Seafarer Meridian 25 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Rhodes drew the Meridian 25 as a cruiser, and the numbers show it: 5,070 pounds displacement carried on a 17-foot-6-inch waterline, with 2,491 pounds of lead ballast in a fixed modified long keel anchor. The beam is a tight seven feet, which keeps the boat slim and contributes directly to how she behaves under sail. The hull is solid fiberglass with wood trim, a spooned raked stem, and a raised counter with an angled transom. De Vries Lentsch launched the first boats in 1960 and some were imported to the United States; Seafarer Yachts then introduced its own version at its Huntington plant, a version that is now out of production. Because so many boats were finished across two builders and three Dutch sub-models — the Bermuda, Macinac, and Vinyard — the details vary widely.

Rig and Handling

The Meridian 25 carries a Bermuda-rigged masthead sloop plan with 277 square feet of sail: a 135-square-foot mainsail on a 25-foot-3-inch luff and a 141-square-foot jib or genoa on a 29.13-foot foretriangle. That is modest canvas for a 5,000-pound boat, and the PHRF handicap of 252 places her firmly in casual cruising company rather than the race fleet. Owner reviews from a 2010 assessment note that the narrow beam, slack bilges, and shallow ballast location make her relatively tender in a breeze, and she tends to hobbyhorse in a chop. The cutaway forefoot on the long keel aids low-speed maneuvering, and a well-mounted 6 to 10 horsepower outboard is the normal docking power, with an inboard offered as a factory option on all models.

Accommodations

Below, the Meridian 25 sleeps four: a double V-berth forward and two straight settee berths in the main cabin, under a cabin headroom of 68 inches. The galley straddles the companionway ladder, with a single-burner stove to starboard that slides aft when not in use, a sink to port, and an icebox under the steps. A 24-gallon fresh water tank supports the galley, and the head tucks under the V-berth in the bow. A 2010 owner review found little elbow room below but credited the large doghouse windows with easing the sense of confinement in the narrow cabin.

Known Issues

The factory inboard option carried a real service penalty. The optional Kermath 10 hp Sea Twin inboard sat so low in the bilge that routine servicing, especially oil changes, was extra difficult anchor. Compounding this, any casual bilge water that collects can corrode the crankcase and engine block anchor, so bilge dryness is not optional with the inboard. The icebox sits immediately above the engine, and despite three inches of insulation its efficiency is badly compromised anchor — a layout consequence of the inboard option rather than a standalone defect.

Refits and Ownership

Most Meridian 25s on the water today will have seen layout and equipment changes across decades of ownership, consistent with the wide variation in factory finish. The outboard well configuration is the simpler ownership path; the inboard boats demand vigilant bilge management and a realistic plan for engine access. The trailerable hull and simple sloop rig keep ongoing costs modest, and the Rhodes pedigree gives the boat a coherent identity despite the production sprawl.

The Verdict

The Meridian 25 is a small, honest Rhodes coastal cruiser whose slender hull and modest sail plan reward patient handling more than speed. She is tender and chop-sensitive, and the inboard option creates service and corrosion exposure that the outboard layout avoids. For a couple or small family wanting a trailerable, classic-lined pocket cruiser with real sleeping capacity, she remains a coherent choice.

Pros