Merit 22 Information, Review, Specs

The Merit 22 emerged in 1981 as a product of Merit Marine Inc., a builder celebrated for its focus on accessible, competitive sailboats. Designer Paul Yates, the creative force behind Merit Marine's notable models including the highly successful Merit 25, aimed to create a boat that could contend on the racecourse while also offering a more comfortable interior than some of its performance-oriented contemporaries, such as the J-24. Built primarily from fiberglass, typical for its era, the Merit 22 exemplifies the builder's commitment to efficient production and durable, lightweight hulls essential for racing. While the Merit 22 was continuously produced for several years, there is no widely documented evidence of distinct MkI or MkII variations, or explicit tall rig options, suggesting a consistent design throughout its production run.

Sailing Performance and Handling

Despite its compact size, the Merit 22 is renowned for its lively and engaging sailing characteristics. It is described as a high-performance vessel that offers a truly enjoyable sailing experience, particularly rewarding for a skipper who appreciates a responsive, "twitchy" helm. The boat's design, featuring a wide beam and relatively flat bottom combined with a lead lifting keel, contributes to its perceived stiffness and stability, allowing it to stand up to a breeze effectively. With a calculated hull speed of approximately 5.69 knots, the Merit 22 can achieve respectable speeds for its length. For smaller sailboats like the Merit 22, traditional performance ratios (Sail Area to Displacement, Ballast to Displacement, Displacement to Length) are not typically applied for qualitative analysis of sailing characteristics.

Accommodations and Layout

The Merit 22 distinguishes itself with a cabin that offers surprising volume for a 22-foot sailboat, largely due to its raised-deck design. The interior is frequently praised for being "very well laid out" and "extremely well designed," providing considerable and well-proportioned open space. This thoughtful arrangement allows individuals to sit comfortably below deck, maximizing the usability of the limited headroom available. While specific details on the number of berths or a dedicated galley and head compartment are not widely documented, the interior was designed to facilitate "weekend cruising," offering more amenities than a purely racing-focused boat.

Owner's Perspectives

Merit 22 owners consistently express high satisfaction with the boat's sailing performance and overall handling, often describing it as their "most enjoyable sailing experience" compared to other similar-sized vessels. Owners are drawn to its classic performance design, often participating in spirited daysailing or competitive club racing. However, some recurring maintenance considerations have been noted within owner communities. A common issue involves water accumulation in the bilge, as the original bilge pump design may not effectively dry the area completely, with residual water draining back in. Furthermore, some owners have reported problems with cockpit drains requiring attention, and issues related to the keel, which in some cases have been addressed by designing and adding a bulb to the keel.