Merit 25
Description
The Merit 25 is a lightweight, high-performance fiberglass sailboat designed by Paul Yates and built by Merit Marine Inc. from 1981 to 1988, with approximately 780 units produced, making it the company’s most successful model. Featuring a fin keel, spade rudder, raked stem, and reverse transom, it’s optimized for club racing under MORC (Midget Ocean Racing Club) and PHRF rules (~165–180), with capabilities for coastal cruising and day sailing. Powered by an outboard auxiliary (typically 4–9.9 hp in a well) or optional inboard diesel, with tiller steering, it’s agile, responsive, and trailerable with modifications. Known for its speed, balance, and competitive edge—winning multiple MORC Nationals—it’s ideal for racers and weekend sailors.
Construction Details
| Designer | Paul Yates |
|---|---|
| Builder | Merit Marine Inc. |
| Length | 25.000 ft |
| LOA | 24.500 ft |
| LWL | 20.000 ft |
| Beam | 8.000 ft |
| Displacement | 2900 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 28.75 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 9.66 ft |
| p | 28 ft |
| e | 9.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28.75 ft | 9.66 ft | 28 ft | 9.75 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 28 ft - (8534 mm) |
| Foot | * 9.75 ft - (2972 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.12 ft - (8876 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 29.33 ft - (8940 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 4.5 in - (114 mm) |
| Area | * 140.96 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 24.26 ft - (7394 mm) |
| Foot | * 12.9 ft - (3932 mm) |
| Leech | * 20.9 ft - (6370 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.01 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 11.11 ft - (3386 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.98 ° |
| Area | * 134.76 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 28.5 ft - (8687 mm) |
| Foot | 10.75 ft - (3277 mm) |
| Leech | 25.83 ft - (7873 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 100.72 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 9.73 ft - (2966 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 6.6 ° |
| Area | * 138.64 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 28.81 ft - (8781 mm) |
| Foot | * 15.69 ft - (4782 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.01 ft - (8233 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 14.49 ft - (4417 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.97 ° |
| Area | * 208.74 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 27.5 ft - (8382 mm) |
| Foot | 14.75 ft - (4496 mm) |
| Leech | 25.5 ft - (7772 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 140.06 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.53 ft - (4124 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.93 ° |
| Area | * 185.98 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 28.81 ft - (8781 mm) |
| Foot | * 15.94 ft - (4859 mm) |
| Leech | * 26.51 ft - (8080 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 344 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 28.81 ft - (8781 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 17.39 ft - (5300 mm) |
| Foot | * 17.39 ft - (5300 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 426 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.