Cockwells Duchy 25 Review (2026 Edition) by Aquaholic

On Deck

The Duchy 25 is an unusual little boat because almost nothing about it feels little apart from the dimensions. The whole point of it is that Cockwells has taken the same approach it uses on its larger Duchy models and custom superyacht tenders and shrunk it into something you can tow behind a decent SUV. And somehow, they’ve managed it without the boat feeling stripped back or simplified in the process.

At 7.6m long, this is firmly picnic boat territory. Day boat, estuary cruiser, occasional weekender - that kind of role. But the detailing has the feel of a much larger and far more expensive craft. You notice it immediately in the stainless work, the timber finishing, the cleats and the grating inset into the side decks. Even the proportions feel very Cockwells. It has that slightly old-school elegance the Duchy range does so well, just compressed into a much handier footprint.

The outboard installation is a big part of what makes the concept work. This particular boat carries a 140hp Suzuki four-stroke, although engines from 30hp up to 200hp are available depending on how the owner intends to use it. Cockwells has apparently sold river versions with just 30hp on the back, while the larger engine options push top speed into the low-to-mid 20-knot range. It suits the boat surprisingly well visually too. Outboards can sometimes jar against traditional styling, but here the installation feels neatly integrated rather than awkwardly added on.

Around the stern, the Duchy 25 keeps things simple and usable. Small bathing platforms flank the outboard, giving somewhere to board from the water without turning the back of the boat into a giant moulded terrace. The aft seating wraps around the cockpit in a sociable U-shape arrangement that suits the boat’s intended use perfectly. You can immediately picture the sort of day this boat is aimed at - anchor dropped in a quiet bay, picnic on the table, people drifting in and out of the water all afternoon.

There are clever little practical touches mixed into the layout too. Sections of the aft seating fold down to improve access onto the swim platforms, so you’re not constantly climbing over cushions or squeezing around furniture to get aboard.

The canopy arrangement has clearly had some thought put into it as well. Owners can fully enclose the cockpit if the weather turns, run with just the sprayhood section in place, or fold the entire structure neatly back into its own cover without having to dismantle half the boat. That matters on a boat this size because fiddly canopies quickly become irritating if they’re awkward to manage.

The helm continues the same theme. Proper stainless-framed windscreen, proper helm seats, proper switchgear. Nothing feels cost-cut. Cockwells has even fitted its digital switching system here, giving the little Duchy the same systems-management setup found aboard the yard’s much larger boats. Bilge pumps, water systems and electrical controls all sit within the touchscreen interface, while the functions you might need quickly - nav lights, wipers, horn and pumps - stay on physical switches below.

A bow thruster also comes fitted, which feels faintly extravagant on a 25-footer until you remember this boat is really just a compact Duchy rather than a conventional small cruiser.

Side deck access is straightforward, with secure stainless grab rails and decent footholds leading forward onto the bow. There is not a vast amount of foredeck space because there simply cannot be on a boat this size, but the proportions work well enough for line handling or anchoring duties without feeling cramped or awkward.

The companionway door slides across on a rather nice stainless mechanism and kind of sets the tone for the whole cabin really. Even little details like that have been properly thought through.

And once you get below, it immediately feels like a Cockwells product. Same lovely timber work, same quality of finish, same sense that this hasn’t been built down to a price.

Now, clearly, this is a compact boat. It’s 25ft long, you’re not going to get masses of space in here, and Cockwells hasn’t tried to disguise that with mirrors and clever marketing language. But what they have done is use the space well.

Right up forward, the seating area converts into a double berth with an infill cushion arrangement. Leave it as seating during the day and it works nicely as somewhere to sit with a coffee or get out of the weather for a bit. Drop the infill in and you’ve got a perfectly usable little weekender setup.

There’s storage worked in all over the place too. Shelves along the hull sides, lockers beneath the seating, drawers under the galley unit and little dedicated areas for crockery and glassware. You keep opening things and finding another neatly finished storage area tucked away somewhere.

The galley itself is very simple. Small sink beneath a cover, drawers underneath, fridge outside in the cockpit. But honestly, that suits the boat. This is much more about heading off to a nice anchorage with some lunch and a bottle of wine than cooking elaborate meals below deck.

And the finish quality really is what lifts it. Open a drawer or locker and everything has a proper weight and solidity to it. The catches feel substantial, the joinery is beautifully done and even the floor has a nice feel underfoot. Sounds a slightly odd thing to notice perhaps, but on small boats you often find the areas where money has been saved. Here, you really don’t.

You get a decent amount of light through the hatch overhead and through the companionway, so it doesn’t feel too enclosed down here either. Open the hatch above the berth and you find the anchor locker. And the horns, slightly unexpectedly. Fair enough.

Off to one side sits the heads compartment with a marine toilet, sink and a pull-out shower arrangement. Again, it’s compact because the whole boat is compact, but there’s everything you actually need for the occasional overnight stay or weekend away.

The big change with the Duchy 25 compared with the larger boats in the range sits right at the stern because this one has gone outboard powered. In this case, it’s a Suzuki 140hp four-stroke hanging off the back, although Cockwells offers anything from 30hp right through to 200hp depending on how the owner plans to use the boat.

And that really tells you a lot about what this boat is. One owner apparently went for a 30hp setup purely for river use, which honestly makes perfect sense. Equally, if you want something for coastal hopping and quicker day trips, the larger engine options give you a bit more urgency. With the 140hp motor, top speed is around the 20-knot mark, while the 200hp version pushes closer to 24 knots flat out.

But speed doesn’t really feel like the point of the boat. The Duchy 25 is much more about relaxed day boating - estuaries, bays, rivers, long lunches somewhere quiet - and the outboard setup suits that brief rather well. It also frees up space inside the hull and helps keep the whole package trailerable, which is really the clever bit here. This genuinely is a Duchy you can tow home afterwards.

At lower speeds, range looks pretty decent too. Cockwells quotes around 125 miles at roughly 8 knots, which gives plenty of scope for proper coastal exploring without constantly watching the fuel gauge.

And that really sums the Duchy 25 up. It is compact, certainly, but it never feels cheapened down to hit a size or price point. The whole boat has the air of something properly built, just scaled carefully into a smaller package.