Design and Construction
Hannay gave the Galion 22 a high, Van de Stadt–styled coach roof. It provides 5 ft 9 in of headroom and covers an interior with four berths. The hull and deck are solid fibreglass, while the cast-iron fin keel is bolted to the glass hull.
The design was also offered as a home-completion kit. As a result, finish and structural details can vary from one boat to another; buyers can’t assume that every example left the Robert Ives yard fully finished.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Galion 22 carries a fractional rig, with a combined mainsail-and-jib area of roughly 199 square feet. With a 135 percent genoa, the sail-area-to-displacement index rises from 13.8 to 16.1. Period comparisons placed her rig among the lighter third of similar sailboats, so she appears slightly underrigged by modern standards.
Even so, Yachting Monthly remembered her as a sharp racer in her day, particularly in the JOG classes, while still providing reasonable cruising space. Her capsize screening value of 1.91 clears the usual ocean-race threshold on that formula alone. A displacement-length ratio near 268 puts her among moderate racers rather than heavy cruisers.
Most Galion 22s rely on outboard power, although a few received Vire petrol inboards. The specifications also list an optional 6 hp Vire diesel, with shaft drive and a 5-gallon tank. The diesel variant had a calculated maximum speed under power of about 4.1 knots. The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 5.7 knots.
Accommodation
The cabin is finished in mahogany, with four berths beneath the raised coach roof. The builder claimed that two of those berths are a full 7 ft long. A compact galley and 15-liter fresh-water capacity complete the basic cruising fit-out. The 5 ft 9 in headroom helps make the small interior practical for short cruises.
Build Variations and Known Issues
The main ownership caveat comes from the home-completion option. Boats finished outside the Robert Ives works may have inconsistent glass work, keel-bolt bedding, or interior joinery because build quality depended on who completed each boat. Buyers should therefore assess any non-factory-finished hull individually rather than treating it as a uniform production boat.
The Verdict
The Galion 22 is a tidy, characterful small racer-cruiser. Her figures reflect genuine offshore-race pedigree, while the tall coach roof gives her a usable cabin and more standing room than many 22-footers. The surviving fleet suggests that she was built to last.
The home-completion history is the main qualification. It calls for careful, hull-by-hull judgment rather than blanket praise.
Pros
- High coach roof provides 5 ft 9 in of headroom and four berths in a 22-foot hull
- Capsize-screening and displacement-length figures support her moderate-racer intent
- Large surviving fleet points to durable, economical ownership
Cons
- Home-completion option means build quality varies between individual hulls
- Slightly underrigged compared with similar sailboats
- Modest 15-liter water and 19-liter fuel capacities limit extended cruising
