CAVING
SKYDIVING
HANG GLIDING
WATER
Sail Away
Watts Bar 2000
Watts Bar 2003
Labor Day 2002
Shackleton #3
Shackleton #4
Shackleton #5
Shackleton #6
Shackleton #8
BACKPACKING
RESCUES
STATION R

Hunter 25.5 Possible Mallard

We sold the boat in the summer of 2004 to some nice folks who are keeping her at Sale Creek Marina in the old slip, so we get to see the former Possible Mallard every time we walk out to our new boat. Thought I'd keep this "for sale" description up just for all those Hunter 25.5 fans out there in the world. Yeah, we miss her. The big boat is a comfy condo on the water and a faster steed if you can tear yourself away from the dock, but the fun of hopping into the Hunter and sailing out at a moment's notice, carefree, is all in the past for us now. (Author sheds tear.)

The Hunter 25.5 is a fast little "pocket cruiser" that is fun and easy to sail. With a nine foot one inch beam, she has as much room below as some 30 footers. In the light air that dominates most of the year around Chattanooga, flying her famous gigantic sail "Big Red," she'll leave most other boats in her wake. Under power, she moves quickly along under the steady push of a 2002 Yamaha 4-stroke. There are several race reports in the menu on the left telling of our adventures in the not-always-so-serious racing out at Sale Creek.

At Anchor

We've spent many an enjoyable weekend nestled at anchor. One of our favorite trips is to motor upriver to Watts Bar Lake.

Under Sail

Here our friends Tim and Brenda, who recently bought a Chrysler 26 sailboat of their own, zip along in Possible Mallard at 5-6 knots on a beautiful sailing day.

Salon Forward

This photo is taken from the top of the companionway looking forward. The dinette table on the port side has been taken down to form a comfortable place to relax. We used to keep the dinette table up all the time but lately I find I like it in the "down" position. All of the coushins in the boat are covered in the original orange-peach fabric, which is generally in good shape, but my wife disliked the color, so she fiited a green sheet over the v-berth and made the plaid slip-covers for the dinette (they come right off if you're not a fan of green plaid).

Salon Starboard

Looking back at the companionway along the starboard side of the salon.

Stove

The Origo non-pressurized alcohol stove had never been used when we bought the boat. It is simple and effective way to cook. There is a nice cutting board that fits over the top. You can see the top of the open icebox in the upper right of the photo. The icebox used to drain (when it felt like it) to the bilge, which was a bit messy, so I put a rubber stopper in the hole and plumbed in a bilge pump instead. Now you can pump out most of the water (the line connects into the sink drain) with just a push of a button, then just sponge out the last little bit.

V-berth looking forward

The v-berth has been our 4 year old's daughter's "room" aboard the boat. Normally there is a 9" TV/VCR that sits very nicely at the tip of the "v" (I ran a 12 volt line to a lighter plug there). If you are under 6' you can sleep in the v-berth. I prefer to stretch out in the salon on the converted dinette or in the aft berth under the cockpit.

V-berth looking aft Potty

The vanity and sink in the v-berth is a nice touch that many boats of this size lack. I did not run pressurized water to this sink, but it would be a simple matter to connect into the lines at the galley sink.

Salon aft on the port side.

Looking toward the aft berth (port side of salon). You can see the microwave (it just barely fit into that space) and the aft berth that lies under the cockpit. I had planned to add a third electrical panel for AC shore power under the companionway, but never got to that.

Aft Berth
The aft berth under the cockpit is large enough for two to sleep, although the inside position is not for the clastrophobic. I have always wanted to put an opening portlight out into the cockpit to brighten up this space. As on most boats, this berth tends to turn into a storage depot. You can see the cockpit coushins on the right, pillows, a sleeping bag, and other items on the left.

We bought her in 1998 for $9,300 and have spent around $2,000 upgrading (most of that was a new outboard) another $2,000 on other things I saw in the catalogs and just had to have.

Nice things and Upgrades

  • Three headsails: Big Red (190%), J-24 genoa (155%), standard genoa (110%).
  • Autohelm ST50 Tri-data (depth, speed, temperature)
  • Pop-top
  • Danforth anchor and rode with chain.
  • 2002 6HP Yamaha 4-stroke outboard ($1,500 and well worth it)
  • Installed gates on lifelines on both sides of cockpit ($150 parts and labor)
  • Replaced the four opening portlight lenses and screens ($200)
  • Replaced all running rigging ($100)
Additions
  • Bimini Top ($275)
  • 1200 watt Inverter ($275)
  • Second deep-cycle battery and battery switch ($80)
  • Second DC panel ($30)
  • Pressurized water ($100)
  • Hella fans (one Turbo, $50, and one Jet, $27)
  • 700 watt microwave ($40)
  • JVC CD player/stereo w/Alpine speakers ($250)
  • Boom vang ($100)
  • Headsail bag ($100)
  • Davis Anchor Light and wiring ($100)
  • Bilge pump for icebox ($40)
  • Mosquito screens for front hatch, companionway ($50)
  • Third Halyard ($45)
  • 12 volt outlets in v-berth, cockpit locker ($40)
  • Magazine rack, medicine chest, drink holders, paper towel holder, etc. ($80)
  • Davis Tiller Tamer ($25)
  • Closed cell cockpit coushins--my wife sewed these in Sunbrella ($100)
  • Smoke alarm ($6.00)
The good news is that there really isn't all that much left to add or do--this boat is pretty much equipped with almost everything. The only big items left on my "wish list" are a tiller autopilot (the tiller tamer helps, but won't steer for more than a minute or so), a whisker pole, and a spinnaker to add to our sail inventory. Not to mention shorepower and that portlight into the aft berth. You know, that's part of the joy of owning a boat. There's always something more to dream about in that catalog.

Plan View For more information on the Hunter 25.5, see www.sailboatowners.com.


Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Ling.
All rights reserved.