Neptun 22 Back Decker Buyer's Guide
The Neptun 22 Back Decker is a compact fiberglass cruiser built by Neptun Boote GmbH from 1973, with a lifting-roof cabin that makes her stand out among used 22-foot sailboats. For a shopper scanning the brokerage market, she offers a shallow-draft coastal boat with simple systems and a surprising five-berth interior, but her light-racer pedigree means she is a sheltered-water craft rather than an offshore candidate.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two keel configurations appear on the used market: the daggerboard lifting keel, which raises vertically to give 1.8 to 2.1 feet of draft, and the fin keel drawing 3.6 to 3.9 feet. Both share the same Hubdach lifting roof and five-berth layout. The 1976 facelift introduced a balanced rudder, so later boats differ at the helm from early production. A Tunisia-built example from 1976 onward is possible alongside German and Warburg-origin hulls.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Propulsion on these boats is almost always an outboard of 2 to 3 hp, or an electric unit making 46 to 55 lb of thrust, used for docking — a buyer should confirm the mount and wiring. Sail handling runs on a masthead rig with a 172 ft² jib-and-main combination and a 269 ft² total area; sheets are typically 3/8 inch, with a 57-foot mainsheet and 22.8-foot headsail sheets. Beyond keel type and rudder generation, factory options are not a factor, so inspect what the individual seller has added.
What to Inspect
The daggerboard trunk and lifting mechanism are the distinctive wear points given the vertical board operation and should be cycled to check for binding. On fin-keel boats, the 3.6 to 3.9 foot draft means standard trailing gear applies. Verify the 1976 balanced rudder where fitted, and confirm the lifting roof seal and structure are sound since that roof is central to the accommodation. Outboard shaft and transom bearing deserve a look given the boat's dependence on that engine for maneuvering.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Regional availability is not characterized in the available data. For the buyer, the checklist is short:
- Choose daggerboard for shallow cruising, fin for steadier tracking
- Confirm rudder is the 1976 balanced type on later boats
- Exercise the lifting roof and board before purchase
- Verify outboard thrust spec (2–3 hp or 46–55 lb electric)
- Check five-berth cabin for roof-related wear
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Neptun 22 Back Decker. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 8 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 3 | $6,996 | — |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $8,954 | +28.0% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $9,515 | +6.3% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $10,634 | +11.8% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $7,332 | -31.1% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $9,515 | +29.8% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $3,330 | -65.0% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $2,771 | -16.8% |
Where they're listed
Neptun 22 Back Decker listings appear across 2 countries. Germany has the most listings with 5 (55.6%), followed by Netherlands.
Country view
9 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | $9,515 | 5 | 0 | 55.6% |
| Netherlands | $2,547 | 4 | 3 | 44.4% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neptun 22 Back DeckerYou are here | — | $ 5,596 | 9 | 3 |
| Bonito 22 | 21.85' | $ 5,639 | 6 | 4 |