Design and Construction
Charles Morgan's 22-foot design pairs a raked stem and plumb transom with a transom-hung rudder on a tiller, a layout that keeps the steering gear entirely aft and clear of the accommodation spaces. The fixed stub keel with a retractable centerboard gives the boat a minimum draft of 1.8 feet for gunkholing and trailer-style shallow access, while the board extends the lateral plane for windward work. Solid fiberglass with wood trim describes the hull and deck approach; the 51.85 ballast-to-displacement ratio and 2.3 capsize screening number reflect a ballast-led, comparatively stable small hull rather than a featherweight racer. Period testers found her fast, weatherly, and easy to handle, citing those traits as sound reasons for new sailors to take her as a first cruising boat anchor.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries a PHRF racing average handicap of 249, a number that situates her fairly among modest cruiser-racers of her size rather than among stripped-out one-designs. Her 6.04-knot hull speed is the natural limit of the 143.45 displacement-to-length hull, and the centerboard's retraction simplifies ramp launching and tight anchorage maneuvering. The tiller-controlled transom rudder gives direct feedback and keeps the cockpit uncluttered, while the outboard motor normally fitted astern answers the auxiliary need without invading the cabin.
Accommodations
Below, the Morgan 22 sleeps four: a double V-berth occupies the bow cabin with a marine toilet centered underneath it, while a drop-down dinette table in the main cabin converts to a single berth and an aft quarter berth lies to port. The galley sits on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder and holds a two-burner stove, a top-loading icebox, and a sink, a compact but complete working triangle for a boat this size. Testers praised the two-person dinette with its removable table that converts the settee to a berth, noting it is comfortable and doubles usefully as a chart table.
Known Issues
The one recurring weak point recorded in period testing is the centerboard control pendant, described as a Rube Goldberg affair that needs periodic inspection and almost always eventual replacement. Buyers and owners should treat that pendant as a consumable system rather than a fit-and-forget component, since the mechanism's complexity invites wear.
The Verdict
The Morgan 22 is a purpose-built small cruiser from the late-1960s Morgan Yachts line, offering shoal draft flexibility, a tiller-steered transom rudder, and a surprisingly complete four-berth interior for just over 21 feet. Her documented handling ease and weatherliness make her a credible first cruising boat, while the centerboard pendant remains the single known watch item.
Pros
- Fast, weatherly, and easy to handle per period testers
- Stub keel with retractable centerboard for 1.8–4.92 ft draft range
- Sleeps four with bow V-berth, convertible dinette, and port quarter berth
- Full galley with two-burner stove, top-loading icebox, and sink
- Dinette table removable for berth conversion and chart-table use
Cons
- Centerboard control pendant needs regular inspection and near-certain replacement
