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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Jaguar 25



There’s a lot of information on the Web about the Jaguar 25. Mostly, reviews of the yacht at the time when she was being manufactured spoke of her as being a good performer. Prospective owners of Jaguar 25s could choose from one of three keel configurations: fin, bilge or lifting keel. Originally they were manufactured in the USA by Catalina yachts. In the early 1970s Frank Butler designed and built a series of Catalina yachts of which the Catalina 25 was one. In the UK, Eric Birch at Canvey Island, Essex, started building a similar range of yachts under licence, and marketed them as Jaguar Yachts. Almost identical to the Catalina 25, Eric Birch’s Jaguar 25 quickly became a best seller. Altogether 940 were built before production ceased in the mid 1980s.


In 1982 Yachting and Boating Magazine test sailed the Mk 11 version. At that time 350 had been built. Popularity of the boat was due in part to her useful accommodation which had an ‘L’-shaped seat that fitted around a table. The table could be lowered to be level with the surrounding seats to form a smallish double bunk. Forward of the dinette there was an enclosed head on the port side; astern of the saloon there was the well-thought-out galley. There was also a generous quarter berth on the port side, under the cockpit seat moulding. In the forward cabin there was a ‘V’- shaped double berth. Aft of that on the starboard side there was a hanging locker, and adjoining it in the saloon, there was a single settee berth. The cabin had standing headroom, and the beam of the boat was 8 feet, which gave plenty of space for the crew and their gear.


She could be equipped with an outboard motor on a bracket, set to one side of the transom so as to be clear of an externally hung rudder, A few Jaguar 25s were fitted with 7.5 HP Volvo diesel Saildrives. Handling was vice-free, except in very strong winds, when the yacht had a fair bit of weather helm. The Mk 11 model was closer-winded than her predecessor, because her shrouds were mounted inboard to enable a better sheeting angle for the foresails. The shrouds being inboard, gave better access to the foredeck. The 25’ Jaguar proved to be a good all-rounder, suitable for cruising or for club racing.



Specification

LOA 25’ 00”
LWL 22’ 00”
Beam 8’ 3”
Draught 3’ 1” Twin
5’ 8” Fin
Displacement 4,300 lbs
Mainsail 125 sq ft
Jib 160 sq ft
Genoa 228 sq ft
Spinnaker 440 sq ft



Text for the Day

Psalm 23:1 ‘The LORD is my Shepherd: I shall not want.’


Links


Jaguar 25 Specs

http://www.jaguaryachts.co.uk/jag25.html


Jaguar 25 at Ebay £3,9995 (Offers)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230693105774&category=1297&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619


Jaguar 25s for Sale – about 10 in all £5,950 to £9,950

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/searchresults.php?channel=&manufacturer=JAGUAR+25

1 comment:

  1. Hi Bill,

    I am a fairly recent owner of a Jaguar 25 so when I get home I look forward to reading this blog spot. Was thinking of setting one up myself

    ReplyDelete