Design and Construction
The hull is hand-laid fiberglass with a solid laminate. The fiberglass deck uses a sandwich layup, which the original review credits with improving the indoor climate below.
A fin keel carries 1,675 pounds of lead ballast, while a spade rudder completes what was, for the era, a modern underbody. The Larsen 25 measures 25.92 feet overall and 8 feet on the beam, giving it a length-to-beam ratio of 3.22. Displacement is 3,527 pounds, with a ballast ratio of 48 percent—figures that place it firmly among the boats period analysis classified as light racers.
Draft ranges from 4.59 to 4.89 feet depending on load. That allows access to shallow marinas without the complication of a lifting keel.
Rig and Performance
The fractional rig carries 355 square feet of sail. A displacement-to-length ratio of 117 and a sail-area-to-displacement figure near 24.5 mark the design as quick for its size. The theoretical hull speed is 6.5 knots, and the Relative Speed Performance index was calculated at 92.
Its offshore numbers are less reassuring. The capsize screening value is 2.11, which the reviewing source noted would bar the boat from acceptance in ocean races.
The Motion Comfort Ratio is 13.8. The immersion rate is about 666 pounds per inch, meaning changes in loaded trim are gentle for a boat of this weight. The underwater body has approximately 226 square feet of wetted surface area.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is finished in teak, in keeping with Scandinavian practice of the period. The layout also includes a toilet facility.
The compact accommodations reflect both the 25-foot hull and the boat’s light-racer orientation. This is not a design conceived as a bluewater liveaboard.
Build Variations and Known Issues
The Larsen 25 was also offered for home completion, which means the quality of each boat may vary. Buyers and reviewers therefore can’t assume consistent standards of joinery, tabbing, or systems throughout the series.
This variation is the single most important consideration when assessing an individual example. Condition and workmanship need to be judged boat by boat.
Verdict
The Larsen 25 is a small, light, lead-ballasted sloop with comfortable motion, an easy draft for a 1980s design, and strong performance figures for its length. However, the home-completion route makes condition crucial, while its capsize screening number limits its suitability for offshore use.
Pros
- Hand-laid, solid-fiberglass hull
- Sandwich deck credited with improving cabin comfort
- Lead fin keel and spade rudder
- Shallow 4.59–4.89-foot draft
- Light-racer profile with strong speed indices for its length
Cons
- Home completion led to inconsistent build quality across the fleet
- Capsize screening value of 2.11 excludes it from ocean racing
- Only 65 were built, so support and comparable boats are scarce
