I had my new Hunter 25 delivered yesterday. The boat has most all options, including bimini, marine head, wheel steering, and roller furling head sail. After my first sail, I am very impressed with the boat. The boat is very easy to sail and appears very balanced. We started with the main reefed due to very high winds. On Lake Travis, we get a lot of gusty wind, and this boat is very easy to handle in those conditions. Later in the afternoon the wind calmed a bit and we were able to use full sails. My boat also has a yamaha high thrust 8hp outboard with controls mounted in the cockpit. The motor was able to push the boat at 6 knots with less than half throttle. The boat was very easy to launch and retrive from the trailer. Even with a cross wind, we were able to easily get it aligned on the trailer. The trailer appears to be overbuilt for the boat. It has a 6000lb capacity, dual axle with surge brakes, and all galvanized construction. We will have the boat out all weekend, so I should have a better feel for the boat soon.
- Status
Congratulations! (and message)
From what I've seen, people are hungry for thorough reviews of this boat. Wait several weeks for the initial euphoria to wear off a bit and post a detailed review under the Models section (and here too!).
From what I've seen, people are hungry for thorough reviews of this boat. Wait several weeks for the initial euphoria to wear off a bit and post a detailed review under the Models section (and here too!).
Congratulations II
Get ready for the most fun you've ever had with your clothes on. A great experience!
Get ready for the most fun you've ever had with your clothes on. A great experience!
A few more thoughts on my new 25
Well, after spending the weekend on the boat, I can share a little more. We left about 6pm Friday night, and motored to a nice anchorage in a secluded cove. A front came in and the wind really picked up. One thing we noticed immediately was noise. The rudder does not raise completely out of the water without removing some hardware. This caused some clanking in the steering linkage. We sailed all day Saturday. The first half of the day was just the two of us. The second we picked up two friends. The boat sails well both up and downwind. It really likes to sail flat. In heavy wind, we easily hit 5.5 knots with just the main up. With full sails, we were seeing 6+ knots easily. The boat is pretty sensitive to weight change. With the sails set and steering locked, you can easily steer the boat by moving about the cockpit.
Well, after spending the weekend on the boat, I can share a little more. We left about 6pm Friday night, and motored to a nice anchorage in a secluded cove. A front came in and the wind really picked up. One thing we noticed immediately was noise. The rudder does not raise completely out of the water without removing some hardware. This caused some clanking in the steering linkage. We sailed all day Saturday. The first half of the day was just the two of us. The second we picked up two friends. The boat sails well both up and downwind. It really likes to sail flat. In heavy wind, we easily hit 5.5 knots with just the main up. With full sails, we were seeing 6+ knots easily. The boat is pretty sensitive to weight change. With the sails set and steering locked, you can easily steer the boat by moving about the cockpit.
Ditto on the review
I have a 98 H240 and am thinking about getting a new 25. I will look forward to your review of the new 25.
I have a 98 H240 and am thinking about getting a new 25. I will look forward to your review of the new 25.
Hey Bill
I see you're in Dewey Beach - do you use the 240 in the ocean? Via Indian River Inlet? How does the boat do in the open Atlantic?
I see you're in Dewey Beach - do you use the 240 in the ocean? Via Indian River Inlet? How does the boat do in the open Atlantic?
