Mirage 25 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Perry achieved the Mirage 25's volume by carrying a wide beam aft and raising the cabintop, which gives the boat an unusual profile but pays off below. The hull itself is fiberglass, with a special guaranteed leak-proof hull-deck joint where the deck overhangs slightly and an extruded alloy external toe-rail sheds water. Chainplates are well-anchored and the mast step rests on a sturdy structural floor, while the deck-stepped rig is properly grounded through to the keel. At 25 ft. 2 in. overall with a 21 ft. waterline, the boat displaces 4,400 lbs and carries 1,600 lbs of lead ballast — only 36 per cent of total weight, a low fraction that would normally make a boat tender. Instead, the hull shape and buoyancy let it stabilize at a moderate angle rather than heel excessively.

Rig and Handling

The Mirage 25 is a masthead sloop with a moderate 283 sq. ft. sailplan, enough to keep her moving in light air without being overcanvased. The boom is set up with two internal reef lines and an internal outhaul, all fitted with stoppers, and because it does not extend far into the cockpit, double sheeting the mainsail to either side of the cabintop is practical. Both halyards lead aft to a cabintop winch just forward of the cockpit, so two people can handle the sails from the cockpit without difficulty. Test sailors found her comfortable to steer and suitably responsive, and writing in Canadian Boating, reviewers noted she has proved gratifyingly fast in both informal and formal competition, even against boats of real racing pedigree. One owner reported that the only time racing boats pass his is dead downwind in light air.

Accommodations

The interior and its unusual layout are the 25's most striking characteristics, delivering civilized cruising comfort for two to four people and letting up to four adults weekend aboard cheerfully. Five feet, 11 inches of headroom and a wide beam create a remarkable sense of space, lit by two generous fixed windows per side and a large forward hatch. The saloon has two roomy settee berths and a generous V berth that can be closed off by an optional forward bulkhead with door; an optional fifth pull-out berth turns the port settee into a double. White molded fiberglass headliner, cream-brown tweed upholstery, teak fiddles and bulkheads, and a textured gray sole (or optional teak veneer) keep the cabin bright and practical, while a removable floor-mounted teak table folds clear between the settees. The fully enclosed head sits in the port quarters and was rated first-rate for boats well over 30 feet, though the stainless hanging bar directly behind the toilet drew a tester's dislike. The L-shaped galley occupies the aft starboard corner with a roomy icebox and ample stowage; the starboard settee foot tucks under the counter and optional two-burner stove, and the builder confirmed a larger stove with oven is possible at the cost of shortening that berth.

Known Issues

A few details drew period criticism. The cockpit locker covers use two small strap hinges that testers felt might be vulnerable, suggesting a piano hinge would be an improvement. Testers considered the galley sink too shallow for offshore cooking, though there is room for a deeper one, and the icebox — well-insulated itself — has no insulation under the countertop above it. The head's plumbing fixtures were priced as options rather than standard, an odd choice the builder left to owner preference.

Refits and Ownership

Without an inboard, the 25 comes with a single battery and a six-function fuse panel adequate to its outboard-powered systems. Base equipment includes bow and stern pulpits but only one set of lifelines, with the swim ladder an optional extra. A couple could cruise indefinitely with a few minor modifications, and the boat's modular interior options — forward bulkhead, pull-out berth, teak sole, larger galley — let an owner tailor her without structural work. The builder's president, Dick Steffen, confirmed the galley modification trade-off.

The Verdict

The Mirage 25 is a thoughtfully packaged small cruiser that punches above its length: Perry gave it real speed, a responsive helm, and a volume-rich interior that feels closer to a 28-footer. The weak points are minor and mostly confined to galley detailing and cockpit hardware, leaving a boat that remains a sensible used-market entry for couples and small families.

Pros