Is This The PERFECT Pocket Cruiser? $8,000 Mint Bayfield 25 Sailboat | Full Tour
#boatfoolssailing #sailing #pocketcruiser
[[SOLD AS OF 12/23/2025!]] Is This the PERFECT Pocket Cruiser? $8,000 Mint Bayfield 25 Sailboat | Full Tour
On a blustery winter day in coastal Maine, with temperatures hovering around 15°F, I took a solo ferry trip to Islesboro to inspect what may be one of the best pocket cruiser sailboat finds under $10,000 — a 1986 Bayfield 25 that’s been in indoor storage since 2018.
This Bayfield 25 is being sold by an estate, with an asking price of $8,000, and aside from the unknown condition of the Yanmar diesel, the boat appears to be a genuine time capsule — clean, original, and remarkably well preserved. Unfortunately, Canadian Ken and Captain Q (Captain Kew) couldn’t make this one, making it a true solo BoatFools mission: winter ferry schedules, cold decks, and a classic little cruiser hiding on a Maine island.
In this video, I do a full walk-through and honest review of the Bayfield 25, covering condition, layout, design, performance, value, and what to watch out for before buying.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 About to Open The Hatch!
00:33 Intro - On The Islesboro Ferry
02:15 Islesboro Marine - Intro to Bayfield 25
03:25 Keel, Rudder, Prop, and Hull
06:16 Going Up On Deck
06:30 The Cockpit
09:50 Going Forward to the Bow
15:40 Heading Below Deck!
18:09 The Galley
19:14 V-Berth and Head
21:47 The Engine - Incredible Access!
24:13 Final Thoughts
TO CONTACT THE SELLER PLEASE EMAIL: SOLD AS OF 12/23/2025
Link to the Mabel book: https://www.amazon.com/Mabel-Takes-Ferry-Emily-Chetkowski/dp/188015837X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25OUMGGIRWCWV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kOnR-72Pi4qG2MYHhSi4gg.oDncfM1nWs26GAMInIBKnfrCIBOCGyGXbL9RqHqwb1w&dib_tag=se&keywords=mabel+takes+the+ferry&qid=1765575624&sprefix=mabel+takes+the+ferry%2Caps%2C393&sr=8-1
Why the Bayfield 25 Has a Loyal Following
The Bayfield 25 is a beloved Canadian-built pocket cruiser designed by Ted Gozzard, known for its:
Full keel stability and forgiving handling
Shoal draft ideal for Maine and thin coastal waters
Classic clipper bow with bowsprit
Surprisingly roomy interior with near standing headroom
This is a true classic plastic — simple, solid, and honest.
- Bayfield 25 Specifications
LOA: 25.0 ft (≈24 ft without bowsprit)
LWL: 19.67 ft
Beam: 8.0 ft
Draft: 2.92 ft (shoal draft)
Displacement: ~3,500 lbs
Ballast: ~1,300 lbs
Rig: Masthead sloop
Keel: Full long keel
Construction: Fiberglass hull with teak trim
-Engine
Typically fitted with a small inboard diesel
This vessel appears equipped with a Yanmar
Engine condition currently unknown — a survey is strongly recommended
- Interior & Accommodations
For a 25-footer, the Bayfield 25 makes smart use of space:
V-berth forward
Twin main-cabin settee berths
Enclosed head to port
Compact galley with alcohol stove and icebox
Nearly 6 feet of headroom, rare at this size
-Performance & Handling
Extremely stable and predictable in rough conditions
Tracks straight thanks to the full keel
Not a racer — prefers a bit of wind
Theoretical hull speed: ~5.9 knots
Pros: solid construction, shoal draft, headroom, seaworthiness
Cons: small cockpit, limited tankage, short waterline in light air
- Value & Takeaway
Bayfield 25s typically sell in the $8,000–$15,000 range, depending on condition. Finding one in this level of preservation — on an island, in winter, at the low end of the price range — raises a lot of interesting questions about value.
Think of this episode as both a boat tour and a practical lesson in how to assess a small cruising sailboat. If you’re shopping for a pocket cruiser, a shoal-draft Maine cruiser, or a classic sailboat under $10,000, this is one you’ll want to see.
- Drop your thoughts in the comments — would you take the winter ferry for a boat like this?
And as always… get a survey.
See you next time!
-BoatFools Sailing Team
BoatFools Sailing
Ahoy! With a reputation for being slightly dangerous enablers of dreams, this is BootFools. If you wander into our waters, we have a suspicious feeling you may be a BoatFool too. Through inspirational, educational, and often hilariously entertaining storytelling and boat tours we journey into the world of exceptional used sailboats. By offering real intel on classic, wood, and fiberglass boats - that are actually worth your time, money and imagination - we inspire people to get out onto the water and behind the helm of their own sailing vessel. This community is made up of real boats, real people, and life-changing fun. It's the place that will remind you why you fell in love with sailing in the first place. 🚨New episodes weekly. Subscribe to get on board and join the adventure, one boat at a time. (And join our Substack community for even more useful tidbits and general Boatfoolery.)
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Is This The PERFECT Pocket Cruiser? $8,000 Mint Bayfield 25 Sailboat | Full Tour Location
- Islesboro Island (44.3017448,-68.9044762)
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