Merit 25 Sailboats for Sale

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

24.5' · 7.47 m

Disp.

2,900 lbs · 1,315 kg

First year

1978

The Merit 25, introduced in 1978 by Paul Yates and Merit Marine, emerged as a definitive force in the Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC) era. Designed to bridge the gap between a hardcore racing machine and a manageable weekend cruiser, the Merit 25 became a staple of American club racing, particularly in the Midwest and along the California coast. While it was often compared to the J/24, the Merit 25 was widely regarded as having a more forgiving motion and a slightly more voluminous interior for its size. Its design philosophy prioritized a high powertoweight ratio, utilizing a fractional rig and a highaspect fin keel that allowed it to excel in lighttomoderate air, a characteristic that spurred the growth of massive onedesign fleets across North America.