Design and Construction
Dalpol builds the Phobos 24.5 with a solid-fiberglass hull and deck, an outboard rudder, and a wing keel as the baseline underwater profile. The yard markets her as a universal cruiser suited to inland and internal sea waters. YACHT notes that the Polish shipyard specializes in small cruisers such as this one.
The Phobos 24.5 is 25 centimeters longer and two centimeters wider than the earlier Phobos 24. The German test magazine called that seven-and-a-half-meter hull a below-deck “space miracle” unrivaled in its segment. Buyers could choose a different keel version and many interior configurations, as well as any customer-selected type of wood for the interior finish. That gave the small series a bespoke feel rare at this length.
Accommodations
The Phobos 24.5 is unusually spacious below for her size. The manufacturer describes a complete interior with six berths, a bathroom, a galley with clean and outboard water, a cabinet, and numerous lockers and shelves. YACHT, meanwhile, counts sleeping space for eight and 1.65 meters of headroom.
A separate wet room and oil locker add cruising utility, and the builder describes the wet room as enclosed. The V-berth can be closed off with a sliding door, while an additional full-sized berth folds down in the mess after the table has been stowed.
The cockpit is very large by any measure, carrying the boat’s sense of space into a generous outdoor working area. Even so, testers observed that it could feel cramped with the planned eight-person crew aboard. The builder promises unusual comfort for this class, and the layout supports that emphasis on roominess.
Rig and Handling
The standard fractional sloop rig carries a jib. On-deck equipment includes a jib furler, lazy jack, and a winch, making the boat convenient for short-handed crews. The yard also offers the jib replaced by a gennaker or by a 12-square-meter genoa paired with a large spinnaker for lighter-air reaching.
The standard version has a centreboard and internal ballast, while the shipyard offers a fixed keel as an option. The builder claims the boat is fast and easy to handle in any strength of wind. YACHT’s test, however, found that the generous extension and space below deck came with a measurable compromise in sailing characteristics.
Known Issues
The only flagged trade-off is the test-reported compromise in sailing behavior relative to the volume below. This is a design balance rather than a fault.
Refits and Ownership
Because buyers could choose from many interior configurations and have the joinery finished in any type of wood, used examples can vary widely in appearance and function.
Keel and rig arrangements may also differ from hull to hull. A fixed keel in place of the standard centreboard changes both draft and ballast behavior, while the option to replace the jib with a gennaker or a genoa-plus-spinnaker rig produces different sail plans. Owners choosing a different keel version should confirm the matched ballast and handling envelope.
The Verdict
The Phobos 24.5 is a compact cruiser that offers far more enclosed volume and liveaboard comfort than its roughly 26-foot length might suggest, though that space comes at the expense of some sailing sharpness. She should suit a couple or small family looking for inland exploration, real headroom, an enclosed wet room, and occasional sleeping space for a crowd.
Pros
- Interior volume and headroom unrivaled in the 24-foot class
- Customer-selected wood and multiple interior layouts available from new
- Standard centreboard with a fixed-keel option for different waters
- Modern deck gear, including a furler and lazy jack, for easier handling
Cons
- Test sailors found that the volume below compromised sailing performance
- Cockpit can feel tight with the full eight-person complement
- Standard wing-keel/centreboard arrangement limits upwind bite compared with a fixed fin
