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Olson 25???
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Have just sold my Niagara 26. Now looking for something a bit racier but in same size range. Hoping to take advantage of soft market to get a boat 7000 or less. One boat that seems interesting is the Olson 25 with a PHRF rating in low 160s. Anyone have any experience on this boat and what conditions it likes & dislikes? Most of my sailing is 20NM + races in light wind but changing up to 20+ knots in same race. Shallow Strait with square close waves. Thanks Mike
olson 29 in Bridgewater Hi Mike It's Terry Scott from PEI. I have a Tbird and Catalina 30 and sailed on Jason Macaulay's Olson 30. This summer I was looking at some boats in Bridgewater. A fellow wheels and deals boats there. He had 4 boats for sale: 30 Cheoy Lee, Range 28, Pearson 30 and an Olson 29. The O29 had some damage to the Port side that they were in the midst of fixing. I can't find the add on Kijiji anymore and cant' find any emails I bounced back and forth. I'll check the car to see if i still have the address or the guys name. He wanted way to much for it at the time. Originally he was asking 18,500. It's in pretty nice shape inside and maybe the outside is fixed as well now. He did not have much if anything in sails though. He said he could put us in touch with the previous owner where you could buy the sails. good luck Terry
Olson 25 Mike - do try and find yourself an Olson 25 - we have one, as do a few friends now - and we're all crazy-happy with the boat. It is great all round...quality etc. It loves big wind - but is a rocket in really light air. We're in Canada - but you'll find that most for sales are in the States. email me at canadatomk@rogers if you want specific questions answered. The only thing I know for sure - is that O25 owners absolutely love their boats, and ex-owners wish they'd never sold theirs - it's almost "universal"...
Sailingdog What do you sail on now? Mike
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Merit 25 vs J24
- Thread starter B-Slick
- Start date Oct 8, 2009
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- Oct 8, 2009
If you had to pick one?
Merit for me!
Merit
Super Anarchist
Merit 25 unless you're looking for OD racing.
- Thread starter
Why?
OD not a concern. Just looking for a beer can boat.
Nomenclature
B-Slick said: Why? Click to expand...
B-Slick said: If you had to pick one? Click to expand...
Tequila Bob said: B-Slick said: If you had to pick one? Click to expand...
Merrit 25 came out after the J/24 they took all the things wrong with the J/24 and perfected the design idea. Merrit 25's have done SF to Hawaii - J/24's have sunk on the SF city front. From a sailing perspective the Merrit 25 sails well and drives nice - the J/24 is a POS from a helm perspective. Your choice
Squalamax said: Tequila Bob said: B-Slick said: If you had to pick one? Click to expand...
ship of fools
merit, j24's are pure crew killers. but if i had the chance ot be on a moore
Purdy: Merit 25's
Lottsa people don’t know I’m famous
Around here there were both in the eighties. 50% of the J-24s are still around and only an occasional Merit shows up at all. The J-24s have well documented problems and 5000 owners who have found ways to solve those probems. the Merits have different problems. There were various typos of core tried and each failed in a different way. The keels on Merits are nototious for becoming wiggly. Merit single point lifts must not be trusted unless the keel sump area has been totally rebuilt...or the Merit ois one of those that seemed to have a strong sump area from the factory. I have seen the back of the keel lift into the hull as much as 6 inches before the reinforcements were added. If your keel lifts into the hull...you really need to fix it. The Merits often came with factory trailers. Those trailers varied in quality from minimal to utter and complete dangerous shit. If you are considering using a two decade old Merit trailer. INSPECT IT THOROUGHLY!!!!! I have not worked on Merits since the nineties......One local boat burned. Others left town. A couple more were left to sink I know where there is at least one more abandoned at a loal marina. They are now a decade older and whatever problems I saw in those first ten years didn't heal in the boats I didn't see. if I wanted a boat in that size range I would buy one of whatever was popular in my local area. That way, even if I were to decide to sell it, I would have a fleet into which to sell it. and personally?? I would take a J-22 over either one. Yes!! that is a standing offer to swap for my J-24.
B-Slick said: OD not a concern. Just looking for a beer can boat. Click to expand...
