Jaguar 25?

[Justin1]

I would like some info and opinions on the jaguar 25, are they a nice boat to sail? Seaworthy etc..? Good Performance?

Would it make a good first boat?

Looking at the bilge keel version, thanks,

Justin

 

[Rustyknight]

We bought one as our first boat back in 1991. All we'd sailed before that were sailing school boats whilst doing Comp Crew and Day Skipper RYA courses. Only now is it up for sale.....

For just two people it was ideal, with good storage under the berths in the main cabin. The forecabin was where we stored the dinghy, and occasionally two folding bikes got thrown in there too if we were off for a few days.

The longest we spent aboard was 3 weeks, whilst cruising from Poole down to the Channel Islands and St Malo.

Quite easy to sail, even singlehanded given a tillerpilot. Having bilge keels doesn't hinder heaving to for reefing the mainsail too much, though it pays to roll the jib/genoa almost to nothing first, and then letting a few rolls out again once underway. Trial and error.....

It's not got the greatest windward perfomance, especially if heading into a choppy sea, but that's part and parcel of bilge keeled boats I think. Better than a Centaur, not quite as good as a Sadler 25.

Once off the wind, and with a clean bum, and decent F4/5, 5 or 6 knots can be maintained, though a reef in the mainsail would probably be a good idea.

 

[xstucker]

Not bad

Hi Justin,

My first foray into cruisers was with a Jaguar 25. She had bilge keels which made the cost of mooring fairly cheap as she could sit on a mud berth well. Also, the amount of accommodation was OK for a couple and two children. She sailed well-enough for the money. I don't remember performance being a big issue as I was not in a huge hurry to go places. She was of course, easy to handle single-handed as the loads were not very big and with 2 chaps sailing in a force 7, she was OK. I am sure that the fin-keel version would sail better to windward but it all depends on your requirements and I managed to keep mine on a walk-on finger mud-berth in Fareham for under £800 per year, so bilge keels are worth considering unless you live somewhere where it's not relevant.

On the down-side, they are all getting on a bit now, so if you do look at some, make sure that they have had osmosis treatment or have no signs of it. On a £7000 boat, the cost of treatment can really mess-up your budget.

If you want performance more than the other things, then consider also the Trapper 28 and the Beneteau First Class 8. The latter is a bit small on the accommodation side, but a much better sail.

Whatever you buy, ensure that the hull and rig are sound and that the engine runs well. Most other things can be replaced at reasonable cost.

Good luck with your hunt for a good boat.

 

[aquaplane]

I had a lift keel version as a first boat. It sailed OK. I think it inspired less confidence than my current Centaur, it's a bit more tender but probably faster.

There is only standing head room under the open hatch, but I have seen various designs of hatch garage to try to improve things in the saloon.

Mine had the dinette seating which drops to form a double berth for midgets, I'm 5'7" and I was cramped, the table like my B layout Centaur may be better. The forecabin was fine for room.

The rear bulkhead slopes too so it rains in if you don't have a spray hood or cockpit tent even with the hatch closed. I wouldn't have one without a big spray hood.

You lose half the berth to stbd under the cockpit if you have an inboard, but it's worth it if it's a diesel. Mine had a Volvo 7.5Hp Petrol with a recoil starter, OK for lake use but a bit of a waste of space, the new owner has fitted an outboard.


Certainly worth a look at.

 

[BlueChip]

Our second boat was a lifting keel Jag 25 with outboard.
I still have very fond memories of the Jaguar, it was a lovely boat, very fast and with the lift keel we could get to the top of the creek and anchor.
Limited headroom and the saloon double was cramped but a huge amount of fun and good sailing.
Motor sailing with an outboard is ok on one tack not viable on the other when the prop comes out of the water, so inboard preferable.
If you go for a lift keel version do check very carefully the keel swing bearing and lifting strop, we had the eye of a newly made strop break once with the keel up and as it fell I thought it would pull the bottom out of the boat. It made a mess of the interior mouldings which all snapped, but no other structural damage.

 

[Independence]

I did the Azores Jester Challenge 2008 in a bilge keel version (took 16 days there and 15 on the way back - not sure if that is good or bad!!).

I can honestly say I felt safe in her most of the time despite at one time running with the tinniest of genoa up and seeing a gust of 52 knots appear on my windspeed instrument. It was only a gust and I'm happy to admit it may have been over reading but all the same she handled very well.

I seemed to experience the jaguar's having a fair amount of room down below compared to similar sized boats. The owner I bought her from used it with their 2 young children.