Hunter 25.5 Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 25.5 makes a sensible entry into trailerable or small-berth cruising for a shopper who wants a simple, tiller-steered pocket sloop from the mid-1980s. Designed by Cortland Steck and built by Hunter Marine between 1984 and 1987, she is out of production but turns up as a straightforward used buy with minimal systems to fail.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example shares the same core hull: a 25.58-foot monohull with a 9.08-foot beam, a vertical transom, and a transom-hung rudder on a tiller. Two keel configurations exist and should be confirmed on any listing. The standard fin keel draws 4.50 feet; the optional shoal-draft wing keel draws 3.33 feet and carries a slightly different PHRF band. A buyer who plans thin-water gunkholing should seek the wing keel, while a racer watching handicap should note the fin keel's lower average.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market the 25.5 commonly carries a bimini, both symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers, a swim platform, and a chartplotter, reflecting her role as a casual coastal cruiser rather than a bare-poles daysailer. The outboard motor is the standard docking and maneuvering power, so any upgrade there is owner-driven. The spinnaker options mean a buyer should check the pole and deck hardware are present if downwind sailing matters.
What to Inspect
Inspection centers on configuration and powertrain. Confirm which keel is fitted, since the fin draws 4.50 feet and the wing 3.33 feet, and the wrong one limits your intended waters anchor. Verify the outboard is present and runs, as it is the only propulsion and docking aid. Check the transom-hung rudder and tiller for free play and crazing at the stock, and inspect the wood trim in the construction for rot or softening where it meets fiberglass.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. Before you commit, run through this short list:
- Confirm fin or wing keel against your draft needs
- Start and tilt the outboard under load
- Wiggle the tiller and rudder stock for wear
- Probe wood trim for delamination at fiberglass joints
- Match spinnaker gear to the sailing you plan
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 25.5. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $1,500 | — |
| Jun 25 | 1 | $2,800 | +86.7% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $2,825 | +0.9% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $6,250 | +121.2% |
Where they're listed
Hunter 25.5 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 4.
Country view
4 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $5,500 | 4 | 2 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter 29.5 | 29.5' | $ 25,000 | 34 | 8 |
| Hunter 28.5 | 28.42' | $ 12,800 | 25 | 9 |
| MacGregor 25 | 24.92' | $ 4,500 | 13 | 7 |
| Beneteau First 25 | 24.61' | $ 8,908 | 10 | 2 |
| Hustler 25.5 | 25.5' | $ 7,473 | 6 | 3 |
| Hunter 25.5You are here | — | $ 5,500 | 4 | 2 |
| Hunter 25 | 25' | $ 4,000 | 1 | 1 |