SEALINE S25
BUILT 2007 PRICE £47,950
Launched originally as the S23 in 2002 (the badge change to S25 was simply to reflect the actual length of 24ft 7in), this model was always intended to act as a stepping stone into the Sealine brand. So much so, in fact, that when the boat launched, Sealine offered a buy back scheme where owners could get their money back if they part exchanged against a larger Sealine within two years. However, it was only against the full list price of the larger Sealine, and back in the Kidderminster days (Sealine is now owned by Hanse) discounts were more commonplace, so it wasn’t quite as generous as it sounded.
INTERIOR
Away from the figures, the S23/S25 stood up well as a boat in its own right. As an introduction to the brand, Sealine ensured that the quality of fit-out was the equal of its larger boats, so although the layout was typical (dinette forward converting to a double, heads opposite the galley and a transverse double berth beneath the cockpit), the interior quality was a step above the norm at this size.
EXTERIOR
Side decks or a wide beam cockpit, you can’t have both at this size because the beam is usually constrained to 8ft 6in
(in this case 8ft 2in) to allow for trailering. Where some rivals opted for walk-through windscreens, Sealine went for proper side decks, eking back a little space by making them asymmetric (the starboard deck is 8in wide, the port a paltry 4in). As a result, the cockpit is a little tight, with seating for six – two at the helm plus twin double seats facing each other across a table.
PERFORMANCE
The S23 versions got the venerable Volvo Penta KAD 32 170hp, but this later S25 gets the much newer D3-160, five-cylinder diesel. We eked 30 knots out of a KAD boat on test, and the D3 should be similar.
SEAKEEPING
The seakeeping on these is actually pretty good for a small boat, with a decent ride and sharp handling. Trim tabs are a must for keeping it on an even keel however, a corollary of a tall boat with a narrow beam.
LOA 24ft 7in (7.5m) Beam 8ft 2in (2.5m) Draught 2ft 11in (0.9m) Displacement 2.5 tonnes Fuel capacity 227 litres
Engine Volvo Penta D6-160 diesel
FOR SALE Burton Waters Boat Sales www.burtonwaters.co.uk