Design and Construction
The Harbor 25’s hull is 100-percent hand-laid fiberglass. Cruising World noted in its review that there is nothing wrong with a solid-fiberglass hull. The balsa-cored deck keeps weight down while adding stiffness. Between the cabins, cored-fiberglass bulkheads feel rock solid and are finished in matte white with varnished mahogany trim, giving the interior a pleasing appearance.
Below the waterline, the high-lift fin-and-bulb keel carries 1,900 pounds of lead, for a ballast-to-displacement ratio of just about 50 percent. The keel is externally fastened to a stub. A spade rudder mounted well aft provides good steering control, especially downwind.
In keeping with the boat’s elegant daysailer profile, there are no lifelines. Stout handrails on the cabinhouse compensate, since the crew shouldn’t have to leave the cockpit often.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries a small, self-tending, roller-furling headsail on a self-vanging Hoyt jib boom. Internal halyards and the other sail controls lead aft to the end of the cabinhouse, where they’re easy to reach from the cockpit. Control-line tails tuck into dedicated storage slots.
The spar has upper and lower shrouds led to a single-pod chainplate. Schock also specified a backstay with an adjustable lead cleverly routed beneath the deck to the cockpit. The mainsheet traveler is mounted aft and outside the cockpit, leaving more room for the crew.
Test sailors found the Harbor 25 easily driven and incredibly responsive. It sluiced through chop without pounding, and Cruising World called it a delight to sail.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The self-bailing cockpit is eight feet long, deep, and roomy, with high coamings. It comfortably seats six adults. The helmsman can either look over the cabinhouse or duck behind it when spray blows back. A good-sized lazarette holds mooring lines and fenders, while built-in pockets in the coamings and cabin bulkhead keep excess line under control.
Below, the cabin is attractive but has sitting headroom only, which suits the boat’s daysailing and weekending brief. There are four good-sized bunks: two in the forward V-berth and two quarter berths beneath the cockpit seats.
A usable head sits under the forehatch, which is designed to accommodate a solar shower for weekend owners. In the saloon, a galley cabinet with a sink is to port, with a large, well-insulated icebox to starboard. Four opening ports help make the main cabin a pleasant social space.
Equipment and Propulsion
Rather than a diesel, Schock specified a two-cylinder, four-stroke Yamaha gasoline engine coupled to a small Saildrive 330, with a two-blade folding propeller as standard.
Cruising World’s example had a 12.5-horsepower Honda saildrive turning a two-bladed Flex-O-Fold propeller. Its powerhead sat between the quarter berths.
An anchor roller on the stemhead fitting supports weekend cruising. The standard portable toilet could also be replaced with an optional marine head, which was the reviewer’s preference.
Verdict
The Harbor 25 is a thoughtfully detailed daysailer that can handle weekending without losing its light, responsive character. The self-tending jib and controls led fully aft make short-handed sailing genuine, while the bulb keel and aft-mounted spade rudder give the boat poise in a chop. The trade-offs are minimal cabin headroom and a gasoline powerplant where many buyers expect a diesel.
Pros
- Easily driven, responsive handling and a hull that works well in chop
- Self-tending, roller-furling jib and controls led aft
- Hand-laid solid-fiberglass hull with a stiff, balsa-cored deck
- Roomy eight-foot cockpit seating six, with well-planned line stowage
- Four berths and a head positioned for ventilation
Cons
- Sitting headroom only below
- Gasoline engine rather than diesel
- No lifelines; deck safety relies on the cabinhouse handrails
