Hardy 25/26 advice

[AHoy2]

I'm considering a Hardy 25/26 for a return to the darkside and have a couple of queries for those in the know. My reference for single shaft mobos is previous ownership of a Merry Fisher 805 but looking to go slightly smaller this time around. Usage will be similar i.e. pottering, fishing and coastal cruising including cross-channel, primarily single handed but some family day trips.
Questions :
Is the claimed strength and build quality of the Hardy actually superior to the Jen/Ben alternatives?
How does the planing hull of the H25 compare for seakeeping with the SD MF when the going gets tough?
What is the H25 like for slow speed (canal or river) steering, does it need continual correction?
H25 engine options and service access? Most seem to be Yanmar 230hp.
Wheelhouse noise levels at cruise?
Any other advice/comments welcome.

TIA.

 

[Firefly625]

I'm considering a Hardy 25/26 for a return to the darkside and have a couple of queries for those in the know. My reference for single shaft mobos is previous ownership of a Merry Fisher 805 but looking to go slightly smaller this time around. Usage will be similar i.e. pottering, fishing and coastal cruising including cross-channel, primarily single handed but some family day trips.
Questions :
Is the claimed strength and build quality of the Hardy actually superior to the Jen/Ben alternatives?
How does the planing hull of the H25 compare for seakeeping with the SD MF when the going gets tough?
What is the H25 like for slow speed (canal or river) steering, does it need continual correction?
H25 engine options and service access? Most seem to be Yanmar 230hp.
Wheelhouse noise levels at cruise?
Any other advice/comments welcome.

TIA.

I have a Hardy Mariner 26, going to be on the market in January. Its the best one in the country (no joke)

Is the build quality better than Ben/Jen, indescribably so (I have owned both), Hardy Mariner took over 4 months to build, a Jen/Ben is knocked out in 1 week.

Planning hull of the Hardy...is the same as the planning hull of the Ben/Jen !! (That is why both Hardy and Ben/Jens will go above 20knots) - in other words they both have sort of a hybrid SD/planning hulls, deep entry bow means no slamming, and I mean zero slamming (on the hardy anyway), look at 2 out the water and you will see very much the same hull profile, both have small keels but the aft section of the hulls flattens out.

The Hardy I have taken out in F8's and never had a concern, wouldn't do the same in a Ben/Jen. Just compare displacement, Hardy Mariner over 4t

Our Hardy will potter all day at tickover or just above and sip fuel

Yanmar 230 engine brilliant, robust and simple, (just ask the resident Diesel engine designer Laterstarter1)

Wheel house noise levels fine,

Owning a little Hardy is like owning a Bentley in comparison to a ford. I've owned both a Ford and a Bentley and a Jeanneau and a Hardy...

Oh, and yes I am biased... but in an educated manner.

editted bit -
Sorry, missed out some of your questions;
What is the H25 like for slow speed (canal or river) steering, does it need continual correction? - The steering is fine at all speeds, the keel and shaft drive is what you want if you are doing canal work, you can leave it to steer itself and it will track straight without correction.

H25 engine options and service access? Most seem to be Yanmar 230hp.
Some have the 170hp Yanmar which you won't want unless on the Thames full time. Access is not brilliant, but wheel house floor lifts and everything can be got at. If you need even better access just 4 screws takes the fridge out and you can climb in engine bay (just)

Oh, and BTW, with our Solent hoping, over the past 5 years we have averaged around 12 litres per hour fuel consumption...and we cruise at 16 knots mostly.

 

[Firefly625]

Blatant sales pitch..

a quality boat...

 

[AHoy2]

Thanks Firefly625. pm on the way.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Another happy owner

Thanks Firefly625. pm on the way.

I'm the other Hardy 25 owner regularly posting here and I can confirm that James is keen on his Hardy to the point of obsession and I am sure he is only selling to get more space with a growing family. I have had 2 Hardy's - one the bigger twin 36 and this one. She is an excellent boat - extremely solid. Perhaps rather dated in interior design compared to the Ben/Jen but much more solid. Bow thrusters were a bit underpowered when fitted so not hugely effective in a cross wind. Access to the front of the engine is awful as it is up against a bulkhead but access to the rest is very good. Yanmar 230 is indeed a really excellent mechanical engine - very few electrics, pushrod design. On the other hand parts are expensive and as an alloy engine it has several anodes which need regular attention. I would not consider any other engine size for sea use. I cruise at around 15 knots and get about 2.3 MPG. Low speed stability is excellent as it has a small keel which gives good stability. It is a bit trim sensitive on the plane so you need to make sure the trim tabs are working well and then it is fine. Noise levels at cruise are OK - the engine is in the wheelhouse so it isn't quiet but you can certainly talk over it. If you open the sunroof and doors as you will in the Summer then the sound escapes. I kind of agree with James that they will potter all day and we take ours up stream on the Hamble at 3 knots quite often but the Yanmars do like to be pushed a bit and the turbos like to be run so even on a pottering day I would try to find 20 minutes to open her up and clear her throat

Storage is excellent - there are cubby holes under all the seats and berths

Noting your comment re cross channel - the boat is absolutely strong enough to do this easily (we brought ours back from Cornwall in 3 legs) but it is a single engine job so you lack redundancy in power sources if you have an engine problem - also the tank is only 220 litres so range isn't amazing. The bathing platform has an extending outboard bracket built into it so if you wanted to carry an auxiliary outboard there is a mounting point for it in an emergency.

