Design and Construction
The Sailmaster 22 was built in the early days of fiberglass when weight was not the obsession it later became, and the solid hand-laid hull lay-up is typically more substantial than on modern boats of the same length anchor. That heft shows in the numbers: 3,650 pounds displacement on a 16-foot-6-inch waterline, a displacement/length ratio near 362, and 1,400 pounds of iron ballast in a centerboard hull that draws just two feet four inches with the board up and five feet with it down. Owners report the early boats carried lots of teak or mahogany and what one called overkill bronze hardware, while the 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. Decks and cockpit structures used a balsa core, and water intrusion has weakened those areas on examples needing repair.
Rig and Handling
She is a masthead sloop with a Bermuda rig and originally sitka spruce spars, the clear varnished wood a noted part of her new-boat elegance. The cabin trunk sits low, giving excellent forward visibility from the cockpit. Under sail the 22 is a balanced and responsive handler who tracks well and is easily balanced, but the full keel and attached rudder mean she will not tack as quickly as a fin-keel spade-rudder boat. Her sail area/displacement ratio of about 15.9 and a PHRF around 288 place her firmly in the modest-performance camp: she needs better than six knots true to get moving, and her performance improves noticeably as the wind builds.
Accommodations
Below, the low cabin house and minimum freeboard restrict volume, though the designers made good use of what exists. The Daysailer originally offered a longer cockpit, shorter cabin, and a two-berth layout with a V-berth, while the Weekender carried a bigger trunk cabin with space for four sleepers — a pair of quarterberths tucked beneath the cockpit seats — plus a complete galley with icebox and fresh-water sink, and a head. One owner's Weekender shows the V-berth and quarter berths retained, the head kept under the starboard tabletop, and the port sink and cabin steps removed to free space. On deck the cockpit is large enough for a party of four daysailing, and the galley when fitted sits both sides just forward of the companionway, with a two-burner stove to starboard and sink and icebox to port.
Known Issues
Typical of older fiberglass, some hydrolyzing of the composite below the waterline is common — a gradual dissolving of resins from long immersion — though severe cases are rare and seldom threaten structural integrity anchor. The steel centerboard tends to corrode around its pivot, and keeping that plate free of rust is ongoing owner work. Decks and cockpit weakened by balsa-core water penetration need repair on affected boats. With the outboard in the lazarette, it may be necessary to raise the hatch while motoring to vent the engine properly.
Refits and Ownership
The outboard-in-lazarette arrangement preserves clean lines but costs storage, so a number of boats have converted the motor well to stowage and added a transom bracket for the outboard; a five to eight hp motor suffices. Early boats with bronze centerboard wheels and iron compression posts reward careful upkeep, and the wood trim demands varnish discipline to keep the classic look.
The Verdict
The Sailmaster 22 is a thoughtfully styled small cruiser with a substantial solid fiberglass hull and a versatile centerboard plan that gatedrafting trails to shallow coves. She is no rocket but is steady, balanced, and forgiving, with two distinct interior philosophies to suit daysailing or weekend cruising.
Pros
- Substantial solid fiberglass hull with iron ballast and a shoal-draft centerboard
- Low trunk and good forward visibility; balanced, track-loving handler
- Weekender layout offers four berths, galley, and head in 22 feet
Cons
- Full keel and attached rudder limit quickness in tacking
- Needs a solid breeze to perform; sluggish under six knots true
- Centerboard pivot corrosion and balsa-core deck water intrusion are known watch items
