A few hundred were launched, and the design has endured as a recognisable small cruiser rather than a racing boat. Leisure yachts, apart from the 17, are seldom campaigned on the start line. This assessment draws on the builder’s specification and a period review.
Design and Lineage
The Leisure 22 is the earlier, more upright-transomed design that preceded the Leisure 23. Its near-vertical stern is the quick visual tell against the later boat, which has a reverse-counter stern.
The hull measures 22 ft overall, with a waterline of nearly 20 ft and a beam of 7 ft 10 in. Displacement is 3,300 lbs, including 1,400 lbs in the keel. That gives the boat a high ballast ratio of 43 percent for stability and supports the design’s stated emphasis on stability.
Cobramold built both twin-keel and fin-keel versions. The twin-keel boat draws 2 ft 8 in and can dry out upright on a beach, while the fin-keel version draws 3 ft 11 in.
Construction
The hull is a single moulded GRP piece for low maintenance. Bonded-in interior mouldings and bulkheads provide structural rigidity.
Cobramold built the deck as a balsa sandwich. The period review notes that the balsa core improves the indoor climate, but any work that penetrates the sandwich requires care. The keels are cast iron, while the rudder and skeg are moulded GRP with steel framework and fittings.
A teak rubbing strake protects the topsides, and moulded non-slip deck areas provide secure footing when going forward. Wetted surface is about 172 sq ft, and the immersion rate is 544 lbs per inch.
Rig and Handling
The Leisure 22 is a masthead sloop with gold-anodised aluminium spars, stainless steel standing rigging and rigging screws. Its halyards run internally through the mast.
Working sail area totals 215 sq ft, comprising a 105 sq ft mainsail and a 110 sq ft working jib. For lighter conditions or downwind sailing, the sail plan includes a 180 sq ft genoa and a 350 sq ft spinnaker. Sheets are 10 mm in diameter throughout, with a 55 ft mainsheet and 22 ft jib and genoa sheets.
The capsize screening value is 1.97, and the motion comfort ratio falls within the 15.9–19.3 band. A displacement-length ratio of 207 places the boat among “moderate racers” by one formula, although its actual brief was family cruising, with a theoretical hull speed near 6 knots.
The deep cockpit shelters the crew from the weather and helps keep sailing dry. The trade-off is poorer forward visibility for a seated helm.
Accommodation
For a 22-footer, the Leisure offers substantial accommodation. The builder describes it as very good for the boat’s length, with five berths arranged around a dinette main saloon and a large forecabin. There is also a separate toilet compartment, although it shortens one forecabin berth. Headroom is 5 ft 8 in.
Teak and teak veneers throughout give the cabin a warm character. The standard galley includes a two-burner gas stove, sink and freshwater pump. Overall, it’s a practical small-cruiser layout rather than the stripped-out interior of a racing boat.
Propulsion and Ownership Notes
Standard auxiliary power was an 8–10 hp outboard, although some boats were fitted with an inboard petrol or diesel engine. An outboard of 4–5 hp, or an electric motor producing 80–97 lbs of thrust, is typical for docking.
A 1988 club number and a 1978 recorded number are logged for twin-keel, inboard, three-blade examples, confirming that both propulsion arrangements exist in the wild.
The cockpit’s protection comes at the expense of forward vision when seated, which is a real consideration in crowded anchorages. The balsa-cored deck also calls for caution whenever fittings or fasteners penetrate the sandwich, because moisture intrusion into the core is a perennial risk with this form of construction.
Verdict
The Leisure 22 is a thoughtfully arranged small cruiser with a high ballast ratio, a choice of twin or fin keels, and family accommodation that makes good use of its 22 ft length. Its main compromises are restricted forward visibility from a seated position in the deep cockpit and the maintenance care required by the balsa-cored deck.
Pros
- High 43 percent ballast ratio for a 22-footer
- Twin-keel version can dry out upright; the fin keel still draws less than 4 ft
- Five berths, a dinette saloon and a separate toilet compartment
- Single-piece GRP hull with bonded interior mouldings and bulkheads for rigidity
Cons
- Deep cockpit limits forward vision when seated
- Balsa-sandwich deck requires care wherever fittings penetrate it
- Standard outboard auxiliary is modest for anything beyond docking
