Cape Dory 22 Buyer's Guide
The Cape Dory 22 is a 22-foot cruiser designed by Carl Alberg and built by Cape Dory Yachts in the United States from 1981 through 1985, with 176 hulls completed. On the used market it presents as a small, traditional pocket cruiser with a long keel and tiller steering, offered either as an outboard-equipped standard boat or as the less common "D" model with an inboard diesel. Shopping one means weighing a compact but functional interior against the simplicity of a 3-foot-draft hull.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats you will encounter carry a small outboard for docking and maneuvering, with the cabin left open aft of the companionway. The "D" model is the alternative, fitted with a 7.5-horsepower Japanese Yanmar diesel mounted under the companionway ladder and supplied by a 13-gallon tank. Below, both layouts sleep four, with a forward V-berth and curtain, a port-side sink and ice chest, a starboard two-burner alcohol stove, and a portable head stowed under the bow berth. Ventilation is through a forward hatch and four bronze portlights, and the sole is teak and holly.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Solar is often seen on these boats, typically added to support house power for the portable refrigeration and lighting without running the outboard or diesel. Beyond that, the period equipment itself is what a buyer evaluates: the alcohol stove, the bronze portlights, and the outboard bracket or diesel installation define the boat's self-sufficiency. A cruiser shopping the D model gains fixed propulsion; an outboard boat gains a clear aft floor and simpler winterization.
What to Inspect
The Cape Dory 22 is built predominantly of fiberglass with a balsa-cored deck and wood trim, so any used survey should look hard at the deck core where fastenings penetrate and at the teak surfaces for rot. The galley and head areas concentrate moisture, and the portable toilet stowage under the forward berth should be checked for staining. The fixed long keel and keel-mounted rudder are simple, but the rudder stock and hull-to-keel joint deserve a close look given the boat's age.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. For a shopper, the practical checklist is short: confirm whether you are looking at the outboard or D diesel layout, inspect the balsa deck and teak for water damage, verify the portable head and alcohol galley are intact, and check the rudder and keel joint. The Cape Dory 22 rewards a careful buyer with a traditional pocket cruiser of limited production.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cape Dory 22. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 2 | $6,500 | — |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $2,500 | -61.5% |
| Jul 26 | 4 | $23,500 | +840.0% |
Where they're listed
Cape Dory 22 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 5.
Country view
5 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $23,500 | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurley 22 | 22' | $ 3,399 | 15 | 5 |
| Cape Dory 22You are here | — | $ 23,500 | 5 | 5 |