Design and Construction
Harris designed the Vancouver 25 with a fixed long keel, a raked stem with a bowsprit, and a rounded transom fitted with a boomkin. The keel-mounted rudder is controlled by a tiller.
The boat displaces 7,380 pounds, including 2,600 pounds of lead ballast. Its 8.5-foot beam is narrow by modern standards, while the 21.67-foot waterline supports a theoretical hull speed of 6.2 knots. The solid fiberglass construction and long-keel configuration reflect a traditional cruising brief rather than an emphasis on light weight or racing performance. With only 28 built, the Vancouver 25 remains a comparatively rare small cruiser.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Vancouver 25 has a Bermuda-rigged masthead sloop arrangement. Its foretriangle measures 33.6 feet high with an 11.1-foot base and carries a 186-square-foot jib or genoa. The 194-square-foot mainsail has a 28.8-foot luff and a 13.5-foot foot.
Together, the sails provide roughly 380 square feet of area, giving the boat a balanced, manageable rig for a four-person crew. The bowsprit and boomkin extend the working triangle and sail controls beyond the ends of the hull in the classic Vancouver manner.
The tiller-steered long keel rewards patient helming and holds a course well off the wind. In return for that directional stability, it gives up the quick turn-in of a fin-and-skeg configuration.
Accommodations
The Vancouver 25 sleeps four. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, a straight settee provides another berth in the main saloon, and a starboard aft cabin contains a single berth.
The galley sits amidships to starboard and includes a two-burner stove and sink. The head is on the port side, just aft of the bow cabin. Beside the companionway steps to port, a navigation station gives the boat a proper cruising command post.
Cabin headroom is 71 inches, generous for a 29-foot design of this era. The layout separates the sleeping, cooking, and navigation areas without crowding them, making it a sensible arrangement for a couple with occasional guests.
Verdict
The Vancouver 25 distills Robert B. Harris’s conservative offshore philosophy into a small, limited-production cruiser. Its long keel, tiller steering, and solid fiberglass construction suit sailors who value simplicity and seaworthiness over speed or interior volume. With four berths and a dedicated navigation station, it is a credible pocket cruiser rather than a daysailer with overnight pretensions.
Pros
- Traditional long-keel fiberglass hull with bowsprit and boomkin
- Four-berth accommodation with a separate aft cabin and navigation station
- Generous 71-inch headroom for its length
Cons
- Only 28 were built, limiting availability and spares commonality
- The tiller-steered long keel is less maneuverable in tight quarters than a fin keel
- The narrow 8.5-foot beam limits interior width
