Design and Construction
The Wing 25 was conceived in the early sixties as a small fibreglass cruiser, and her hull is of solid fibreglass construction with a solid fibreglass deck. The British yard A. V. Robertson Ltd. built the boat, though production was not exclusive to that firm built at other yards as well. Her proportions place her firmly in the heavy-cruiser camp: a displacement-to-length ratio of 423 categorizes the design among ultra-heavy cruisers, while a length-to-beam ratio of 3.12 and a ballast-displacement ratio of 34.62 describe a narrow, deeply ballasted hull. The wetted surface of the bottom is about 161 square feet, a figure consistent with a modest 25-foot fin-keeled hull.
Rig and Handling
She is rigged as a masthead sloop, and the standing and running gear follow period specification: jib and genoa sheets run 25 feet at 3/8-inch diameter, the mainsheet is 62.5 feet at the same diameter, and spinnaker sheets are 55 feet long sheet dimensions per the rig plan. The fin keel draws 3.58 feet, though loaded draft can reach 3.88 feet. A capsize screening value of 1.76 and a motion comfort ratio of 28.2 indicate a stable, damped motion profile for a boat of this size. Her theoretical hull speed is 5.8 knots, and the sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 12.35 marks her as moderately powered for her weight. The immersion rate of 516 pounds per inch means she sits relatively deep for each unit of load taken aboard.
Refits and Ownership
The Wing 25's simple fibreglass hull and deck, masthead sloop rig, and straightforward fin keel make for an uncomplicated ownership profile. Iron ballast of 2,250 pounds is a known corrosion consideration in any used example. The boat was also produced at other yards, but the core design parameters remained consistent.
The Verdict
The Wing 25 is a seriously built small cruiser from the early fibre-glass era, with a heavy-displacement hull and a recognized Dutch-British design lineage. She is stable and slow by modern standards, but her construction is straightforward and her rig is conventionally proportioned.
Pros
- Solid fibreglass hull and deck from a recognized 1960s design
- Stable motion profile (capsize screening 1.76, comfort ratio 28.2)
- Fin keel with moderate 3.58-foot draft for a 25-footer
Cons
- Ultra-heavy displacement (DL-ratio 423) limits performance
- Iron ballast requires inspection for corrosion
