Two variants emerged early. The Daysailer has a long cockpit, while the Weekender has a larger cabin. Both use the same basic hull configuration: a fixed stub long keel carrying a retractable steel centerboard, plus tiller steering, a keel-mounted rudder, and an outboard tucked into a lazarette.
Design and Construction
The Sailmaster 22 dates from the early days of fiberglass, when weight was not yet the concern it later became. Its solid, hand-laid hull is typically more substantial than those of modern boats of the same length.
That heft shows in the numbers. The boat displaces 3,650 pounds on a 16-foot-6-inch waterline, giving it a displacement/length ratio near 362. It carries 1,400 pounds of iron ballast. With the centerboard raised, draft is just two feet four inches; with the board down, it increases to five feet.
Owners report that early boats carried plenty of teak or mahogany and what one owner called overkill bronze hardware. Weekenders in particular were built heavier. One owner recalled Olin Stephens describing his as “like a tank,” with a heavy iron compression post bolted to the keel. The Daysailers, by contrast, were built lighter as the years went on.
The decks and cockpit structures used a balsa core. On boats that have suffered water intrusion, those areas may be weakened and require repair.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The Sailmaster 22 is a masthead sloop with a Bermuda rig. It originally came with sitka spruce spars, and the clear-varnished wood was a noted part of the boat’s new-boat elegance. The low cabin trunk gives excellent forward visibility from the cockpit.
Under sail, the 22 is balanced and responsive. It tracks well and is easy to balance, though its full keel and attached rudder mean it won’t tack as quickly as a boat with a fin keel and spade rudder.
A sail area/displacement ratio of about 15.9 and a PHRF around 288 place it firmly in the modest-performance camp. It needs better than six knots true to get moving, and performance improves noticeably as the wind builds.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The low cabin house and minimum freeboard restrict the volume below, though the designers made good use of the available space.
The Daysailer originally had a longer cockpit, a shorter cabin, and a two-berth layout with a V-berth. The Weekender gained a larger trunk cabin and room for four sleepers, including a pair of quarterberths beneath the cockpit seats. It also offered a complete galley with an icebox and fresh-water sink, plus a head.
One owner’s Weekender retains the V-berth and quarterberths, with the head beneath the starboard tabletop. The port sink and cabin steps were removed to free up space.
When fitted, the galley occupies both sides of the cabin just forward of the companionway. A two-burner stove sits to starboard, with the sink and icebox to port. On deck, the cockpit is large enough for a party of four while daysailing.
Known Issues
Some hydrolyzing of the composite below the waterline is common on these older fiberglass boats. This is a gradual dissolving of resins caused by long immersion, though severe cases are rare and seldom threaten structural integrity.
The steel centerboard tends to corrode around its pivot, so keeping the plate free of rust is ongoing owner work. Water penetration into the balsa core can also weaken the decks and cockpit, requiring repairs on affected boats.
The lazarette-mounted outboard may need extra ventilation while running. In some installations, that means raising the hatch while motoring.
Refits and Ownership
Mounting the outboard in the lazarette preserves the boat’s clean lines, but it costs storage space. A number of owners have converted the motor well into stowage and moved the outboard to a transom bracket. A five to eight hp motor suffices.
Early boats with bronze centerboard wheels and iron compression posts reward careful upkeep. The extensive wood trim also demands regular varnish work if an owner wants to preserve the boat’s classic appearance.
Verdict
The Sailmaster 22 is a thoughtfully styled small cruiser with a substantial solid-fiberglass hull. Its versatile centerboard plan gives shallow draft for access to shallow coves. It’s no rocket, but it is steady, balanced, and forgiving. The Daysailer and Weekender also provide two distinct approaches to the interior, suited respectively to daysailing and weekend cruising.
Pros
- Substantial solid-fiberglass hull, iron ballast, and a shoal-draft centerboard
- Low cabin trunk and good forward visibility
- Balanced handling and good tracking
- Weekender layout provides four berths, a galley, and a head in 22 feet
Cons
- Full keel and attached rudder limit quickness through a tack
- Needs a solid breeze to perform and is sluggish in less than six knots true
- Centerboard-pivot corrosion is an ongoing maintenance concern
- Water intrusion can weaken the balsa-cored decks and cockpit
