Design and Construction
The Sailfish 25 measures 25' 5" overall, with a 20' 0" waterline and a 9' 4" beam. Displacement is 5,000 lbs, including 1,620 lbs of iron ballast, giving the boat a settled, purposeful profile for its length.
Its defining feature is the hydraulically operated drop keel. This cast-iron aerofoil section is hydraulically raised with a manual or electric pushbutton pump and retracts into a housing in the center of the saloon. It lowers through a valve in the cockpit. Once raised, the keel is secured by two stainless-steel bars inserted through the sides of the keel box.
With the keel up, the boat draws just 1' 1", allowing access to shallow creeks and drying moorings. Lowered for sailing, the keel increases the draft to 5' 0".
A trademark of the range was its dark topaz-blue hull moulding. Unfortunately, this color tends to fade with age.
Rig, Sailing, and Auxiliary Power
The Sailfish 25 has a fractional sloop rig carrying 371 square feet of sail. Yachtsnet’s archive notes that the design offers good sailing performance.
The lifting keel is central to the boat’s versatility. It can be operated manually or electrically, using a small button at the bottom of the saloon switch panel. This arrangement allows the keel to be raised for shallow water and lowered for sailing.
A 12 BHP Hydromarine inboard diesel provides modest auxiliary power suited to a boat of this displacement. The original Hydromarine unit is a marinised 2-cylinder Kubota engine—a straightforward configuration that has aged along with the fleet.
Accommodation
Below deck, the Sailfish 25 has two cabins and berths for four or five people. The forecabin contains a vee berth. Aft of it, the saloon has a quarter berth to port and seating with the saloon table to starboard. The layout also includes a good-sized heads compartment with a marine WC and washbasin.
The saloon table can be fitted in two positions. It also lowers to convert the starboard seating into a small double berth. Moulded headlining and 6' 0" of saloon headroom give the interior a finished, roomy feel for a 25-footer.
The keel housing stands in the center of the saloon, so the mechanism and its locking bars form part of the living space. Any owner will need to understand how the system works and accept the space it occupies.
Ownership Notes
The fading of the distinctive dark topaz-blue hull is a cosmetic hallmark of older Sailfish 25s rather than a structural concern.
The keel mechanism is integral to both the boat’s sailing versatility and its interior arrangement, so its housing and locking bars are worth understanding for any owner. The housing sits in the saloon, and the raised keel is held by two stainless-steel locking bars through the sides of the keel box.
Verdict
The Sailfish 25 is a cleverly engineered small cruiser. Its lifting keel provides genuine shallow-water freedom without sacrificing a usable two-cabin layout. Angus Primrose’s design remains a pragmatic choice for sailors who want shallow-water access together with inboard comfort.
Pros
- Lifting aerofoil keel allows drying moorings and a very shallow draft
- Two-cabin, four-to-five-berth layout with a convertible saloon double
- Inboard diesel fitted from new
Cons
- Dark topaz hull color fades with age
- Keel housing occupies space in the center of the saloon
