From a sailing perspective (stiffness, "comfort", responsiveness, handling, etc.) and from an ownership perspective (what it takes to maintain) I'm very interested in a comparison of the older 27 and 25.5 boats. The specs say one thing but I've learned that is only a fraction of the true story. Thanks
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Cliff Ruckstruhl
25.5
Having owned a 25.5 and not a 27 nor have I sailed on the 27. I am biased to the 25.5. I have 2 friends that have a 25.5 and love ther boat as did we. We now have a 28.5 have very fond memories of our 25.5. That said the 25.5 offers so much for a boat of this size. Big cockpit to stretch out in. With the pop top on a hot July day the top up is like air condition compared to down. Sailng it is a pleasure very reponsive lots of sail area. I really like where the Traveler is some do not but having it in front verese behind like on some boats is easy to get to. Also as you are trimming it you are looking forward. Wide side decks, boat is tender at the dock but sailing she stiffens up. All of us had the shoal draft boat for trailer abilty. If we were to go back to a 27 to 27 foot boat it would be the 25.5 with out looking at anything else. Down below the V berth is small. We had extended it over the head for more room. For my wife and I sleeping seperate was not an option. I am 6' and she is 5'7" so it was tight. Nice big Ice Box nice galley sinks are small but it's only a 25.5. Ther not any biggert than on our 28.5. With being able to close off the V berth it was nice for Ranae to nap while I messed around on the other stuff. We did a weeks vaction on the boat every year pulling the boat 350 miles to Lake Michigan 2 years in a row. When we did not go there we did a week on Lake Erie. We had her in some rough weather 6 to 7 foot waves and boat was fine. Boat is well built and more then likly will out sail the 27 every day of the week. Baised on the number this would be true. I have seen the 27 out of the water and by looking at the keel I can see that the 25.5 would be a better sailing boat. ( I am not intending to hurt the feeling of any 27 owners) We had our 25.5 3 seasons and raced her in our club for half of a season. Then we moved the boat to Lake Erie and did not race her again. But we were on track to walk away with all the Club silver that season. She was fast in light air and was allot faster then the Catalina 25's and Oday 25's we were racing against. Cliff cliffr@sbcglobal.net
Having owned a 25.5 and not a 27 nor have I sailed on the 27. I am biased to the 25.5. I have 2 friends that have a 25.5 and love ther boat as did we. We now have a 28.5 have very fond memories of our 25.5. That said the 25.5 offers so much for a boat of this size. Big cockpit to stretch out in. With the pop top on a hot July day the top up is like air condition compared to down. Sailng it is a pleasure very reponsive lots of sail area. I really like where the Traveler is some do not but having it in front verese behind like on some boats is easy to get to. Also as you are trimming it you are looking forward. Wide side decks, boat is tender at the dock but sailing she stiffens up. All of us had the shoal draft boat for trailer abilty. If we were to go back to a 27 to 27 foot boat it would be the 25.5 with out looking at anything else. Down below the V berth is small. We had extended it over the head for more room. For my wife and I sleeping seperate was not an option. I am 6' and she is 5'7" so it was tight. Nice big Ice Box nice galley sinks are small but it's only a 25.5. Ther not any biggert than on our 28.5. With being able to close off the V berth it was nice for Ranae to nap while I messed around on the other stuff. We did a weeks vaction on the boat every year pulling the boat 350 miles to Lake Michigan 2 years in a row. When we did not go there we did a week on Lake Erie. We had her in some rough weather 6 to 7 foot waves and boat was fine. Boat is well built and more then likly will out sail the 27 every day of the week. Baised on the number this would be true. I have seen the 27 out of the water and by looking at the keel I can see that the 25.5 would be a better sailing boat. ( I am not intending to hurt the feeling of any 27 owners) We had our 25.5 3 seasons and raced her in our club for half of a season. Then we moved the boat to Lake Erie and did not race her again. But we were on track to walk away with all the Club silver that season. She was fast in light air and was allot faster then the Catalina 25's and Oday 25's we were racing against. Cliff cliffr@sbcglobal.net
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David Foster
Cherubini designed h27 75-84
These are two very different boats! They share the same waterline (22 feet with one inch to the 25.5) so the speed potential is the same. But the 25.5 is lighter (less wetted surface) with a d/l of 209, and a SA/D of 16.6, so it should accelerate faster, and do better in light winds as Cliff says. With a capsize screen of 2.18, you would want to stay in coastal waters - it's clearly not designed for ocean cruising. At 2,500 more pounds, with two feet more overhang, and a 6 foot cabin, the h27 will be a more comfortable boat on a longer cruise (its "comfort factor" of 24 vs. 16 for the 25.5 bears this out.) Its capsize screen of 1.93 says that is also designed for heavier weather (and a number have made off shore cruises, although most of us are coastal cruisers.) She moves best heeling 15 degrees or less. With the cruising spinnaker offered by Doyle in this forum, she will do very well off the wind in all weather. With the sheets led back outside the stays, and a shoal keel, she doesn't point very well. But the deeper keel, and a track to fairlead the sheets closer to the centerline, this would be much improved. Without line drawings, it's hard to say anything about stiffness. I much prefer the h27 75-84's appearance - it looks more classey to me (simple personal preference!) At this point, they are both "classic plastic." Get a good survey, but I doubt there is much difference in maintainability. I do like the simple systems on the h27 (can't speak for the 25.5.) Both are well thought of in this forum. If it were me, I would crawl over both of them, get a trial sail on both (this is important, given your questions - I'll bet they feel quite different under sail) and go with the one I liked, including a good survey to avoid major issues. Enjoy the choice, and the sailing! David Lady Lillie
