Design and Construction
Zaal's 25-2 is a full-bodied hull with a shallow fin and a skeg-hung rudder, its round-bilge section laid up in solid GRP simple in construction yet described by a former Yachting Monthly editor as well-built and handsome. The ballast of 950 kg sits in a short-keel configuration against a displacement quoted by the maker at 2.1 t and by the British review at 2,350 kg. At 7.43 m loa and 2.49 m beam, she is beamy for her length, and the 6.10 m waterline keeps the wetted surface modest against the mass.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a moderate masthead sloop rig with 21.53 m² of sail, and period test sailors found her light and stable on the helm and a good sea-boat. That steadiness, paired with the shallow fin and skeg rudder, made her equally suited as a family cruiser for beginners or for passage racing in the view of the same reviewer. The 10 hp Volvo Penta MD6 diesel is the specified auxiliary, enough to hold station and make harbor in the light-air conditions where the hull's stability pays off.
Accommodations
Below, the 25-2 is a five-berth layout with a single amidships head and no pilot house, the cabin standing 1.85 m tall. Yachting Monthly called the interior comfortable and spacious with good headroom, a practical galley, and a berth plan that serves a small crew without feeling cramped for a 24-footer. The round-bilge hull and 8ft 3in beam give the saloon and quarter berths room that the length alone would not suggest.
The Verdict
The Contest 25-2 is a compact Zaal cruiser-racer with a stout fin, a forgiving helm, and a roomy five-berth interior that punches above its 24-foot length. It is a sensible used-classic candidate for a first cruising family or a club racer who wants a simple, solid Dutch-hulled sloop from the mid-1970s.
Pros
- Well-built, handsome solid-GRP hull with skeg-hung rudder and shallow fin
- Light, stable helm and recognized as a good sea-boat
- Roomy five-berth interior with 1.85 m headroom and practical galley
- Suitable for beginners and passage racing alike
Cons
- Short production run (1974–1980) limits fleet size to 113 hulls
- Modest 10 hp auxiliary and 21.5 m² sail area suit light-air cruising more than heavy-weather speed