Second Weekend on the new 25
The second weekend out on the new 25 was very nice. The previous week, I installed a clarion stereo with a remote mounted in the cockpit near my engine controls. I also installed a lowrance M68C Smap - GPS, depth instrument. Saturday morning we raised the mast and rigged the boat. We did this in very gusty conditions. Even in the heavy wind, this task was within reason. Being new to doing it, it took the two of us about an hour. The mast raising system is great on the boat. We still needed to put a few hours on the outboard for break in so we motored a while, anchored off, and met some friends for a little grilling and relaxing. We spent most of our time Saturday learning to live in the boat rather than sail it. Overall, I am please with the way the boat is set up. It is very comfortable. The head is a bit tight, but it is a 25, so that was nothing to suprise me. The stern rails perfectly held the Magna grill and cooking was easily done from the cockpit. This time we used a bungee on the rudder to tension the linkage before sleeping. This solved the noise issue coming from the linkage moving in the middle of the night. Saturday morning, we wanted to see what it was like to lover the mast on the water. It was really no more difficult than on the trailer. I would like to be able to do it with out removing the head sail. As it is, it requires the use of the jib halyard, which means unfurling, and lowering the sail. Speaking of the head sail, we found that furling the head sail, even pointed directly into the wind, requires the winch handle. The Hood furling literature states that the furling will have less resistance after some use. We'll see. Saturday we covered about 20 miles, with a fairly light wind. The boat ran 3 to 4 knots on average. We did a bit of motor sailing now and then. I have to say that I am loving the choice of outboards. The yamaha 8 hp is great. It has controls mounted in the cockpit and the electric tilt brings the engine all the way out of the water. No dragging even when heeled over. We did a few adjustments on the boat over the weekend. The bimini was slightly interfering with the topping lift. We moved the bimini back on the stern rail about 1 inch. That fixed the issue. While the bimini is a really nice piece, the window they put in it is not in the right place. From behind the wheel, you need to lean forward to look through the bimini to see the windex. Had the window been placed in the back half of the bimini, it would be perfect. You can lean back from the helmsman seat and see the windex over the back side of the bimini though. We also found enough loose hardware to make me check everything. This appears to be a quality control issue and does irritate me a bit. I found that one nut that holds the steering pedestal on, was laying in the bilge. It had come off completely. The bow ring where the trailer hooks was loose. One stanchion is loose. Various assorted other screws and such are loose or missing in the interior. While none of this is a big deal, I really didn't expect to have to check and tighten all this stuff right away. I know I covered this in the first weekend review, but I need to say it again. This boat is very well balanced. It will easily sail itself with the steering locked and sails set. It is hard to believe how easy this boat is to sail. The large wind gusts on Lake Travis, which would give me quite a surprise on other boats, are really no issue for this one. I was a bit concerned with the shoal keel, but I really wanted the shallow draft and not having to mess with a swing keel. I can say now, that my concern for the shoal keel was not warranted. The bimini is a must have addition here in Texas, as it actually was in the 90's already this weekend.
The second weekend out on the new 25 was very nice. The previous week, I installed a clarion stereo with a remote mounted in the cockpit near my engine controls. I also installed a lowrance M68C Smap - GPS, depth instrument. Saturday morning we raised the mast and rigged the boat. We did this in very gusty conditions. Even in the heavy wind, this task was within reason. Being new to doing it, it took the two of us about an hour. The mast raising system is great on the boat. We still needed to put a few hours on the outboard for break in so we motored a while, anchored off, and met some friends for a little grilling and relaxing. We spent most of our time Saturday learning to live in the boat rather than sail it. Overall, I am please with the way the boat is set up. It is very comfortable. The head is a bit tight, but it is a 25, so that was nothing to suprise me. The stern rails perfectly held the Magna grill and cooking was easily done from the cockpit. This time we used a bungee on the rudder to tension the linkage before sleeping. This solved the noise issue coming from the linkage moving in the middle of the night. Saturday morning, we wanted to see what it was like to lover the mast on the water. It was really no more difficult than on the trailer. I would like to be able to do it with out removing the head sail. As it is, it requires the use of the jib halyard, which means unfurling, and lowering the sail. Speaking of the head sail, we found that furling the head sail, even pointed directly into the wind, requires the winch handle. The Hood furling literature states that the furling will have less resistance after some use. We'll see. Saturday we covered about 20 miles, with a fairly light wind. The boat ran 3 to 4 knots on average. We did a bit of motor sailing now and then. I have to say that I am loving the choice of outboards. The yamaha 8 hp is great. It has controls mounted in the cockpit and the electric tilt brings the engine all the way out of the water. No dragging even when heeled over. We did a few adjustments on the boat over the weekend. The bimini was slightly interfering with the topping lift. We moved the bimini back on the stern rail about 1 inch. That fixed the issue. While the bimini is a really nice piece, the window they put in it is not in the right place. From behind the wheel, you need to lean forward to look through the bimini to see the windex. Had the window been placed in the back half of the bimini, it would be perfect. You can lean back from the helmsman seat and see the windex over the back side of the bimini though. We also found enough loose hardware to make me check everything. This appears to be a quality control issue and does irritate me a bit. I found that one nut that holds the steering pedestal on, was laying in the bilge. It had come off completely. The bow ring where the trailer hooks was loose. One stanchion is loose. Various assorted other screws and such are loose or missing in the interior. While none of this is a big deal, I really didn't expect to have to check and tighten all this stuff right away. I know I covered this in the first weekend review, but I need to say it again. This boat is very well balanced. It will easily sail itself with the steering locked and sails set. It is hard to believe how easy this boat is to sail. The large wind gusts on Lake Travis, which would give me quite a surprise on other boats, are really no issue for this one. I was a bit concerned with the shoal keel, but I really wanted the shallow draft and not having to mess with a swing keel. I can say now, that my concern for the shoal keel was not warranted. The bimini is a must have addition here in Texas, as it actually was in the 90's already this weekend.