These are two very different boats! They share the same waterline (22 feet with one inch to the 25.5) so the speed potential is the same. But the 25.5 is lighter (less wetted surface) with a d/l of 209, and a SA/D of 16.6, so it should accelerate faster, and do better in light winds as Cliff says. With a capsize screen of 2.18, you would want to stay in coastal waters - it's clearly not designed for ocean cruising. At 2,500 more pounds, with two feet more overhang, and a 6 foot cabin, the h27 will be a more comfortable boat on a longer cruise (its "comfort factor" of 24 vs. 16 for the 25.5 bears this out.) Its capsize screen of 1.93 says that is also designed for heavier weather (and a number have made off shore cruises, although most of us are coastal cruisers.) She moves best heeling 15 degrees or less. With the cruising spinnaker offered by Doyle in this forum, she will do very well off the wind in all weather. With the sheets led back outside the stays, and a shoal keel, she doesn't point very well. But the deeper keel, and a track to fairlead the sheets closer to the centerline, this would be much improved. Without line drawings, it's hard to say anything about stiffness. I much prefer the h27 75-84's appearance - it looks more classey to me (simple personal preference!) At this point, they are both "classic plastic." Get a good survey, but I doubt there is much difference in maintainability. I do like the simple systems on the h27 (can't speak for the 25.5.) Both are well thought of in this forum. If it were me, I would crawl over both of them, get a trial sail on both (this is important, given your questions - I'll bet they feel quite different under sail) and go with the one I liked, including a good survey to avoid major issues. Enjoy the choice, and the sailing! David Lady Lillie
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Ron Vanderveer
Some Input on the H27 (1982)
Bill We have an older (82) Hunter 27 and we have owned it now for about 2 1/2 years. My previous experience on this size boat was a '70s era Catalina 27. But I cannot say anything about the 25.5. Nevertheless, let me give you some things to check out/compare for yourself, weighed against how important they are to you personally as the potential owner. The first thing that struck us about the 27 was its beam: 9'3". This makes for a very roomy main cabin, and in fact the V-berth and quarter berth will fit me laying down (6'4") with just a little bit of bend in my knees. The forward positioned head is kind of a nice design too, although it's not as 'private' as some might wish. It does, however, allow me to sit on the toilet without crushing my knees. So interior roominess was a big factor for us. Sailing-wise, our boat has a standard 'lapper' (not a genoa) furling jib and standard main, and the only negative is that the main needs to be furled in 15 knots or more for sure. If not, she'll just get massive weather helm and round up automatically. So now we know how to furl our main! Since our main goal was day and weekend trips in the Indian River Lagoon, sailing performance and seaworthiness were not as high on the priority list as comfort and ease of use. We haven't discovered any odd or particularly annoying design "features" except for the very very shallow bilge. The problem is that it is very hard to pump it out with a standard bilge pump. There are workarounds, but you may want to pull up the cabin soles and check it out. Annoying, but not a deal-killer. Other stuff has just been related to the age of the boat. Hope that helps your checklist. Take care, Ron "Dolphin Dancer"
Bill We have an older (82) Hunter 27 and we have owned it now for about 2 1/2 years. My previous experience on this size boat was a '70s era Catalina 27. But I cannot say anything about the 25.5. Nevertheless, let me give you some things to check out/compare for yourself, weighed against how important they are to you personally as the potential owner. The first thing that struck us about the 27 was its beam: 9'3". This makes for a very roomy main cabin, and in fact the V-berth and quarter berth will fit me laying down (6'4") with just a little bit of bend in my knees. The forward positioned head is kind of a nice design too, although it's not as 'private' as some might wish. It does, however, allow me to sit on the toilet without crushing my knees. So interior roominess was a big factor for us. Sailing-wise, our boat has a standard 'lapper' (not a genoa) furling jib and standard main, and the only negative is that the main needs to be furled in 15 knots or more for sure. If not, she'll just get massive weather helm and round up automatically. So now we know how to furl our main! Since our main goal was day and weekend trips in the Indian River Lagoon, sailing performance and seaworthiness were not as high on the priority list as comfort and ease of use. We haven't discovered any odd or particularly annoying design "features" except for the very very shallow bilge. The problem is that it is very hard to pump it out with a standard bilge pump. There are workarounds, but you may want to pull up the cabin soles and check it out. Annoying, but not a deal-killer. Other stuff has just been related to the age of the boat. Hope that helps your checklist. Take care, Ron "Dolphin Dancer"
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Bill
Lakes only
I forgot to mention that my sailing will be limited to lakes (impoundments) in the midwest. Nothing bigger than Kentucky Lake. No great lakes.
I forgot to mention that my sailing will be limited to lakes (impoundments) in the midwest. Nothing bigger than Kentucky Lake. No great lakes.
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Tim McCarty
Not sure what the 25.5 draws...
but the h27 (non shoal draft) 4'3" and that could be too much for an inland lake. HOWEVER, if the h27 is a shoal draft (and I've seen a few of these) it shouldn't be a problem. I had an '82 27 for seven years before trading up to a 29.5 late last season. The h27 is an excellent boat in my eyes...sails very well and offers a lot of comfort inside.
but the h27 (non shoal draft) 4'3" and that could be too much for an inland lake. HOWEVER, if the h27 is a shoal draft (and I've seen a few of these) it shouldn't be a problem. I had an '82 27 for seven years before trading up to a 29.5 late last season. The h27 is an excellent boat in my eyes...sails very well and offers a lot of comfort inside.
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