Both James and I are on the Hamble so if you wanted to take a look I would be more than happy to show you round and I am sure James would as well.

 

[volvopaul]

I look after the motors on both these boats , I've been out on fireflys and had a smile on my face all the time, a simply stunning boat to own, it's quality is outstanding, you won't find a better one.

 

[aquapower]

Build quality far better than the French alternatives without any doubt, residuals will be better too.

 

[AHoy2]

Thanks all for the above positive responses. I have been told that Nanni 200 hp engines were also fitted, as well as the missing 30hp any major drawbacks to it as an alternative engine (apart from dealer network)? Could be time for me to do some serious looking for a good hardy 25/26.

 

[Firefly625]

Thanks all for the above positive responses. I have been told that Nanni 200 hp engines were also fitted, as well as the missing 30hp any major drawbacks to it as an alternative engine (apart from dealer network)? Could be time for me to do some serious looking for a good hardy 25/26.

Do a search on this forum on that particular nanni engine. It's a bit of a horror.

 

[oldgit]

B1.over 0n the Thames frum owned a small Hardy for many years. Had the pleasure of being on the boat when he bought it round to the Medway a year or two ago.
Not quick with his engine option.
Nothing but praise for the boat, comfortable ride , quiet and sea kindly in the lumpy bits. Decent side decks for access forward and seamanlike attention to detail, such as decent sized deck drains that do not block when a tea spoon of water comes aboard plus good quality stantions properly anchored to the deck.
Nice little boat.
My only experience of the French boats was being amazed at the amount of flex displayed by the swim platform when attempting to clamber aboard a small Jenneau. !

 

[stuartwineberg]

Thanks all for the above positive responses. I have been told that Nanni 200 hp engines were also fitted, as well as the missing 30hp any major drawbacks to it as an alternative engine (apart from dealer network)? Could be time for me to do some serious looking for a good hardy 25/26.

Seriously, I have followed Firefly's care and attention to his Hardy with complete admiration and some jealousy - I just don't have his patience with polish and detail. If you are really after a 25 and James' is for sale I would absolutely start there. Just to be clear I have never met James - just chatted on here and waved to him on the Hamble so I am not on any sort of sales commission!!!

 

[Firefly625]

Seriously, I have followed Firefly's care and attention to his Hardy with complete admiration and some jealousy - I just don't have his patience with polish and detail. If you are really after a 25 and James' is for sale I would absolutely start there. Just to be clear I have never met James - just chatted on here and waved to him on the Hamble so I am not on any sort of sales commission!!!

thanks Stuart and VP, you really are earning your commission now! :encouragement:

 

[AHoy2]

I can take a hint ;>)
Getting into practice with the price/condition calculator.

 

[volvopaul]

Do a search on this forum on that particular nanni engine. It's a bit of a horror.

Def a blatant sales out be that one James, yanmar every time.

 

[duncan99210]

We used to have a Hardy Pilot (20 foot) with an outboard before we bought a boat with flappy things. I know it's not relevant to the ops exact question but I'd like to emphasise the build quality of the brand. It was built like the proverbial outhouse, well thought out and crammed a lot into what was a small boat.

If we ever stop the sailing lark, then we'll be looking for another Hardy to carry on with.

 

[rustybarge]

We used to have a Hardy Pilot (20 foot) with an outboard before we bought a boat with flappy things. I know it's not relevant to the ops exact question but I'd like to emphasise the build quality of the brand. It was built like the proverbial outhouse, well thought out and crammed a lot into what was a small boat.

If we ever stop the sailing lark, then we'll be looking for another Hardy to carry on with.

I love the Hardy designs; pretty boats.

Just as a matter of interest they have had a couple of bigger 32' boats for sale on their official site for a number of years without successfully selling them.

How re-saleable is the old fashioned Hardy s/d design in the world of modern planing boats?

 

[Firefly625]

I love the Hardy designs; pretty boats.

Just as a matter of interest they have had a couple of bigger 32' boats for sale on their official site for a number of years without successfully selling them.

How re-saleable is the old fashioned Hardy s/d design in the world of modern planing boats?

Tbh I think it's more to do with the 32. Every other model seems to find a home pretty quickly. Outside the 32 is great, interior is hopeless.

 

[rustybarge]

Tbh I think it's more to do with the 32. Every other model seems to find a home pretty quickly. Outside the 32 is great, interior is hopeless.

The interior does look narrow and cramped in the photos: that would explain it!

 

[Firefly625]

The interior does look narrow and cramped in the photos: that would explain it!

I think it's more to do with 2 large seating areas and only 1 cabin. The new hardy 32DS has put that right, it's twin cabin layout would be ideal for us, but at an eye watering price.

 

[Firefly625]

I can take a hint ;>)
Getting into practice with the price/condition calculator.

Hull polished and anti fouling done today, all ready to go