Design and Construction
At 25' 5" overall with a 20' 0" waterline and 9' 4" beam, the Sailfish 25 carries 5,000 lbs of displacement against 1,620 lbs of iron ballast, giving it a settled, purposeful profile for its length. The defining feature is the hydraulically operated drop keel — a cast-iron aerofoil section that lowers through a valve in the cockpit and raises into a housing centered in the saloon hydraulically raised with manual or electric pushbutton pump. Once up, it is secured by two stainless bars through the keel box sides. This mechanism lets the boat take drying moorings and skim into 1' 1" of water with the keel up, extending to 5' 0" keel-down for sailing. A trademark of the range was the dark topaz blue hull moulding, which unfortunately tends to fade with age.
Rig and Handling
The Sailfish 25 is rigged as a sloop carrying 371 square feet of sail, and Yachtsnet's archive notes the design offers good sailing performance. The lifting keel is the heart of its versatility: raised for shallow creeks and lowered for sailing, it is operated either by a manual pump or electrically from a small button at the bottom of the saloon switch panel. The 12 BHP Hydromarine inboard diesel provides modest auxiliary power suited to a boat of this displacement.
Accommodations
Below, the Sailfish 25 is laid out with two cabins and berths for four or five. A vee-berth forecabin leads aft to a saloon with a quarter berth to port and seating with the saloon table to starboard; a good-sized heads compartment with marine WC and washbasin sits within the plan. The saloon table fits in two positions and lowers to convert the starboard seating into a small double berth. Moulded headlining and 6' 0" saloon headroom give the interior a finished, roomy feel for a 25-footer.
Ownership Notes
The original Hydromarine diesel is a marinised 2-cylinder Kubota engine, a straightforward configuration that has aged with the fleet. The keel mechanism is integral to the saloon, so its housing and locking bars are part of the living space and worth understanding for any owner. The fading of the distinctive blue hull color is a cosmetic hallmark of older boats rather than a structural concern.
The Verdict
The Sailfish 25 is a cleverly engineered small cruiser whose lifting keel unlocks genuine shallow-water freedom without sacrificing a usable two-cabin layout. Primrose's design remains a pragmatic choice for sailors wanting shallow-water access with inboard comfort.
Pros
- Lifting aerofoil keel enables drying moorings and very shallow draft
- Two-cabin, four-to-five-berth layout with convertible saloon double
- Inboard diesel from new
Cons
- Dark topaz hull color fades with age
- Keel housing occupies central saloon space
