Leisure 22 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Leisure 22 market means weighing a small British cruiser that was built in meaningful numbers through the early 1970s and survives as a practical family boat rather than a racehorse. Graham Caddick and Frank Pryor's design still turns up across several European markets, and the twin- or fin-keel choice lets a buyer match the boat to local berthing and drying harbours.
Layouts on the Used Market
The boat is a 22 ft masthead sloop on a near-20 ft waterline, with a dinette saloon and a large fore cabin giving five berths and a separate toilet compartment. Headroom is 5 ft 8 in, and the teak-finished interior reads warmer than many comparable glassfibre cruisers. Twin-keel versions draw 2 ft 8 in and can be dried out; fin-keel boats draw 3 ft 11 in. Some examples carry an inboard petrol or diesel instead of the standard outboard, which matters for a buyer weighing engine access and maintenance.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, solar power, a spinnaker, a chartplotter, and a short-handed setup are commonly fitted to Leisure 22s, shaping how a buyer should assess a given boat. The short-handed setup and solar together speak to simple, low-amp cruising with reduced crew, while a spinnaker and chartplotter extend the boat's light-air and navigation range without major structural change. A teak rubbing strake and non-slip deck mouldings are standard, so their presence is baseline rather than an upgrade.
What to Inspect
The balsa-cored deck needs particular attention: any penetration of the sandwich demands care to avoid core damage, and moisture in the balsa is the classic failure mode. The deep cockpit that keeps sailing dry also limits forward vision when seated, so check the helmsman's sightlines and any added masthead or bow mirrors owners may have fitted. Keels are cast iron, so inspect for corrosion at the hull joint, and confirm the rudder and skeg steelwork is sound.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Italy. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm keel type and draft against your berthing; inspect the balsa deck for soft spots or prior poorly-sealed penetrations; verify the auxiliary is the outboard or inboard you expect and that its mounts are sound; and check the deep-cockpit sightline compromise against where you will actually sail.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Leisure 22. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $4,306 | — |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $3,358 | -22.0% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $5,389 | +60.5% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $5,596 | +3.8% |
Where they're listed
Leisure 22 listings appear across 3 countries. Spain has the most listings with 1 (33.3%), followed by United Kingdom and Italy.
Country view
3 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | $3,358 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| United Kingdom | $5,389 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Italy | $5,596 | 1 | 0 | 33.3% |