Hunter 245 vs Beneteau 25.7

[WorcesterMan]

Hello gurus. Current owner of a Beneteau First 211 with a summer mooring in Poole, looking for a bigger option with inboard motor, enclosed heads and shallow or lifting keel which we could tow home (Worcestershire) for winter storage and maintenance.

We've loved the Beneteau 211: fun cruising, lots to play with (conventional and asymmetric spinnakers, twin keels which continue to bite when heeled, and easy access to play in Poole Harbour and shallow moorings (Christchurch, Keyhaven) but would like something bigger and (hopefully) a bit faster under passage to give greater range.

We are considering a Beneteau First 260/25.7 but the Hunter 245 also looks interesting. I've hunted and can't see any real chatter which compares these two. We tend to sail for weekends, 2-up and lots of our destinations are shallow (Christchurch) hence the need for shallow draft (lifting keel works well for us), and we would prefer something which allows us to sail (not motor) in light winds. Does anyone have experience of these two boats? (and does anyone know where to get hold of a 3 tonne trailer at reasonable cost: they are almost £7K new which makes this option v expensive).

Plan B is to go for a 30 footer and give up on the tow-home-for-winter option (we still need a shallow draft for the mooring) and that takes us into Hanse 301 wing keel territory, but that's another story.

Crowd wisdom welcomed!

 

[Tranona]

They are rather different styles of boat. The Hunter is a ""small big boat" and the Bene a "big small boat". They appeal to different markets which is perhaps why you have not seen direct comparisons. The Hunter follows the UK pocket cruiser tradition of solid reliable family cruisers but with a bit more performance as the designer was good at slippery hulls, efficient twin keels and easily handled fractional rigs. Many will have cruising chutes for light wind sailing to complement the self tacking jib. The Bene was designed mainly for the European market where sporty dinghy like hull forms are more suitable for many of their sailing areas.

 

[Sailing steve]

PBO published a glowing review of the H 245 and on the back of that and a good nosey at the alternatives on the market at the time I bought one.

It sails really well and with the optional code 0 (aka scooper/cruising chute) off the wind I'm often keeping up with 26+footers.

Popular boat that holds it's value. Well built and plenty of room below. No regrets at all for coastal/family fun sailing.

 

[mrming]

A friend has the Hunter Channel 245, and it’s massive down below for the size and very well laid out. Sails well too. Only real drawbacks are that it’s not a looker and the side decks are very narrow. The Beneteau has sweet lines, sails better again but is much smaller inside. Both nice boats imo.

 

[oldbloke]

I would add the Spring 25 as a possible

 

[searocket]

We had a Beneteau 25.7 for a couple of years, it sailed really nicely, very responsive and worked well cruising on the East coast with the lift keel. Lack of headroom became a problem for me with too many doorways to hit. The galley is a bit basic.
Seems like quite a small step from a 211, but if you like that and want a bit more space it's a safe choice.

 

[Egret]

The Hunter 245 has standing headroom if you are not too tall and enclosed toilet cabin with doors generally and basin. Hunter and Beneteau are quite different, as Tracona Post #2. Hunter a more traditional feel with darker wood but not too much. Need to try both and see which suits better, or what is available in your area, keel type and price range - the Beneteaus seem more expensive. Look also at the 265, a bit bigger all around with more headroom in fore and after cabins and price between 245 and Beneteau.

e

 

[oldbloke]

We had a Beneteau 25.7 for a couple of years, it sailed really nicely, very responsive and worked well cruising on the East coast with the lift keel. Lack of headroom became a problem for me with too many doorways to hit. The galley is a bit basic.
Seems like quite a small step from a 211, but if you like that and want a bit more space it's a safe choice.

For Mrs Bloke a separate bedroom and a toilet with a door were non negotiable

 

[ridgy]

Do you already own the very substantial tow car required to tow either of those boats?
You're talking range rover or pickup truck.

Seems like a lot of effort from not much sailing gain even though I think the 25.7 is a cool boat.

Looking at the prices of 25.7s it seems a lot of money for little extra utility and throw in the cost of a trailer it sounds absurd.

The beneteau 285 is an entirely more useful boat also with a lifting keel and for probably half the price.

 

[WorcesterMan]

Thank you for the answers so far. I've just spotted a Jeanneau Sun Fast 2500 for sale (no price yet). I've never even heard of these until today. Will investigate further.

 

[WorcesterMan]

Do you already own the very substantial tow car required to tow either of those boats?
You're talking range rover or pickup truck.

Seems like a lot of effort from not much sailing gain even though I think the 25.7 is a cool boat.