Sounds great
Glad to hear the shoal keel is OK. I like the 25 myself, just makes me a little leary about sailing to weather. On the loose fittings - trailering can shake the bejesus out of the boat - it's a good idea to make a habit of checking things out. Even old Josh Slocum did that every morning on his trip to Boston from Boston.
Glad to hear the shoal keel is OK. I like the 25 myself, just makes me a little leary about sailing to weather. On the loose fittings - trailering can shake the bejesus out of the boat - it's a good idea to make a habit of checking things out. Even old Josh Slocum did that every morning on his trip to Boston from Boston.
Picture/description of motor controls on new 25
JeffC, I also bought a new (2006) 25'. I'm very interested in how you have your motor controls set up in the cockpit. -snip from your post: "The yamaha 8 hp is great. It has controls mounted in the cockpit and the electric tilt brings the engine all the way out of the water." Do you have any pictures or description of your setup? Thanks, Ken
JeffC, I also bought a new (2006) 25'. I'm very interested in how you have your motor controls set up in the cockpit. -snip from your post: "The yamaha 8 hp is great. It has controls mounted in the cockpit and the electric tilt brings the engine all the way out of the water." Do you have any pictures or description of your setup? Thanks, Ken
Yamaha 8hp
Firstly congratulations on your "NEW" 25. I have been singing the virtues of the Yamaha on this site for a couple of years. I fitted one to my once brand new 260. Once I designed and fitted a link fitting between the motor and the rudder it has proved to be one of the finest set ups in the marina.
Firstly congratulations on your "NEW" 25. I have been singing the virtues of the Yamaha on this site for a couple of years. I fitted one to my once brand new 260. Once I designed and fitted a link fitting between the motor and the rudder it has proved to be one of the finest set ups in the marina.
Yamaha controls setup
Ken, Sorry, I don't have any pictures handy. The controls are mounted near the floor on the starboard side. There were two holes drilled. One hole in the stern well above the water line, and another at the very rear of the cockpit starboard side just behind the control. The control is very easy to reach while sitting on the helmsman seat. It is a bit akward if standing, but still ok.
Ken, Sorry, I don't have any pictures handy. The controls are mounted near the floor on the starboard side. There were two holes drilled. One hole in the stern well above the water line, and another at the very rear of the cockpit starboard side just behind the control. The control is very easy to reach while sitting on the helmsman seat. It is a bit akward if standing, but still ok.
Sails great
Drew, yes i do go out of Indian River if the conditions are favorable, i.e. tide etc. Also motor up the canal to Rosevelt Inlet. Boat sails great in the ocean as long as the wind is under 20-25 kts
Drew, yes i do go out of Indian River if the conditions are favorable, i.e. tide etc. Also motor up the canal to Rosevelt Inlet. Boat sails great in the ocean as long as the wind is under 20-25 kts
- Status