In my loose research of the Hunter 25.5 I have seen reference to two keel options: The 4'6 and the 3'3 shoal draft version. I have seen quite a few pictures of the 4'6 keel but no pics of the more shallow 3'3 model. Does anyone have any more info on the differences with or without pics referencing handling/design etc? Any input including pics would be appreciated. kh
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found one pic
I did find a photo of the shoal draft in the archives. Any handling/peformance comments?
I did find a photo of the shoal draft in the archives. Any handling/peformance comments?
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Here's another one..
I have an '86 full keel, but four slips down from me is an '85 shoal draft keel. He has just had the bottom painted, (April 02). I have more picts if you want any.
I have an '86 full keel, but four slips down from me is an '85 shoal draft keel. He has just had the bottom painted, (April 02). I have more picts if you want any.
Thanks Dave! One other thing....
Again, thanks for the even better shot of the shoal draft keel. One question: Since your friend has one right down the way, have you have a chance to sail in both boats and can you compare the performance differences between the two? Is there a significant difference in the feel and handling between the two versions (not to mention the tenderness)? Thanks for any more info here. Kelly
Again, thanks for the even better shot of the shoal draft keel. One question: Since your friend has one right down the way, have you have a chance to sail in both boats and can you compare the performance differences between the two? Is there a significant difference in the feel and handling between the two versions (not to mention the tenderness)? Thanks for any more info here. Kelly
Shoal draft keel
I have one of the shoal draft 25.5's. I can't comment on the tenderness because I have the inboard diesel engine which probably gives me a similar center of gravity/bouyancy to the outboard deep keel boat I was on. My boat doesn't point quite as well as I would like due to the shoal keel but I have been through waters where the full keel version would have been grounded on several occasions. If you don't need the shallow draft then you would probably be happier performancewise with the full version. Another thought is that I can put mine on a trailer with the shallow draft at a deep boat ramp. Hope this helps. Dan
I have one of the shoal draft 25.5's. I can't comment on the tenderness because I have the inboard diesel engine which probably gives me a similar center of gravity/bouyancy to the outboard deep keel boat I was on. My boat doesn't point quite as well as I would like due to the shoal keel but I have been through waters where the full keel version would have been grounded on several occasions. If you don't need the shallow draft then you would probably be happier performancewise with the full version. Another thought is that I can put mine on a trailer with the shallow draft at a deep boat ramp. Hope this helps. Dan
Havn't sailed a shoal draft..
I have not sailed in the shoal draft version. I just got mine (full keel) in march, and have only sailed it once, in light air. The 25.5 is tender but sails very well. The full keel is not as tender and points a litter better I'm told. I like the boat a lot. I use to sell Hunters in the eighties, and remember how well they were built. But, I have to watch my depth here on the Tennessee river. so I put in a fifh finder so I could watch the bottom...Good luck. There are pros and cons to both models. Not very easy to float a full keel onto a trailer..
I have not sailed in the shoal draft version. I just got mine (full keel) in march, and have only sailed it once, in light air. The 25.5 is tender but sails very well. The full keel is not as tender and points a litter better I'm told. I like the boat a lot. I use to sell Hunters in the eighties, and remember how well they were built. But, I have to watch my depth here on the Tennessee river. so I put in a fifh finder so I could watch the bottom...Good luck. There are pros and cons to both models. Not very easy to float a full keel onto a trailer..
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