I would jump on that Olson 25 bandwagon....Big for its size and fast. If all you want is nice cruise that also sails well, the Pearson 26 in either the Cruise or One Design version is nice too and sails decently. Issues would be the Aluminum rudder post on some older versions, general wear and rear in the boat part of the rudder tube. and the wood under the mast step sometimes needed to be replaced.
O25's are really nice boats - way more boat than the M25. Good quality build - though you need to check most have already been addressed but the chain plate/strap should be checked and replaced some or many were actually alum straps. Again most were already done. The O25 will get up and boogie in big waves and wind I've seen the front end of an O25 keel as it surfed down a big wave 12 miles out from the GG bridge during a race. Cool boat! Interior in the O25 is the most cruisable of the M25 - moore 24 or J24 by a long way. I looked at them years ago but couldn't find one in my price range.
Kaptainkriz
S-2 7.9! (ok, if I had to pick, I'd choose merit)
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COMMENTS
Oct 4, 2004 · "Having owned two Olson 25s over the years, I am definitely a fan of the boat. It is definitely deserving of the One of the Top 5 PHRF boats Sailing World bestowed upon the O25 a couple of years ago. And they are a rock solid boat...You will be forever pleased as an O25 owner." "Even though I've moved on to an Olson 911, I still pine for my O25.
Nov 21, 2007 · olson 29 in Bridgewater Hi Mike It's Terry Scott from PEI. I have a Tbird and Catalina 30 and sailed on Jason Macaulay's Olson 30. This summer I was looking at some boats in Bridgewater. A fellow wheels and deals boats there. He had 4 boats for sale: 30 Cheoy Lee, Range 28, Pearson 30 and an Olson 29.
Mar 15, 2006 · The Pacific built versions were the original George Olson built boats. From a racing perspective, they are easily, the most sought after. The Erickson versions were somewhat heavier; however they did have a somewhat more deluxe interior. In some PHRF regions the Erickson version is actually rated slower than the Pacific built boats.
May 11, 2008 · 18201 Falk Meissner Shark-On-Bluegrass Olson 25 159 15:11:10 2:36:10 2:23:10 2 BYC 68 Steve Smith Synchronicity Olson 25 159 15:13:06 2:38:06 2:24:57 3 HMBYC 28609 Tom Nemeth Clean Sweep Olson 25 159 15:14:38 2:39:38 2:26:21 4 BYC 18341 David Russell Intrepid Olson 25 159 15:33:32 2:58:32 2:43:41 5 BYC Upwind very windy and rough M25
The Olson is actually fairly trailerable and the mast is easy to step on your own not to mention you can move it around with a smaller vehicle. The Choate is a fairly substantial 27’ boat by comparison. The Olson also has smaller more affordable sails and does not have as much going on onboard (i.e. no runners, etc,etc)
Nov 6, 2004 · I don't know the Olson 25 at all. I owned a W24 for 7 yrs. Best damn keel boat I owned under 30 ft. There are a lot of tips and techniques to the boat. The fact that there is a MH and frac version, two different spar makers and 3 keel configs should tell you something.
Jul 8, 2007 · The 25 is not a smaller version of the Olson 30, it weights almost the same (3000lbs, vs 3600lbs) and does not plane easily (it was designed as a MORC boat). For it's size it has plenty of room below and is a drier sailing boat than the 27. Stay away from the Ericson built 25's they are junk, stick with the Pacific Boats version.
Nov 24, 2024 · A family of 4 could easily spend a long weekend on an Olson 25. Quarter berths are more than 6’ long, and 2 adults or 2 children can sleep comfortably in the forepeak. It’s a huge 25’ boat when you take into account how fun they are to sail in a blow.
Mar 4, 2022 · A little over a year ago, in a time of confusion and mindlessness I sold my nearly perfect Olson 25. I am certain her new owner loves and treats her well—it is the way of things I’m in the midst of reworking a fast Cal20 and every time I look below deck I feel a deep pain in my chest—as much as I love this little Lapworth designed sloop ...
Oct 8, 2009 · Merrit 25 came out after the J/24 they took all the things wrong with the J/24 and perfected the design idea. Merrit 25's have done SF to Hawaii - J/24's have sunk on the SF city front. From a sailing perspective the Merrit 25 sails well and drives nice - the J/24 is a POS from a helm perspective.