The catboat is far more numerous, but roughly 40 sloop-rigged versions were built. On the sloop, the mast moves from the forepeak into the cabin, and a working jib sets on a clubfoot. Marshall Marine positions this 22-foot, 5,660-pound boat as the marque’s family cruiser. Most serve as daysailers and weekenders, though a few have made ambitious coastal passages.
Design and Construction
The hull is a thoroughly traditional, hand-laid fiberglass structure. Mat and roving are bonded with polyester resin on a schedule set by Marshall himself: seven basic plies, with extra layers in the forepeak, garboard, and centerboard trunk. The mast step is a 25-ply laminated block built in its own mold.
The hull-to-deck joint uses no mechanical fasteners. Instead, four progressively wider fiberglass bonding strips fuse the two parts. The cabin and cockpit coamings are solid fiberglass, while the cabintop and foredeck are foam-cored except where hardware is mounted. There’s no interior liner, which keeps maintenance simple. Pine Grove Plastics in Freetown, Mass., has always molded the hulls and decks.
The most significant structural revision came in 1983, when a molded fiberglass cockpit replaced the original glassed-plywood sole and plywood seats. The newer cockpit has three lazarettes, plus a portside icebox. Two bronze scuppers at the aft end of the centerboard trunk drain through seacocks beneath the companionway steps; earlier boats used simple drain holes in the trunk.
In 2009, closed-cell foam took the place of plywood in the transom and rudder cores, the main cabin bulkhead, and floor frames. Boats built through the mid-1970s used an external stuffing box; later boats have an internal box.
Rig and Handling
The sloop carries its mast in the cabin rather than in the bow, which compromises the interior somewhat. It uses a clubfoot jib, with the sprit supporting a forestay.
With 850 pounds of internal lead ballast, a wide beam, and modest deadrise, the Marshall 22 is a stiff boat that sails at a modest heel. It also barely moves when someone steps aboard.
In a 12-knot breeze, the boat makes roughly 5.5 knots. In 15 to 18 knots, it can show 6.5 knots or more. A single reef is called for in a steady breeze of around 15 knots; double-reefed, the boat stands up to gusts of 25 to 35 knots. Depending on conditions, it tacks through 50 to 60 degrees.
Accommodations
The earliest boats had an open layout, with a pull-out double berth to starboard and a galley counter, sink, and alcohol stove to port. By the late 1960s, the head had moved to starboard behind a partial bulkhead and curtain.
A large centerboard trunk divides the cabin and carries a hinged table. The space is reasonably comfortable for two adults, but there’s no standing headroom. The deliberately low topsides reduce windage while providing only seated headroom for someone about 5-foot-11.
The cockpit, by contrast, is larger, less encumbered, and more comfortable than those on many bigger boats. Some examples have dressy cedar staving in the cabin or cockpit, and many have teak trim around the coaming and centerboard trunk.
Engine and Systems
A large hatch in the cockpit sole provides excellent engine access. The Yanmar 3GM20 became standard in 1980, followed by the raw-water-cooled 2GM20 in 1985. When the 2GM was discontinued around 2005, the freshwater-cooled 3YM20 took over.
A 12-gallon aluminum fuel tank sits at the forward end of the cockpit beneath the starboard seat. On one 1985 example, owners report that a professionally maintained Yanmar 3GM diesel runs smoothly and the Edson wheel functions properly.
Known Issues
Hull blisters have seldom, if ever, been a problem on these boats.
On most Marshall 22s, the original forward hatch isn’t hinged and requires a makeshift prop to remain open. Newer boats received a modern-style hatch.
The Verdict
The Marshall 22 Sloop is a quietly robust small cruiser. Its hand-laid hull and bonded deck joint have helped keep the fleet sailing for decades. The sloop rig costs a little interior room, but it adds versatility, while the boat’s steady performance and straightforward reefing suit its usual role as a daysailer and weekender.
Pros
- Hand-laid fiberglass hull with a fastener-free bonded deck joint
- Stiff sailing at modest heel angles, with a broad wind range and easy reefing
- Excellent engine access through the cockpit sole
- Reliable Yanmar diesel lineage
- Strong reputation for avoiding hull blisters
- Simple interior without a liner
Cons
- No standing headroom; the low topsides limit cabin use to seated comfort
- The non-hinged forward hatch on most boats needs a prop to stay open
- The sloop’s mast placement compromises cabin space
