I have been a daysailor since 1976 (16' catamaran). I just bought a vintage 1976 Hunter 25'. Does anyone have experience with or advice on reasonable cruising distances in this size boat? I realize this isn't a deep-water cruiser but I live in Massachusetts and was considering traveling to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket or even Long Island Sound from Marion, MA or through the Cape Cod Canal to Plymouth, MA or Boston. Any stories about journeys one has had in boats of this size or smaller are appreciated. Thanks, M.C.
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New to area
I'm moving my Hunter 25.5 from Newport to New Bedford this year. I've moved from Greene RI to East Wareham this winter and I want the boat a little closer. I've sailed in Long Island sound and Narragansett bay quite a bit and know some nice gunk holes for an overnight trip. As far as the Buzzards Bay area you and I both are learning a new area. Look forward to seeing you out there. If you want to exchange info my email address is sasatur@yahoo.com
I'm moving my Hunter 25.5 from Newport to New Bedford this year. I've moved from Greene RI to East Wareham this winter and I want the boat a little closer. I've sailed in Long Island sound and Narragansett bay quite a bit and know some nice gunk holes for an overnight trip. As far as the Buzzards Bay area you and I both are learning a new area. Look forward to seeing you out there. If you want to exchange info my email address is sasatur@yahoo.com
To: Scott
Absolutely, mcrociati@aol.com. Curious where in N.B. are you docking your boat. I may be docking it there this year as well, in the process of choosing two marinas and locations.
Absolutely, mcrociati@aol.com. Curious where in N.B. are you docking your boat. I may be docking it there this year as well, in the process of choosing two marinas and locations.
Go for it!
The son of the designer, John Cherubini II is refitting an h25 of similar vintage for off shore racing. The design is definitely up to the cruises you mention. Therefore, preparation if the key. The first priority is preparing the skipper and the crew. They are much more likely to "fail" than the boat, which will usually save them anyway. The second priority is preparing the boat. The owner reviews and archives of this website are your best source. Look at the h27 and h30 as well as the h25, since we all share the same issues: - Rot of the deck core due to moisture penetration and age. - Strength of old standing and running rigging. - Proper safety systems in good repair. - Storage and comfort systems and requirements for the length of trips you plan. A good survey alerted me to most (but not all) of the issues on our boat. We have a '77 h27, and have sailed 60 mile legs across Lake Erie with no sweat. I have no doubt that, with proper preparation, Lady Lillie is capable of blue water cruising, as some of us have done. Enjoy your trips to the islands! David Lady Lillie
The son of the designer, John Cherubini II is refitting an h25 of similar vintage for off shore racing. The design is definitely up to the cruises you mention. Therefore, preparation if the key. The first priority is preparing the skipper and the crew. They are much more likely to "fail" than the boat, which will usually save them anyway. The second priority is preparing the boat. The owner reviews and archives of this website are your best source. Look at the h27 and h30 as well as the h25, since we all share the same issues: - Rot of the deck core due to moisture penetration and age. - Strength of old standing and running rigging. - Proper safety systems in good repair. - Storage and comfort systems and requirements for the length of trips you plan. A good survey alerted me to most (but not all) of the issues on our boat. We have a '77 h27, and have sailed 60 mile legs across Lake Erie with no sweat. I have no doubt that, with proper preparation, Lady Lillie is capable of blue water cruising, as some of us have done. Enjoy your trips to the islands! David Lady Lillie
Go for it!
Thanks for your comment. Curious, how do you know J.C. is refitting a H25. I'd be interested in learning about his refitting, whether there is a website I can view to follow his progress, thanks for the help! M.C.
Thanks for your comment. Curious, how do you know J.C. is refitting a H25. I'd be interested in learning about his refitting, whether there is a website I can view to follow his progress, thanks for the help! M.C.
Hunter 25 limitations
I took several 60 mile trips up and down Chesapeake bay in my shoal draft 1978 Hunter 25, and felt I had seen some areas of real concern in a couple high wind and line squall conditions. Namely, an outboard powered boat can't always handle short choppy waves while motoring or motor sailing as the prop will be out of the water when she hobby horses in waves. Secondly a shoal draft boat can be difficult to tack in heavy air conditions. I had some situations when I already had a 110 jib and reef tied in and couldn't bring her head to wind to tack. As I said, I encountered these limitations first hand in six years of sailing one in the warm summertime waters of Chesapeake bay. I'd give serious thought to 'blue water' sailing in uncertain weather conditions. I also don't think this boat and many other coastal cruisers as typically outfitted could take a roll over and survive. However,I did survive a near knock down in a line squall in the Chesapeake. Look at how the hatches, hatch boards and lazerette are not secured.