Looking at the prices of 25.7s it seems a lot of money for little extra utility and throw in the cost of a trailer it sounds absurd.

The beneteau 285 is an entirely more useful boat also with a lifting keel and for probably half the price.

Thank you. I can rent a suitable tow vehicle for less than £100 per day; we only need it twice a year, and the convenience of having the boat nearby (and stored for free) over the winter is worth a lot: we live 3 hours from the water and are time poor.
If we go bigger, I'm interested in the Hanse 301. Will look closer at the B285

 

[WorcesterMan]

The Hunter 245 has standing headroom if you are not too tall and enclosed toilet cabin with doors generally and basin. Hunter and Beneteau are quite different, as Tracona Post #2. Hunter a more traditional feel with darker wood but not too much. Need to try both and see which suits better, or what is available in your area, keel type and price range - the Beneteaus seem more expensive. Look also at the 265, a bit bigger all around with more headroom in fore and after cabins and price between 245 and Beneteau.

e

Thank you. There are 265s available but I believe these are not trailable, and also the same rig as the 245 so slower in light airs (which means more motoring...)?

 

[ProDave]

Thank you. I can rent a suitable tow vehicle for less than £100 per day; we only need it twice a year, and the convenience of having the boat nearby (and stored for free) over the winter is worth a lot: we live 3 hours from the water and are time poor.
If we go bigger, I'm interested in the Hanse 301. Will look closer at the B285

Really? you can rent a range rover or pick up truck with a 3.5t towing limit for £100 per day? Does that include insurance for towing? You need it for 6 hours plus the time it takes you to recover the boat onto the trailer. That will be a long day and will need an early rental collection and return next morning for example.

If you are really going to do this, look for boats for sale with a trailer, that will be easier if the trailer is already set up for the boat but pay as much if not more attention to the condition of the trailer as the boat, particularly if the trailer is regularly immersed in sea water.

 

[pete]

Having had a Hunter 27 and later a Beneteau Oceanis 311. I think they were both good boats but the Beneteau had a much better finish below deck and was well thought out re conduits pre fitted for wiring and pipework. I remember fitting a new aerial cable on the Hunter and the old coax was run behind the rigid headlining, partly fibre glassed in between the mast step and the nav table making it necessary to retain this bit of the wire to keep things tidy.

 

[doug748]

Just to underline what you already know, when you leave trailable boats behind you are into 24/7/12 spending with a boat marooned 200 miles away. I think the change needs a bold step and a boat that usefully extends your sailing options and is likely to meet your needs for a good time to come. Some 26 foot ish boats might fall between the stools of not being easy to handle ashore and not being a useful update on something more trailable. As said, I am sure you know this but it is a big step.

Someone mentioned Spring 25s, they are looking cheap right now, I saw a couple sell in the autumn probably gong in the £5000 region and this one has been around for some time, Poole area:

MG Yachts Spring 25 for sale UK, MG Yachts boats for sale, MG Yachts used boat sales, MG Yachts Sailing Yachts For Sale 1989 MG Spring 25 - Apollo Duck

The reducing price may well reflect problems but may be worth a look, if only to check out the accommodation.

.

 

[Tranona]

There is a long "owners experience" article in this months YM on the Hunter Ranger 245

 

[matt1]

I think Tranona has it right about the Hunter being a small big boat and the Beneteau a big small boat kind of approach - it’s a good analogy.

I had a 245 and loved it. I described her as “bionic” especially upwind in some breeze and of course like any Hunter they are very soundly engineered and solid. In fact I loved the Hunter so much that I may go back to one when I’m too old and decrepit to sail my 40’

For the sailing you describe she would be ideal, albeit you would need some sort of code sail for lighter airs, which with her standard sails is probably her weak point

 

[Egret]

Rarely any light winds on the East Coast where the Hunters were built hence sail area. Always stiff SE breeze in the afternoon. I had a starburst cruising chute but rarely used it. Thinking of getting some smaller sails for a bigger Hunter - Big tick for these Hunters - Coincidentally quite a few Hunters of various sizes in my part of our anchorage - Must suit our short lumpy seas - but the Beneteau may be more wizzy. What are most popular types in your anchorage. This may help your decision.

 

[ProDave]

We have the slightly smaller Hunter Horizon 23, chosen for the vast accommodation for it's size and good sailing ability (had a sail in an identical boat before we went looking)

They are good in light winds except for down wind, that's when the spinnaker goes up.



Another HH23 flying his spinnaker same day

 

[oldbloke]

One of the nice things about a smaller boat it's nice and easy to pop the kite up. The number of times we have been sliding along nicely under spinnaker while the big boats rattle along at the same speed under mainsail and diesel, or even just diesel