Design and Construction
The Hunter 22 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, carrying a raked stem and a vertical transom. Its monohull form wears a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller, and the hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline per the builder's standard practice of the era. Period assessments found the construction on the light side, with plastic hatch hinges and low-end hardware throughout light construction with plastic hinges. That lightness is not without purpose: the relatively long waterline for a 22-footer gives the design the highest theoretical speed among its competitors, a benefit that matters more on a trailer-sailer expected to cover distance under power or sail between launch sites. The centerboard variant's retracted draft is what earns the boat its trailerable character, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer without special equipment.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a masthead sloop rig on a Bermuda rig configuration, with a mast standing roughly 30 feet above the waterline and a sail area of 219 square feet. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.13, testers noted she will not be fast in light air, the low figure indicating sluggish acceleration when the breeze dies low SA/D ratio shows she won't be quick in light air. Owners report that weather helm can be annoying in winds over ten knots, and reviewers suggested this may simply be the result of not reefing the main when the breeze pipes up weather helm grows annoying above ten knots. In waves, the outboard prop tends to come out of the water and cavitate, a complaint owners lodge against the stern-mounted power arrangement. On the race course, the fixed-keel model carries a PHRF average of 255 (high 258, low 252), while the centerboard version averages the same 255 but ranges from 251 to 270.
Accommodations
Below, the Hunter 22 sleeps four: a double V-berth in the bow cabin, with two straight settee berths in the main cabin. Testers credited the big beam with giving the boat good space for weekend cruising, a real asset in a 22-foot hull. The galley sits on both sides of the companionway ladder and is equipped with a single-burner stove and a sink, while the head is tucked into the bow cabin on the starboard side under the V-berth. Factory standard equipment included a stove and cooler, enough to support short coastal overnighters without immediate modification.
Known Issues
The principal owner grievances center on helm balance and drivetrain behavior. Weather helm that builds in winds over ten knots is the most cited annoyance, and while some of that may trace to skippers carrying full main in strengthening breeze, the tendency is real enough that buyers should expect to reef early. The outboard installation, mounted on the transom, lifts its prop clear of the water in a seaway so that it cavitates and loses thrust exactly when steering authority is most needed. The light construction philosophy also means plastic hatch hinges and low-end hardware were fitted as standard, components that age poorly and warrant scrutiny on any survivor.
The Verdict
The Hunter 22 is a pragmatic trailerable cruiser from the early 1980s, offering genuine four-berth accommodation and a beamy interior that punches above its length for weekend use. Its long waterline gives it a speed edge over peers on paper, but the light-air sailing and weather-helm manners demand an attentive hand on the tiller. For a couple or small family wanting an easily transported pocket cruiser, it remains a sensible used proposition.
Pros
- Trailerable with centerboard retracted; beachable and easy to transport
- Roomy for its size with sleeping for four and a practical split galley
- Long waterline yields the highest theoretical speed among comparable boats
Cons
- Light construction with plastic hinges and low-end hardware
- Annoying weather helm above ten knots if main is not reefed
- Outboard prop cavitates in waves, losing drive when needed
