I can’t answer all of your questions, but I can speak to the RT-25SC since I own a 2015. I bought mine new and moored it on Coeur d’Alene for eight years, then the lake got too small. Hagadone was difficult to deal with for moorage, but their mechanics were excellent and far more reasonably priced than what I’ve seen on the west side. During those eight years, every other season I’d trailer the boat to different lakes around the Northwest, including the Snake River, and then haul it over to the San Juans and cruise both the San Juan Islands and Canada’s Gulf Islands. So now I take it out and spend 1-4 weeks at a stretch every year, either crabbing or fresh water cruising. I never had any issues trailering it with my F-250 diesel, and your dually should handle it even better.
As for the 27 versus the 25, it really comes down to conditions. Depending on the wave length, sometimes the 25 will ride better and sometimes the 27 will, yet you can change some of that by changing your speed too. On Pend Oreille, you likely won’t notice much difference. When I bought my 25 new, I thought the 27 might be the better choice, but in reality, the main differences are a bit more cabin length and possibly a little more cockpit space. My wife’s main reason for not getting the 27 was the stove, she said it would be the most expensive stove ever at $50,000. I’ve done just fine with a grill on the back, and I can even bake with it. I also like the swim decks on the older boats. Totally open no engine in the way at all.
As for old style versus new, I can’t say definitively on space, but I have looked at buying new again at both, a newer 25 and 27, the 27 seemed like it had a little more room. That said, I still think the older 25s may be roomier than the newer 25s, though I could be wrong.
What I really like about the older style, besides the looks, is how solid they are. More steady at rest too. Mine has never leaked. Jeff, the company’s VP at the time, told me it never would, and he’s been right. I also love the heat off the diesel engine while underway. You don’t get that with the newer outboards. Same with hot water, the older diesel inboards heat the water from the engine. With the newer style, you’re running a diesel heater, filling separate tanks for the outboard and the heater, and watching your electrical load. Sure, flip on the converter, but then you’re wondering if you’ve got enough juice left to run the crockpot all day.
And the electric grill? You have to run a generator or be plugged in. Not me. I like pulling into a quiet bay and not firing up a genny. Just light the propane or briquette grill, your choice, and enjoy the peace.
As for fuel, diesel is certainly safer, and range has never been an issue for me. I remember someone saying they had to carry extra fuel on a passage because they couldn’t quite make it. I remember thinking, I could have; maybe riding the tide and slowing down a bit, but I could have made it. In that same conversation they said they were burning about 0.9 to 1.1 gallons per nautical mile at speed. My 25 burns around 2.1 to 2.2 gallons per nautical mile, and that’s at cruising speed of 14 to 15 knots. Slow it down and it sips fuel, at 6 knots, it burns a gallon an hour. And honestly, speed just isn’t that important to me. For you, maybe it is. For me, it’s about the trip. I can’t imagine trying to keep track of flotsam, logs, crab pots, other boats, and all the mystery junk floating around out there at 30 mph.
So as you can see I prefer an older style over the new style. I’ve considered a 27 several times over the years and have always come back to the 25 as being easier to pull, getting into gas stations, store and probably launch. Cheaper to moor, store and fuel. I may sell mine this fall but every year I think that, I just think I will miss her too much, so who knows? Forget the 2 footitis and just go for the 29!
