Hustler 25.5 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Two interior arrangements appear on the used market. The original sea-going layout has a big chart table opposite the galley, a quarter berth, 6ft 6in settee berths each side in the saloon, a pilot berth to port, and forward of the bulkhead, sail stowage and the heads. The later family-oriented alternative moves the bulkhead aft a couple of feet, places the galley along the starboard side, and inserts a separate heads compartment between the saloon and a two-berth forecabin. Either way headroom is 5ft 6in, and both preserve the array of small lockers and the cockpit lockers — starboard smaller with the fuel tank, port full-depth.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

On the used market, a furling main and a chartplotter are commonly fitted to Hustler 25.5s offered for sale. Period equipment that may still be present includes Lewmar 40 winches and pump-action coachroof winches that were original; a navel pipe in the bow with chain living in the forecabin is standard. Engine installations vary: original Vire 7hp petrol or Petter 5hp diesel, later 9hp Volvo alternative, and some budget-conscious owners fitted outboards on a transom bracket.

What to Inspect

Documented points to check begin with the rig: a babystay is fitted and short-tacking can be hard work with headsails this size, especially when there’s a babystay in the way too, so confirm chainplate and stay condition where chainplates in the deck allow passage inboard or outboard. The cockpit coamings are close to the guardwires and not a particularly comfortable perch when the boat heels, so inspect the coaming-to-guardwire geometry and any heel-wear. Beneath the sole is a shallow sump and access to the bolts securing the cast-iron keel — check those keel bolts for corrosion. Hulls are a solid laminate of chopped strand mat and woven rovings while a balsa core is used in the deck and coachroof, so survey the balsa-cored deck and coachroof for moisture. The headliner is the only internal moulding, all bulkheads and joinery being bonded directly to the hull; verify the bonded joints remain sound. Original engines were a Vire 7hp (petrol) or Petter 5hp (diesel), a 9hp Volvo was a later alternative, and some owners fitted outboards on a transom bracket — confirm which propulsion is installed and its condition.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

Typical availability is in the United Kingdom. For the buyer, the short checklist is: confirm which of the two layouts suits you; verify keel-bolt and bonded-joinery condition; survey the balsa-cored deck for moisture; check the babystay and chainplate wear; and establish the engine type and state. A Hustler 25.5 well kept is an economical and thoroughly capable cruiser or competitive club-racer with a race-proven hull.