Design and Construction
The Alberg 22 is built predominantly of fiberglass, with a fixed long keel and a keel-mounted rudder controlled by a tiller. The hull carries a raked stem and a raised transom, and the deck is dressed with teak wooden handrails and toe rails plus other trim. At 3,200 pounds displacement with 1,540 pounds of ballast, the boat shows a ballast-to-displacement ratio near 48 percent. The 7-foot beam and 3.08-foot draft sit on a 16-foot waterline within the 22-foot overall length. This weight and full-keel configuration gives the boat a manner that has been noted as handling like a larger boat than its length suggests.
Rig and Handling
The boat is rigged as a masthead sloop with a Bermuda rig, carrying a total sail area of 235 square feet spread between a 114-square-foot mainsail and a 121-square-foot jib or genoa. Fitted equipment includes genoa tracks and winches as well as a halyard winch. On the helm, the high ballast ratio and long keel provide easy steering and relatively good comfort in cruising mode. Reviewers describe the Alberg 22 as heeling over fairly easily at first, then reaching a point where it locks in and goes. The full keel and high ballast displacement ratio suggest the design should be able to handle some rough conditions. Its PHRF racing average handicap sits at 282, with a recorded high of 276 and low of 288, and the hull speed is 5.36 knots. One trade-off noted by a reviewer is that the keel isn't deep enough to take a big enough bite for strong close-hauled performance.
Accommodations
Below, the Alberg 22 provides accommodations for four people with a forward V-berth and two quarter berths. The galley is equipped with a sink with a water pump and a removable icebox. The lazarette has space for the fuel tank. Writing in a period review, one observer noted the boat is very good for weekend cruising, though she may get a bit crowded if you bring the kids along. The proportions of the full-keel hull read as those of a classic sailboat.
Power and Equipment
For docking and maneuvering the Alberg 22 is normally fitted with a small outboard motor of up to 6 horsepower mounted in a transom well in the lazarette. That well placement makes engine access easier and avoids prop cavitation in all but the choppiest seas.
The Verdict
The Alberg 22 is a small Carl Alberg design that punches above its length, offering the steering feel and rough-water poise of a much larger full-keel cruiser in a 180-boat production run. It suits weekend cruising and as a stepping stone toward the Alberg 30 and 37, with a simple masthead rig and an easily serviced outboard well. The shallow long keel limits windward ability, and the compact interior will feel tight with a family aboard.
Pros
- Handles like a larger boat due to weight and full keel
- High ballast ratio aids stability and comfort in cruising
- Outboard well simplifies engine access and limits cavitation
- Easy helm and seaworthy lineage from Carl Alberg
Cons
- Shallow keel restricts close-hauled performance
- Accommodations crowd with children aboard
- Limited to four berths in a 22-foot hull
