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Nimble 25 Arctic
Designer: Ted Brewer  ·  Builder: Nimble Boats (Usa)  ·  First built: 1988
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About the Nimble 25 Arctic

Designed by renowned naval architect Ted Brewer and built by Nimble Boats from 1988 to 1993, this compact cruiser represents thoughtful engineering for sailors seeking capable coastal and short-range offshore performance. The Arctic's moderate displacement of 2,900 pounds paired with a substantial 1,000-pound ballast package creates impressive stability for her size, reflected in the low comfort ratio of 10.9 that indicates surprisingly gentle motion in seaways. Brewer's design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and seaworthy characteristics. The fractional sloop rig with 240 square feet of sail area provides manageable sail handling while delivering respectable performance, with the keel/centerboard configuration offering both stability and shoal-water versatility. This dual-purpose underbody allows exploration of shallow anchorages while maintaining the directional stability needed for longer passages. The fiberglass construction reflects quality standards typical of late 1980s boatbuilding, and the Arctic's reputation centers on being an honest, well-mannered cruiser that punches above its weight class. While compact at 26 feet overall, the design maximizes waterline length at 24.17 feet, contributing to respectable hull speed potential. This boat suits sailors prioritizing seaworthiness and sailing ability over interior volume.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 24.17 ft / 7.37 m
Beam 8.25 ft / 2.51 m
Max Draft 4.17 ft / 1.27 m
Min Draft 1.33 ft / 0.41 m
Displacement 2,900.00 lb / 1,315 kg
Ballast 1,000.00 lb / 454 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 240.00 ft² / 22.30 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ted Brewer
Builder Nimble Boats (USA)
First Built 1988
Last Built 1993
Owner Reviews

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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
249
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
18.93
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
34.48
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
91.69
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
10.9
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
2.32
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. 6.59 kn
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. 712.49 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Crown 25 Schumacher, Gp 26 Orc, Magnum 85, Skimmer 25, Tradewinds 26 Luger

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
26.0 ft
Crown 25 Schumacher
25.0 ft
Gp 26 Orc
25.9 ft
Magnum 85
28.0 ft
Skimmer 25
25.4 ft
Tradewinds 26 Luger
25.4 ft
LWL
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
24.2 ft
Crown 25 Schumacher
Gp 26 Orc
Magnum 85
24.8 ft
Skimmer 25
24.0 ft
Tradewinds 26 Luger
23.0 ft
Beam
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
8.3 ft
Crown 25 Schumacher
7.2 ft
Gp 26 Orc
8.5 ft
Magnum 85
8.0 ft
Skimmer 25
8.2 ft
Tradewinds 26 Luger
7.9 ft
Displacement
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
2 lbs
Crown 25 Schumacher
2 lbs
Gp 26 Orc
2 lbs
Magnum 85
3 lbs
Skimmer 25
3 lbs
Tradewinds 26 Luger
2 lbs
Ballast
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
1 lbs
Crown 25 Schumacher
840 lbs
Gp 26 Orc
992 lbs
Magnum 85
882 lbs
Skimmer 25
1 lbs
Tradewinds 26 Luger
750 lbs
Sail Area
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
240 sq ft
Crown 25 Schumacher
210 sq ft
Gp 26 Orc
349 sq ft
Magnum 85
302 sq ft
Skimmer 25
245 sq ft
Tradewinds 26 Luger
235 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
18.9
Crown 25 Schumacher
21.2
Gp 26 Orc
33.0
Magnum 85
22.9
Skimmer 25
18.9
Tradewinds 26 Luger
19.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
34.5 %
Crown 25 Schumacher
Gp 26 Orc
Magnum 85
28.6 %
Skimmer 25
33.3 %
Tradewinds 26 Luger
28.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
10.9
Crown 25 Schumacher
10.0
Gp 26 Orc
8.5
Magnum 85
11.5
Skimmer 25
11.6
Tradewinds 26 Luger
10.8
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
2.32
Crown 25 Schumacher
Gp 26 Orc
Magnum 85
2.21
Skimmer 25
2.27
Tradewinds 26 Luger
2.31
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
91
Crown 25 Schumacher
93
Gp 26 Orc
92
Magnum 85
90
Skimmer 25
96
Tradewinds 26 Luger
95
Hull Speed
Nimble 25 Arctic ★
6.6 kts
Crown 25 Schumacher
6.2 kts
Gp 26 Orc
6.3 kts
Magnum 85
6.7 kts
Skimmer 25
6.6 kts
Tradewinds 26 Luger
6.4 kts
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