Hunter originally marketed the boat simply as the Hunter 25. The name was later amended to 25-2, 25-2005, or Mark III to distinguish it from the unrelated 1972 Hunter 25. This modest recreational keelboat is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim.
Design and Construction
The 25-2 measures 24.5 feet overall, with a 22.08-foot waterline and an 8.46-foot beam. It displaces 3,700 pounds and carries 1,309 pounds of lead ballast.
Hunter Marine built it with a solid-fiberglass hull, a raked stem, and a rounded reverse transom with a walk-through. A transom-hung rudder, controlled by a wheel, closes off the stern.
The fixed fin shoal-draft keel draws just 2.00 feet, allowing the boat to be moved over land on a trailer. That shallow appendage defines much of the design’s character. With a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 35.38 percent, the boat is reasonably weighted for its size, but the 2-foot keel trades upwind grip for easier ramp and road use.
Rig and Handling
Henderson gave the 25-2 a B&R masthead sloop rig on aluminum spars. The foretriangle has a 25-foot I measurement, while the mainsail luff is 23.42 feet. Total sail area is 217.5 square feet.
The boat has a documented average PHRF handicap of 225 and a theoretical hull speed of 6.3 knots. Its shallow fixed keel imposes a clear compromise: it is not adequate to prevent noticeable sideslip when sailing upwind. A sailor expecting to claw off a lee shore will find the boat slipping to leeward more than a deeper-finned 25-footer would.
A mast-raising system similar to the Catalina 250’s makes handling at the launch ramp easier. The elevated seats on the stern quarters have also proved very popular with boat buyers.
Accommodations
The 25-2 sleeps four, with a double V-berth in the bow cabin and an aft double beneath the cockpit. The galley is to starboard, just forward of the companionway ladder, while the head is to port beside the companionway steps. It’s a compact but conventional cruising layout for a boat of this length.
In the main cabin, a drop-leaf table sits between two straight settees, each wide enough for two people. Forward-facing rectangular ports provide light. Headroom is 64 inches, and the fresh-water tank holds 10 U.S. gallons. Overall, the interior is honestly weekender-sized rather than unusually spacious for a pocket cruiser.
Known Issue
The design’s one documented shortcoming is the upwind penalty imposed by its 2-foot fixed shoal keel. Because the appendage is so shallow, the boat shows noticeable sideslip when sailed to weather. That leeway stems directly from the draft chosen to permit trailering; it is a design trade-off, not a failure.
Verdict
The Hunter 25-2 is a purpose-built trailerable cruiser that trades upwind efficiency for road transport and ramp launching. Henderson’s B&R rig, wheel steering, and useful mast-raising system make it an approachable small boat for lake and coastal explorers who value easy ownership over racing sharpness.
Pros
- Trailerable with a fixed shoal-draft keel drawing just 2 feet
- Mast-raising system makes launch-ramp handling easier
- Sleeps four, with practical galley and head placement
- Popular elevated stern-quarter seating
Cons
- Shallow fixed keel produces noticeable sideslip upwind
