At just over 25 feet on deck, with a 21.8-foot waterline, an 8.75-foot beam, and a displacement of 5,264 pounds, the Tiger is a small boat with a notably substantial ballast ratio.
Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass, with a spade rudder and an iron fin keel carrying 2,240 pounds of ballast. That produces a ballast ratio of 42 percent, which reviews note is higher than that of 62 percent of comparable designs.
A length-to-beam ratio of 2.79 places the Tiger among the beamier quarter-tonners. This figure suggests that she is roomier below than 76 percent of similar sailboats. Her displacement-length ratio of 237 puts her among “moderate racers” rather than heavy cruisers.
The reported Motion Comfort Ratio is 19.9, making her more comfortable by that measure than 62 percent of similar designs. Her capsize screening value is 2.04, however, so she wouldn’t qualify for ocean racing under that metric. That limitation needs to be weighed against her evident coastal purpose.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Tiger is a masthead sloop carrying 318 square feet of sail and a 10-horsepower Volvo Penta M6 diesel, as documented in the source review. Her theoretical hull speed is 6.3 knots, while the calculated maximum speed under power is near 4.7 knots.
The running-rigging dimensions are well defined. Jib and genoa sheets are about 25 feet long and 3/8 inch in diameter. The mainsheet is 62.7 feet, while the spinnaker sheets are 55 feet; all are 10 mm.
A wetted surface of roughly 226 square feet and an immersion rate of 683 pounds per inch point to a light, responsive hull. Depending on burden, she draws between 4.86 and 5.16 feet.
Accommodations
Below, the Tiger has two cabins and six berths, along with a galley and toilet facility. Headroom is near average for the class.
Her beamy proportions, which contribute to her favorable space rating, provide a usable interior for a 25-footer. Even so, these remain the accommodations of a compact cruiser-racer rather than a voluminous coastal trawler.
Verdict
The Westerly Tiger 25 is a focused small performance cruiser from the late-1960s wave of British fiberglass production. Her high ballast ratio, beamy layout, and documented rig dimensions make her a coherent coastal sailor. At the same time, her capsize screening value and modest relative speed—faster than only 7 percent of similar designs—mark her as a club-and-cruising boat rather than a serious offshore contender.
Pros
- High 42 percent ballast ratio, above 62 percent of comparable designs
- Beamy layout rated roomier than 76 percent of similar sailboats
- Solid fiberglass hull and clearly defined rigging specifications
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes her from ocean racing under that metric
- Relative speed is faster than only 7 percent of similar designs
- Compact 25-foot accommodations with near-average headroom
