Design and Construction
Reinell Boat Works built the 22 as a straightforward molded-fiberglass monohull with a fin keel and transom-hung rudder. The specification record describes it as a moderate-weight sailboat rather than a lightweight racer or heavy cruiser.
The boat displaces 3,500 pounds, while the listed ballast figure is zero pounds. Overall length is 22 feet, with a 19.7-foot waterline, 7-foot beam, and modest 2.8-foot draft. That narrow footprint suits trailer or davit handling while still providing the volume expected of a small day boat. The theoretical hull speed is 5.95 knots.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries 188 square feet of sail. Its dimensions are:
- I: 22.8 feet
- J: 9.2 feet
- P: 19.8 feet
- E: 8.4 feet
That divides the sail area into roughly 104.9 square feet of foretriangle and 83.2 square feet of mainsail.
Relative to its displacement, the Reinell 22 is characterized as under powered. The light rig means it calls for patience in faint air. At the same time, the boat is reasonably stable and stiff, and the same assessment credits it with good righting capability if capsized—a reassuring trait in a small keelboat sailing unprotected water.
The transom-hung rudder and modest draft should make close-quarters steering predictable, while the simple fractional sail plan keeps day-sailing handling light.
Accommodations
The Reinell 22 is explicitly best suited as a day boat, and the specification fields bear that out: they list zero cabins, zero berths, zero heads, zero headroom, and zero water capacity.
There’s no enclosed accommodation to speak of, fitted tankage, or overnight infrastructure in the as-built record. This is a straightforward coastal daysailer meant for easy afternoons on the water. Buyers expecting a pocket-cruiser interior won’t find one from the factory.
Verdict
The Reinell 22 is a purpose-built small daysailer with a stable, self-righting hull and a simple fractional rig. Its limits are equally clear: it’s under-canvassed for its weight, carries no ballast in the record, and offers no accommodation or tankage.
As a first boat or knockabout daysailer, it’s honest and forgiving. For anything more, it’s the wrong shape.
Pros
- Reasonably stiff and stable, with good capsize-righting capability
- Simple, solid-fiberglass construction
- Narrow, trailer-friendly 22-foot hull
- Fractional sloop rig that’s easy to handle for day sailing
Cons
- Under powered for its displacement
- No cabins, berths, head, or water capacity as built
- Zero ballast listed
- No provision for overnight use
