Design and Construction
The hull draws on Van de Stadt's long studio tradition: a long waterline, reasonable beam carried aft, rounded sections, and moderate rocker that together suggest a seakindly motion and a platform designed around seaworthiness and enjoyable sailing anchor. The standard keel is a fairly shallow 1.10m fin with a lead bulb, and a deeper 1.5m keel is offered for those who want more grip; a shallower 0.80m keel with twin rudders is also an option, though there is no lifting keel. A pre-balanced rudder and tiller steering keep the helm direct. The boat is rated CE Category B, equipped for both inland and coastal waters, and she has proved perennially popular for her Dutch builder, particularly on the sheltered waters of the Netherlands.
Rig and Handling
Sail plan is built for clean, modern performance. The outstanding performance under sail comes from a fat-head main, a jib with a furler below deck, and those modern hull lines with fin keel and bulb anchor. A midships mainsheet anchor point serves the large cockpit with full-length bench seats, and the boat can be specified with either a genoa on cars or a self-tacking jib for shorthanded sailing. Deck hardware for furling downwind sails is an option, as is a sprayhood. With a 47% ballast-to-displacement ratio and 1,543 lb of lead ballast in 3,858 lb of displacement, she stands up to her sail area of 361 sq ft.
Accommodations
Below, the fit-out is fairly basic but designed to be modular, with a moulded liner that keeps the boat clean and neat and very minimal wood. A V-berth double forward and two singles aft make up four berths, while a small galley sits forward to port and a locker hides the heads or chemical toilet to starboard — there is no option for an enclosed heads. Headroom is limited to sitting, but this deliberately allows the freeboard and coach roof to remain low and elegant. Stowage bags can be hung throughout on wires strung along the inside of the hull just below the deck, offering a flexible and lightweight solution, though there is not stowage for much more than weekending. Buyers can put the interior together to their own preferences from specific modules, even via a "DESIGN IT" tool on the builder's site.
Power and Equipment
Propulsion is an inboard diesel as standard — the 10hp Yanmar — with a 4kW electric motor available as a specification alternative. A drop-down transom bathing platform is fitted, and the cockpit enclosure makes the aft end usable in cooler weather. The modular wiring routes keep the interior uncluttered and ready for owner-chosen storage.
The Verdict
The Pointer 25 is a thoughtfully modern 25-footer that trades enclosed-heads privacy and week-long stowage for low-profile elegance, a modular cabin, and a genuinely sporty sail plan. She is a coastal and inland cruiser first, with shallow-draught versatility and a seakindly hull that punches above her length for enjoyment.
Pros
- Van de Stadt hull with long waterline and rounded sections for seakindly motion
- Modular, customizable interior with moulded liner and flexible hanging stowage
- Shallow 1.10m standard keel with deeper and twin-rudder shoal options
- Fat-head main and below-deck furling jib deliver strong stated performance
Cons
- No enclosed heads option; only a locker-hid chemical toilet
- Headroom limited to sitting; stowage only suited to weekending
- No lifting keel offered