I took several 60 mile trips up and down Chesapeake bay in my shoal draft 1978 Hunter 25, and felt I had seen some areas of real concern in a couple high wind and line squall conditions. Namely, an outboard powered boat can't always handle short choppy waves while motoring or motor sailing as the prop will be out of the water when she hobby horses in waves. Secondly a shoal draft boat can be difficult to tack in heavy air conditions. I had some situations when I already had a 110 jib and reef tied in and couldn't bring her head to wind to tack. As I said, I encountered these limitations first hand in six years of sailing one in the warm summertime waters of Chesapeake bay. I'd give serious thought to 'blue water' sailing in uncertain weather conditions. I also don't think this boat and many other coastal cruisers as typically outfitted could take a roll over and survive. However,I did survive a near knock down in a line squall in the Chesapeake. Look at how the hatches, hatch boards and lazerette are not secured.
New England
I own a Hunter 23.5 water ballast and cruise the New England coast, traveling 20 to 50 miles per day,depending on conditions and how I feel. There are plenty of protected marinas and anchorages to duck into from New York City right up to the Canadian border. The Cape Cod Canal can be busy in the summer months with increased recreational traffic and you have to check on occasional draw bridge repairs and lowering schedule for trains..you can't stop or turn around in the canal.
0 Most importantly,you will want to know which direction the tide/current is running before you enter the canal. Timing and planning your trip through the canal is critical and you should contact the Canal Authority by phone for any "notices" before you enter it.They also have their regulations posted on their web site. For a good small boat(19'Flying Scot) crusing story go to: http://www.fssa.com/ht/cru/cruising.htm
I own a Hunter 23.5 water ballast and cruise the New England coast, traveling 20 to 50 miles per day,depending on conditions and how I feel. There are plenty of protected marinas and anchorages to duck into from New York City right up to the Canadian border. The Cape Cod Canal can be busy in the summer months with increased recreational traffic and you have to check on occasional draw bridge repairs and lowering schedule for trains..you can't stop or turn around in the canal.
0 Most importantly,you will want to know which direction the tide/current is running before you enter the canal. Timing and planning your trip through the canal is critical and you should contact the Canal Authority by phone for any "notices" before you enter it.They also have their regulations posted on their web site. For a good small boat(19'Flying Scot) crusing story go to: http://www.fssa.com/ht/cru/cruising.htmHunter 25 limitations
Thanks for your input. I'm curious, what's your or the official definition of "blue water sailing". Thanks, M.C.
Thanks for your input. I'm curious, what's your or the official definition of "blue water sailing". Thanks, M.C.
Cape Cod Canal
Thanks for the info. Curious, have you ever entered the canal against the tide? What sort of motor do you have? Thanks, M.C. in Plymouth
Thanks for the info. Curious, have you ever entered the canal against the tide? What sort of motor do you have? Thanks, M.C. in Plymouth
Cape Cod Canal
Mark, The past couple of weeks I've been riding my bike along the bike path that runs along the canal. The current is very strong and fast in the canal, I would not recommend trying to power against it. Better to time the tides and let it push you through. After all we can only do about 5kts under power and the current has to be running 2-3 knts. I have been thinking about a sail to Woods Hole sometime this May, what do you think up to a trip from New Bedford to Woods Hole?
Mark, The past couple of weeks I've been riding my bike along the bike path that runs along the canal. The current is very strong and fast in the canal, I would not recommend trying to power against it. Better to time the tides and let it push you through. After all we can only do about 5kts under power and the current has to be running 2-3 knts. I have been thinking about a sail to Woods Hole sometime this May, what do you think up to a trip from New Bedford to Woods Hole?
Trip to Woods Hole...
should be pretty easy, approx. 15 miles across Buzzard's Bay. If I get my derrier of the couch, maybe I can get my boat ready for this season and we can sail together. Best regards and thanks for the info. M.C.
should be pretty easy, approx. 15 miles across Buzzard's Bay. If I get my derrier of the couch, maybe I can get my boat ready for this season and we can sail together. Best regards and thanks for the info. M.C.
JC II visits here
The link below is his announcement that he is restoring a Hunter 25 for offshore racing. Just search in the archives in 2002, using JC II for subject or author. To me, blue water means being so far from shore that you have to take whatever the weather systems bring you. That is probably more than 24 hours from shore. David Lady Lillie
The link below is his announcement that he is restoring a Hunter 25 for offshore racing. Just search in the archives in 2002, using JC II for subject or author. To me, blue water means being so far from shore that you have to take whatever the weather systems bring you. That is probably more than 24 hours from shore. David Lady Lillie
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