Design and Construction
The Cape Dory 22 is built predominantly of fiberglass and sits at 22.33 feet overall with a 16.25-foot waterline, a 7.33-foot beam, and a modest 3,200-pound displacement balanced by 1,400 pounds of ballast in a fixed long keel. The deck is balsa-cored and the hull wears wood trim, with the cabin sole in teak and holly and the remaining interior wood in teak. Cape Dory Yachts, under its long collaboration with Alberg, produced ten sailboat models; this 22-foot cruiser is among the smaller expressions of that partnership. The hull form and internal volumes are those of a pocket cruiser rather than a racer, and the raised transom with raked stem gives the boat a traditional profile within the marque's range.
Rig and Handling
The boat is rigged as a masthead sloop with a Bermuda rig, carrying a total sail area of 240 square feet split between a 114-square-foot mainsail and a 126-square-foot jib or genoa. The foretriangle measures 28 feet on the I dimension and 9 feet on the J, while the mainsail luff is 24 feet and the foot 9.5 feet. Steering is by tiller through a keel-mounted rudder, and the standard keel draws exactly 3 feet. Under the PHRF system the design carries an average handicap of 273, with a recorded high of 252 and low of 282, and its theoretical hull speed is 5.4 knots. These numbers place her among the slower rated pocket cruisers, suited to relaxed coastal passage-making rather than club-racing sharpness, though an active class club organizes racing events through the Cape Dory Sailboat Owners Association.
Accommodations
Below, the Cape Dory 22 sleeps four people. A forward V-berth in the bow is fitted with a privacy curtain, and the head is a portable marine toilet that can be stowed under that berth. The galley is split side to side: a sink and ice chest sit to port, while a two-burner alcohol-fired stove is mounted to starboard. Ventilation comes from an opening hatch forward and four bronze portlights, and the teak-and-holly sole grounds the otherwise teak interior. The arrangement is compact but functionally divided, a recognizable approach to small-boat livability from the designer.
Power and Equipment
Most Cape Dory 22s are normally fitted with a small outboard motor for docking and maneuvering. A special "D" model was produced with an inboard Japanese Yanmar diesel of 7.5 hp, located under the companionway ladder and fed by a 13-gallon fuel tank. The distinction matters to a buyer or owner because the outboard version leaves the aft cabin unencumbered by machinery, while the D model trades that space for self-contained propulsion.
The Verdict
The Cape Dory 22 is a small, traditional cruiser with limited production and a clear identity as a pocket coastal boat. Its fiberglass-and-teak construction, long-keel manners, and four-berth layout make it a sensible entry into coastal cruising, while the D model offers inboard diesel security for those who want it. The modest sail plan and PHRF ratings confirm her as a steady rather than swift performer.
Pros
- Traditional long-keel design with tiller steering
- Teak and holly sole with all-teak interior wood
- Optional inboard Yanmar diesel in the D model
- Active class club supporting racing and ownership
Cons
- Slow rated performance under PHRF
- Compact accommodations limited to four with portable head
- Only 176 built, so finding specific configurations takes patience
