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Helms 25
Designer: Jack A. Helms  ·  Builder: Jack A. Helms Co (Usa)  ·  First built: 1974
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About the Helms 25

Designed and built by Jack A. Helms beginning in 1974, this 25-footer represents a thoughtful approach to small boat cruising from the mid-1970s era. With her deep 6-foot draft and substantial 1,650-pound ballast comprising over 40% of her 3,950-pound displacement, the Helms 25 prioritizes stability and seaworthiness over shallow-water accessibility. The boat's moderate sail area of 275 square feet paired with her masthead sloop rig creates a well-balanced sailing platform that won't overwhelm novice sailors while still providing respectable performance. Her keel/centerboard configuration offers the unique advantage of combining deep-draft stability with the option to explore shallower anchorages when conditions permit. Built with fiberglass construction, the Helms 25 demonstrates the durability expected from boats of this era. Her comfort ratio of 16.96 suggests a motion that's relatively easy on crew during longer passages, while the capsize screening value of 2.03 indicates reasonable stability for coastal cruising applications. This design appeals most to sailors seeking a sturdy coastal cruiser capable of weekend adventures and short passages. The boat's conservative proportions and substantial ballast ratio make it particularly well-suited for sailors who prioritize safety and comfort over outright speed.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.50 ft / 6.55 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Min Draft 1.67 ft / 0.51 m
Displacement 3,950.00 lb / 1,792 kg
Ballast 1,650.00 lb / 748 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 275.00 ft² / 25.55 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Jack A. Helms
Builder Jack A. Helms Co (USA)
First Built 1974
Related Sailboats ["Coronado 25" · "Hunter 25" · "South Coast 25" · "Catalina 25" · "Cape Dory 25D"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 240
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 17.66
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 41.77
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 177.43
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 16.96
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.03
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.21 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 3.07
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 614.57 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 17.66
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
SA Fore 150.00 ft² / 13.94 m²
SA Main 125.00 ft² / 11.61 m²
SA Total (100%) 275.00 ft² / 25.55 m²
Est. Forestay Length 31.62 ft / 9.64 m
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 25, Hunter 25, South Coast 25

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Helms 25 ★
25.0 ft
Catalina 25
25.0 ft
Hunter 25
25.0 ft
South Coast 25
25.0 ft
LWL
Helms 25 ★
21.5 ft
Catalina 25
21.5 ft
Hunter 25
20.2 ft
South Coast 25
20.5 ft
Beam
Helms 25 ★
8.0 ft
Catalina 25
8.8 ft
Hunter 25
8.0 ft
South Coast 25
7.5 ft
Displacement
Helms 25 ★
3 lbs
Catalina 25
4 lbs
Hunter 25
4 lbs
South Coast 25
4 lbs
Ballast
Helms 25 ★
1 lbs
Catalina 25
1 lbs
Hunter 25
1 lbs
South Coast 25
1 lbs
Sail Area
Helms 25 ★
275 sq ft
Catalina 25
254 sq ft
Hunter 25
256 sq ft
South Coast 25
299 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Helms 25 ★
240 s/nm
Catalina 25
223 s/nm
Hunter 25
223 s/nm
South Coast 25
258 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Helms 25 ★
17.7
Catalina 25
16.1
Hunter 25
15.3
South Coast 25
18.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Helms 25 ★
41.8 %
Catalina 25
37.5 %
Hunter 25
40.9 %
South Coast 25
42.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Helms 25 ★
17.0
Catalina 25
15.2
Hunter 25
19.7
South Coast 25
20.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Helms 25 ★
2.03
Catalina 25
2.21
Hunter 25
1.96
South Coast 25
1.86
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Helms 25 ★
177
Catalina 25
179
Hunter 25
239
South Coast 25
217
Hull Speed
Helms 25 ★
6.2 kts
Catalina 25
6.2 kts
Hunter 25
6.0 kts
South Coast 25
6.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Helms 25 ★
3.1
Catalina 25
—
Hunter 25
2.1
South Coast 25
2.7
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