Any information would be appreciated. I am considering buying a 1985 Hunter 25.5 with a 9.9 diesel. It looks like a great boat with the exception of the rudder gelcoat which is cracked at the center seam. There are a few other minor things but is there anything specific that I should be looking for when inspecting this boat?Thanks for your help. Mike
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Tried to e-mail you Mike, but it keeps coming back to me. This is what you sent: wcmike@zootown.com Get me your correct e-mail and I will send you something.
Tried to e-mail you Mike, but it keeps coming back to me. This is what you sent: wcmike@zootown.com Get me your correct e-mail and I will send you something.
25.5
The rudder was manufactured by Foss Foam. Depending on the scope of the cracking, it is normally possible to repair the seam with a good epoxy. Need to check for delamination on the rudder if water has gotten in. This can also be fixed easily if it is not too bad. I did a major rudder overhaul for my 25.5 last winter that included repair of delaminated rudder skin and a portion of the seam. Take a good look at the keel/hull joint. The joint seems to tend to part on many 25.5's I have seen, but that may be easy to repair as well. The keel is iron and major rusting, especially at the joint with the hull, may be a concern. In most situations, failures of this joint can be repaired fairly easily. If there is a separation, no matter how slight, be certain to check the keel bolts. A broken bolt would be a major problem. My 25.5 had a blister problem when I bought it (used). Ended up peeling the bottom and applying a good barrier coat. I had that completed before I picked it up from the seller and the seller picked up the tab. From the 25.5s I have looked at at various marinas in the midwest, it appears that blisters are common for the model. The barrier coat seems to have worked very well, but I have still filled a small number of blisters over the years. The boat probably has Maxwell winches. Make certain they have been maintained. Maxwell does not make them anymore and parts are hard to come by. If the engine runs well and apears to be clean and maintained, it is probably OK. If possible, take it for a spin. If not, there are ways to run it on the hard. These are fairly reliable engines and the 1GM10 is one of the main reasons I bought the boat. You will also probably find a few "stress cracks" in the gelcoat. I have some at the back corners of the locker, edges of the cockpit, and at a few locations onthe pop top. They are small and, other than gathering some dirt, have never been more than cosmetic. I have found the boat to be reliable and roomy for its size class. If is comfortable to overnight on and the pop top makes a diferrence for taller folks. The interior has held up quite well over the years and required relatively little maintenance. I yse the sleeping area below the cockpit for storage since I find it hard to get in and out of the space. We tend to sleep on the folded down table and find it quite comfortable. Mine is a shoal draft and does not perform in races as well as some other Hunters models at certain points of sail. I believe a full keel would make the boat quite competitive in the types of racing I do. The boat is also a little "tender." I tend to reef before others and have found that reefing in winds less than others reef helps performance. I do love the 25.5. The inboard, if maintained, is reliable and scoots the boat along quite well. All exterior teak (not much) can be removed for winter storage - that leads to less maintenance. The boat is set up for single handed sailing. I prefer tiller control and most 25.5s have tillers. In my state, nearly every fee and license increase hits at 26 ft. The 25.5 obviously gets under the wire on that issue.
The rudder was manufactured by Foss Foam. Depending on the scope of the cracking, it is normally possible to repair the seam with a good epoxy. Need to check for delamination on the rudder if water has gotten in. This can also be fixed easily if it is not too bad. I did a major rudder overhaul for my 25.5 last winter that included repair of delaminated rudder skin and a portion of the seam. Take a good look at the keel/hull joint. The joint seems to tend to part on many 25.5's I have seen, but that may be easy to repair as well. The keel is iron and major rusting, especially at the joint with the hull, may be a concern. In most situations, failures of this joint can be repaired fairly easily. If there is a separation, no matter how slight, be certain to check the keel bolts. A broken bolt would be a major problem. My 25.5 had a blister problem when I bought it (used). Ended up peeling the bottom and applying a good barrier coat. I had that completed before I picked it up from the seller and the seller picked up the tab. From the 25.5s I have looked at at various marinas in the midwest, it appears that blisters are common for the model. The barrier coat seems to have worked very well, but I have still filled a small number of blisters over the years. The boat probably has Maxwell winches. Make certain they have been maintained. Maxwell does not make them anymore and parts are hard to come by. If the engine runs well and apears to be clean and maintained, it is probably OK. If possible, take it for a spin. If not, there are ways to run it on the hard. These are fairly reliable engines and the 1GM10 is one of the main reasons I bought the boat. You will also probably find a few "stress cracks" in the gelcoat. I have some at the back corners of the locker, edges of the cockpit, and at a few locations onthe pop top. They are small and, other than gathering some dirt, have never been more than cosmetic. I have found the boat to be reliable and roomy for its size class. If is comfortable to overnight on and the pop top makes a diferrence for taller folks. The interior has held up quite well over the years and required relatively little maintenance. I yse the sleeping area below the cockpit for storage since I find it hard to get in and out of the space. We tend to sleep on the folded down table and find it quite comfortable. Mine is a shoal draft and does not perform in races as well as some other Hunters models at certain points of sail. I believe a full keel would make the boat quite competitive in the types of racing I do. The boat is also a little "tender." I tend to reef before others and have found that reefing in winds less than others reef helps performance. I do love the 25.5. The inboard, if maintained, is reliable and scoots the boat along quite well. All exterior teak (not much) can be removed for winter storage - that leads to less maintenance. The boat is set up for single handed sailing. I prefer tiller control and most 25.5s have tillers. In my state, nearly every fee and license increase hits at 26 ft. The 25.5 obviously gets under the wire on that issue.
Thank you
Thanks for taking the time to provide all the useful information about the 25.5. On closer inspection I have found areas of blistering although not large areas. The main problem is an area of the hull at one of the rear trailer screw pads that is compressed with some cracks around it. The boat was actually in the trailer during a flood. I think the water was high enough to bounce the boat up and down and oil can that spot. I really like this boat but that may be enough to scare me off. Thanks again for helping me take a more objective look at it. Mike
Thanks for taking the time to provide all the useful information about the 25.5. On closer inspection I have found areas of blistering although not large areas. The main problem is an area of the hull at one of the rear trailer screw pads that is compressed with some cracks around it. The boat was actually in the trailer during a flood. I think the water was high enough to bounce the boat up and down and oil can that spot. I really like this boat but that may be enough to scare me off. Thanks again for helping me take a more objective look at it. Mike
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