Hustler 25.5 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

The first hull, UFO, was lent to Richard Matthews, who bought her the following year. The boat topped her class in the 1972 EAORA championship, and Matthews later became overall EAORA champion in her. UFO also won the Ramsgate Gold Cup ahead of Morning Cloud. That racing record—and designer Don Pye’s decision to order one for himself—shows how seriously this small yacht was regarded.

Design and Construction

Aquafibre moulded the hull, and Landamores in Wroxham completed the fit-out. Construction consists of solid laminate made from chopped strand mat and woven rovings below the waterline, with a balsa-cored deck and coachroof.

Free from IOR-induced distortions, the underbody proved slippery and well-mannered. The headliner is the only internal moulding: every bulkhead and item of joinery is bonded directly to the hull, a method that should produce an extremely stiff structure.

A displacement skeg grows between the keel and propeller shaft, then runs aft to the transom, contributing to directional stability. The large rudder blade hangs from the raked transom. A shallow sump beneath the sole provides access to the bolts securing the cast-iron keel.

On deck, long grabrails run along the slightly domed coachroof, while deck paint provides a non-slip surface underfoot.

Rig, Performance, and Handling

The masthead rig carries a notably skinny mainsail on a round boom with roller reefing. The original light No1 headsail measured 282 square feet—nearly three times the area of the mainsail. Chainplates set into the deck allow the headsail sheets to lead either inboard or outboard.

Lewmar 40 winches were standard, and many boats still have pump-action coachroof winches serving. Short-tacking is hard work with headsails this large, especially with a babystay in the way.

Even so, the Hustler 25.5 is fast, stiff, tough, well-balanced, and a joy to sail. Her manners and performance match her appearance. Practical Boat Owner reported that she can be raced two-handed with reasonable efficiency and is capable of seeing off newer and larger boats, including the UFO 27.

Accommodation and Cockpit

The original seagoing layout placed a large chart table opposite a functional galley. It also included a quarter berth, 6-foot 6-inch settee berths on both sides of the saloon, a pilot berth to port, and sail stowage with the heads forward of the bulkhead.

A more family-oriented alternative followed. In this version, the bulkhead moved aft by a couple of feet, the galley ran along the starboard side, and a separate heads compartment sat between the saloon and a two-berth forecabin. Headroom is 5 feet 6 inches in either layout.

Stowage is remarkably good, thanks to an array of small lockers rarely found on modern yachts. The chart table also remains enormous by today’s standards.

The cockpit is narrow enough to provide good leg bracing between the seats. However, the coamings sit close to the guardwires and don’t make a comfortable perch when the boat heels. Lockers run along both sides: the smaller starboard locker houses the fuel tank, while the port locker is full-depth.

Engine and Equipment

Original engine options were a Vire 7hp petrol engine or a Petter 5hp diesel. A 9hp Volvo was offered later, while some budget-conscious owners fitted outboards on transom brackets.

At the bow, a navel pipe feeds the anchor chain into the forecabin. Early literature also refers to a Lloyd’s certificate issued with each boat.

Verdict

Practical Boat Owner described the Hustler 25.5 as a proper little seaboat and one of the best buys available for anyone seeking an economical, thoroughly capable cruiser or competitive club racer. The evidence supports that assessment: she has a clean, undistorted hull, a directly bonded structure, genuine race wins, and a thoughtfully planned interior that remains practical.

Her compromises are typical of the era. Headroom is low, the cockpit coamings are uncomfortable when she heels, and the large headsails demand effort during tight manoeuvres.

Pros