She measures 21 feet 7 inches overall and 17 feet 4 inches on the waterline, with a beam of just over 7 feet. Her displacement is 1,601 pounds, while the ballasted plate weighs 428 pounds. That gives her a ballast-to-displacement ratio of nearly 27 percent and the steadiness more often associated with larger keelboats. With 189 square feet of sail area, she sits firmly in the light-displacement, trailerable class, but she was conceived to be ramp-launched, road-trailered, and sailed hard.
Design and Construction
The Noelex 22 was designed around the trailer-yacht brief. She has a solid fiberglass hull and deck and a centerboard arrangement that draws 0.84 feet with the plate raised for road transport and ramp launching. With the plate lowered, draft increases to 4 feet for sailing traction.
The 114 kg ballasted plate is central to the boat’s stability. Its weight, together with a ballast-displacement ratio of 26.73, gives this 22-footer a serious ballast proportion. A displacement-length ratio of 136.85 and a comfort ratio of 9.63 describe a boat that is light and responsive rather than plush.
An owners association was formed for the class, suggesting that the design developed a continuing community rather than becoming a one-run production blip.
Rig and Handling
The Noelex 22 is rigged as a fractional sloop, with a mast and a spinnaker in the inventory. Her 190-square-foot sail plan works with a short waterline and light displacement to favor acceleration.
The centerboard lets the boat be trailered without a crane, while the lowered plate provides lateral grip under sail. A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22.09 marks her as a boat that should move in modest air without feeling overcanvased.
The trailer-yacht format also means a single owner can launch, rig, and sail the boat without keeping her in a marina berth.
Accommodations
With 7 feet 2 inches of beam and a displacement of just over 1,600 pounds, the cabin is sized for short coastal hops rather than liveaboard use. The trailer-yacht classification reinforces that purpose: this is a boat intended to be parked on a driveway between weekends.
No interior berth count or tankage is specified for the design.
Known Issues and Refits
The Noelex 22 has shown no structural or systemic defects in her service history. Its solid fiberglass construction means cosmetic work, rather than structural attention, dominates the refit calendar.
Ownership follows the trailer-yacht routine: launch from a ramp, step the mast, and sail. The mast and spinnaker are the moving parts an owner handles on each outing. The owners association provides practical support for parts, tuning, and trailer-rigging knowledge.
The Verdict
The Noelex 22 is a thoughtfully proportioned trailer sloop that punches above her 22 feet in stability and class coherence. Her ballasted centerboard, light displacement, and active owner community make her a credible coastal sailor that can be kept at home.
Pros
- High ballast ratio for her size provides reassuring stability
- Centerboard allows trailering and launching without a haulout
- Active owners association supports long-term ownership
Cons
- No interior berth count or tankage is specified for the design
- Low comfort ratio limits her appeal for extended cruising
