At just under 27 feet overall with her bowsprit, the Evasion 25 sits at the small end of the cruising spectrum. Even so, she was conceived as a genuine pocket cruiser rather than a daysailer.
Design and Construction
The Evasion 25 is a solid-fibreglass monohull with a full keel and keel-mounted rudder. The rudder arrangement provides responsive steering suited to close-quarters work.
The solid-laminate hull favors durability, while the balsa-cored deck provides stiffness and insulation overhead, though with less construction simplicity below. Wood trim is also present.
The boat has a beam of 8.73 feet and displaces 6,063 pounds, including 1,764 pounds of iron ballast. Her ballast-to-displacement ratio is near 29 percent, placing her firmly among stable, moderate-motion cruisers rather than lively racers. A 21.33-foot waterline and 3.84-foot draft reflect the long-keeled hull, with a calculated theoretical hull speed of about 5.95 knots.
Rig, Engine, and Handling
The Evasion 25 carries a masthead sloop rig with a Bermuda sail plan and roughly 399 square feet of canvas. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is approximately 19.26. That’s modest and consistent with a boat designed to use the engine when the breeze fails rather than chase handicap lines.
The cockpit is arranged for secure handling, while the surrounding deck plan facilitates easy movement and sail handling. That’s useful aboard a 26-footer where one crewmember may do most of the work.
A 12-horsepower inboard diesel is the typical power plant. It reinforces the motorsailer brief by giving the crew the freedom to choose between sailing and motoring for the most pleasurable cruising experience.
Accommodations
The Evasion 25 can sleep up to five. A double V-berth fills the forward cabin, with the head immediately aft. In the main saloon, the dinette converts into another berth, while an aft quarter berth to port completes the sleeping arrangements.
The galley is also to port, just forward of the companionway. It includes a two-burner stove, an icebox, and a sink—a compact but complete setup for mid-season cruising.
Cabin headroom reaches 68 inches. That allows comfortable sitting room, although taller sailors won’t be able to stand upright below except, perhaps, beneath the hatch. Beneteau also promoted the cockpit as shelter from wind, rain, or sun, effectively extending the living space outdoors in marginal weather.
Verdict
The Evasion 25 is a small, honest motorsailer from Beneteau’s late-1970s catalogue. Her simple solid-glass hull, forgiving full-keel manners, and five-berth interior offer more coastal-cruising capability than her length might suggest.
She won’t win races, and her sail plan is conservative. But as a purpose-built escape boat produced in relatively small numbers, she remains a coherent expression of André Bénéteau’s cruising brief.
Pros
- Solid-fibreglass hull and balsa-cored deck combine durability with stiffness
- Full keel and keel-mounted rudder provide stable, responsive handling
- Sleeps five in a forward V-berth, convertible dinette, and aft quarter berth
- Complete port-side galley with stove, icebox, and sink
- Inboard diesel supports the motorsailer concept when the wind is light
Cons
- Sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 19 limits performance under sail alone
- Maximum headroom of 68 inches restricts standing comfort below
- Only about 300 were built, and individual condition varies widely with ownership history
