The boat’s defining quality isn’t its size but its uncompromising simplicity: one sail, an unstayed mast, and every control line led back to the cockpit.
Design and Construction
The Nonsuch 22 is built predominantly of fiberglass, with a plumb stem, a square transom, a fixed fin keel, and a spade rudder. It displaces 5,000 pounds and carries 1,800 pounds of ballast, giving it a 36 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio that lends the boat composure for its length.
The original 22 followed the Nonsuch formula with a huge interior and standing headroom. However, providing that headroom made the boat too tall for its beam, so later versions had their coach-house height and headroom reduced. The design was also revised during production to correct deficiencies caused by scaling the 22 down from the 30-foot hull.
One reviewer notes that the Nonsuch 22 isn’t a full-fledged traditional catboat. Its beam isn’t quite as wide, it carries a fin keel rather than a centerboard, and its rig isn’t gaff-headed.
Rig and Handling
The wishbone rig is the boat’s most distinctive feature, according to one reviewer. Cradle lines contain the lowered sail, while the wishbone boom can be tensioned downward to preserve sail shape off the wind. The arrangement also gives the crew extra head clearance.
With every control line led to the cockpit, the boat can be operated without going forward onto a bucking foredeck. The single-sail arrangement makes for a stress-free, intimate relationship between sailor and water. One owner reports steering with a tiller at the helm.
The fin keel and spade rudder provide instantaneous helm response, and the boat will turn in its own length. Its compact footprint makes close-quarters maneuvering undemanding. Elderly sailors report that nestling the 22-footer up to a gas dock is a cinch.
Accommodations
The cabin is large for a 22-foot boat, with an enclosed head and a small galley as standard. The original layout amazed one reviewer by fitting both an enclosed head and a full galley into a boat of this length. The head itself provides full standing headroom for an average-sized male, a rare feature in a vessel this size.
The interior finish is excellent. All the teak is satin-varnished, and there’s a cedar ceiling over the settee. The port settee can be extended to form a king-sized double, while opening ports and a forward hatch keep air moving below. Owners describe the Nonsuch 22 as a cozy little boat well suited to two people.
Performance Under Sail
The catboat rig and modest sail plan produce a hull speed of 6.07 knots. Its average PHRF rating is 240, with a recorded high of 252 and a low of 225.
The Nonsuch 22 is well suited to gunkholing around Penobscot Bay. Its responsive helm and easy handling also support the boat’s appeal for single-handed sailors and senior crews.
The Verdict
The Nonsuch 22 is a rare, purpose-built small catboat that trades traditional pedigree for modern convenience. Its wishbone rig, single sail, and cockpit-led controls make sailing genuinely stress-free for single-handed sailors or senior crews. Below, the cabin offers far more space and comfort than its 22-foot length might suggest.
Its short production run and mid-production revisions mean buyers should understand which coach-house height a particular boat carries. Even so, the class retains a consistent essential character: simple, intimate, and easy to handle.
Pros
- One sail, with all controls led to the cockpit and no need for foredeck work underway
- Wishbone boom preserves sail shape downwind and provides extra headroom
- Large cabin with an enclosed head and standing headroom for its size
- Instantaneous helm response and the ability to turn in its own length
Cons
- Only 58 were built, so availability is limited
- The original coach-house was too tall for the boat’s beam; its height was later reduced
- Not a traditional catboat in its beam, keel, or rig configuration
