Only 55 were built between 1980 and 1984. That makes the Evolution 25 a scarce but coherent small cruiser, best understood as a racing shell fitted with a more civilized cabin.
Design and Construction
Everitt gave the cruising version a higher coachroof than the racing 26, using the extra volume to create more room below. The solid-fiberglass monohull carries 1,700 pounds of iron ballast. Its hydraulically operated lifting keel alone weighs 800 pounds and allows the draught to vary from 1 foot to 5 feet. This lets the boat cross shoal water with the keel raised, then stand up to a breeze when it’s lowered.
The structural shell is the main constant across the class. Many boats were completed at home, leaving much of the detailing and finish to amateur builders.
Rig and Handling
The Evolution 25 carries a powerful fractional rig and 272 square feet of sail, making her light on her feet. Yachting Monthly found that she handled like a big dinghy: responsive, without the inertia of a heavier cruising boat, yet still offering plenty of performance when the wind fills in.
That combination suits coastal and estuary cruising. She can thread a shallow channel with the keel raised or reach across a breezy bay with it lowered. The lifting keel gives her access to both without requiring a second boat.
Accommodation
The cruising brief is clear below. Compared with the Evolution 26’s racing interior, the accommodation is more spacious and better fitted out. There’s a separate heads compartment and a practical galley area intended for real cooking rather than merely accommodating a camp stove.
The Evolution 25 can sleep five, a generous number for a boat measuring 25 feet 9 inches overall. Her 9 foot 4 inch beam also gives the saloon more shoulder room than smaller quarter-ton derivatives.
Because many boats were finished by their owners, both the interior arrangement and the standard of fit-out vary from hull to hull. One example may have a tidy factory cabin, while another may present as a bespoke amateur refit.
Known Issues
The central caveat is that build quality was not brilliant—a direct assessment rather than a rumor—and the pattern of home completion adds another layer of inconsistency. Buyers and reviewers can’t assume every boat received the same level of structural care. Cosmetic and functional condition must therefore be judged hull by hull rather than inferred from the class as a whole.
Verdict
The Evolution 25 turns a quarter-ton racer’s agility into a usable small coastal cruiser. Her lifting keel and fractional rig give her genuine versatility, while the cabin is deliberately roomier than that of her racing sister. The trade-off is uneven execution across a very small production run.
Pros
- Lifting keel provides a draught range of 1 foot to 5 feet for shoal and open-water use
- Fractional rig, dinghy-like handling, and real performance
- More spacious, better-fitted cabin than the Evolution 26 racer
- Sleeps five, with a separate heads and practical galley
Cons
- Build quality was not brilliant
- Home completion of many boats resulted in variable fit-out and condition
