The design also proved useful as a platform for another model. In 1984, it was developed into the Typhoon Senior, which used the same hull molds.
Design and Construction
The Cape Dory 22 measures 22.33 feet overall, with a 16.25-foot waterline, 7.33-foot beam, and 3-foot draft. Displacement is 3,200 pounds, including 1,400 pounds of ballast in the fixed long keel.
Construction is predominantly fiberglass, and the deck is balsa-cored. The hull carries wood trim, while the interior has teak joinery and a teak-and-holly cabin sole.
Cape Dory Yachts produced ten sailboat models during its long collaboration with Alberg, and this 22-foot cruiser is among the smaller expressions of that partnership. Its hull form and interior volume belong to a pocket cruiser rather than a racer. The raked stem and raised transom give it a traditional profile within the Cape Dory range.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Cape Dory 22 is a masthead sloop with a Bermuda rig. Its total sail area is 240 square feet, divided between a 114-square-foot mainsail and a 126-square-foot jib or genoa.
The foretriangle measures 28 feet for I and 9 feet for J. The mainsail dimensions are 24 feet for the luff and 9.5 feet for the foot. Steering is by tiller through the keel-mounted rudder.
Under PHRF, the design has an average handicap of 273, with a recorded high of 252 and a low of 282. Theoretical hull speed is 5.4 knots. Those figures place it among the slower-rated pocket cruisers, better suited to relaxed coastal passages than sharp club racing. Even so, an active class club organizes racing through the Cape Dory Sailboat Owners Association.
Accommodations
The Cape Dory 22 sleeps four. A V-berth fills the bow and has a privacy curtain. The head is a portable marine toilet that can be stowed beneath the berth.
The galley is divided between port and starboard. A sink and ice chest sit to port, while a two-burner alcohol stove is mounted to starboard. An opening forward hatch and four bronze portlights provide ventilation.
It’s a compact but functionally divided arrangement, recognizable as the designer’s approach to making a small boat livable.
Power and Equipment
Most Cape Dory 22s are fitted with a small outboard for docking and maneuvering. Cape Dory also produced a special “D” model with an inboard Japanese Yanmar diesel rated at 7.5 hp. The engine sits beneath the companionway ladder and draws from a 13-gallon fuel tank.
The distinction matters to buyers and owners. The outboard version leaves the aft cabin unencumbered by machinery, while the D model trades that space for self-contained propulsion.
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 handling, and four-berth layout make it a sensible entry into coastal cruising. For sailors who want it, the D model adds the security of an inboard diesel. The modest sail plan and PHRF ratings point to steady rather than swift performance.
Pros
- Traditional long-keel design with tiller steering
- Teak-and-holly sole and teak interior woodwork
- Optional inboard Yanmar diesel in the D model
- Active class club supporting racing and ownership
Cons
- Slow rated performance under PHRF
- Compact four-person accommodations with a portable head
- Only 176 built, so finding a specific configuration may take patience
