Navesink River and would like to venture out to where your video was taken.
It's got a pretty standard length to beam ratio of 3-1, though it's true the shoal draft keel doesn't point as well as a fin keeled boat. Of course everything in boat design is a trade-off. I think a keelboat this size is the perfect learning platform. Big enough to be self-righting in any situation (smaller boats or ones more lightly ballasted can be held under by water in the sails or crew working at the mast at the time of broach). It's also just big and stable enough to safely handle most coastal cruising grounds and conditions. Too much sail up in too much breeze merely heels the boat over and rounds you up, no danger of capsize. A spinnaker broach similarly will not result in capsize (trailer sailers such as catalina 22's and precisions have been known to capsize, downflood and/or sink in such situations). So you can push the boat to it's limits without fear, as should be true of any keel boat imo. It's not too big of a boat either though, friends who sail on 30 footers and bigger tell me the Hunter feels like a dinghy and is surprisingly responsive. The tiller gives a good feel for the boat, and you learn quickly the effects of sail trim etc. The sheet and sail trim loads are manageable and screw-ups are easier to fix than on bigger boats. Importantly, it is small enough that tacking the foresail does not become a chore. It requires a couple wraps on the winch, but not much grinding compared to bigger boats which quickly tire you out especially when short tacking. I sail in crowded waters and from experience I know this can take the pleasure out of sailing bigger boats, especially masthead rigs with big genoas.
I just want to leave a comment here. 70s and 80s Hunters are as good as almost any other boat from the same era. I have a C&C 29-2 and a Hunter 25. Thick strong fiberglass hulls, industry standard bulkhead tabbing. Anyone trash talking this boat is a fanboy that certainly has never stepped foot on a classic Hunter.
Do you know where I can source a shoal keel for my 80s hunter 25? The deep keel it came with has a bunch of high caliber holes and divots.
I'm new to sailing and was thinking of buying a used Hunter 25 footer. I've sailed flying scots. Is this a good starter boat? I'm on the Navesink River and would like to venture out to where your video was taken.
It's got a pretty standard length to beam ratio of 3-1, though it's true the shoal draft keel doesn't point as well as a fin keeled boat. Of course everything in boat design is a trade-off.
I think a keelboat this size is the perfect learning platform.
Big enough to be self-righting in any situation (smaller boats or ones more lightly ballasted can be held under by water in the sails or crew working at the mast at the time of broach). It's also just big and stable enough to safely handle most coastal cruising grounds and conditions. Too much sail up in too much breeze merely heels the boat over and rounds you up, no danger of capsize. A spinnaker broach similarly will not result in capsize (trailer sailers such as catalina 22's and precisions have been known to capsize, downflood and/or sink in such situations). So you can push the boat to it's limits without fear, as should be true of any keel boat imo.
It's not too big of a boat either though, friends who sail on 30 footers and bigger tell me the Hunter feels like a dinghy and is surprisingly responsive. The tiller gives a good feel for the boat, and you learn quickly the effects of sail trim etc. The sheet and sail trim loads are manageable and screw-ups are easier to fix than on bigger boats.
Importantly, it is small enough that tacking the foresail does not become a chore. It requires a couple wraps on the winch, but not much grinding compared to bigger boats which quickly tire you out especially when short tacking. I sail in crowded waters and from experience I know this can take the pleasure out of sailing bigger boats, especially masthead rigs with big genoas.
I agree whole-heartedly. I've had a Hunter 25 for 6 years and I love it.
What kind of speed where you getting?
HUNTER 25 ,........ KID"S DREAMS el sueño del pibe............
I've got a S-2 22 and just learning to sail. How much weather can this boat safely take ???
im just learning too, i was told boats can take more then the sailors....
wow your brave guys going out in a blow in a hunter sailboat...but i think you know that you have your lifejackets on.........
they don't point worth a flip. look for something less beamy
its a hunter sailboat built as cheap as humanly possible.....just junk
Margaret Wouters but, they're affordable fun.