Design and Construction
The Seaward 22 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, including a solid fiberglass hull and deck. It measures 22 feet overall, with a 20.58-foot waterline, an 8.33-foot beam, and a displacement of 2,200 pounds. That makes it light enough to tow behind a family vehicle, yet substantial enough to carry four people comfortably.
A fixed stub keel and centerboard provide a minimum draft of 1.92 feet with the board raised and 3.42 feet with it lowered. This arrangement allows shallow-water gunkholing while providing reasonable windward performance when the board is down. The transom-hung rudder is controlled by a tiller, and the profile features a plumb stem and vertical transom.
Steve Henkel noted that the boat has generally top-quality hardware and carefully applied finishing touches, reflecting the builder’s care in outfitting a boat of this size.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Seaward 22 carries a fractional Bermuda sloop rig with 193 square feet of sail area and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.25. Propulsion is by outboard motor.
With an average PHRF handicap of 285, she sits firmly at the slow end of the cruiser spectrum for racing. Henkel observed that she appears to suffer badly in the speed department compared with the Columbia 22, which has a PHRF rating a full 99 seconds lower despite being several hundred pounds heavier.
The centerboard, stub keel, and trailerable hull offer a different kind of versatility: access to shallow water and the ability to transport the boat by road. For owners who value that access more than racing performance, the flexibility helps offset her modest speed.
Accommodations
The Seaward 22 sleeps four. Forward, a private cabin with full sitting headroom contains a 7'4" V-berth enclosing the head, as Cruising World described in its review. The main cabin provides two 6'6" settee berths.
The galley is to starboard. It includes a sink and a pull-out two-burner stove tucked beneath the starboard bunk. An icebox can be reached from both the cabin and the cockpit, allowing someone at the helm to grab a cold drink without going below.
Six round portholes in the coach house admit light to the compact interior. Overall, the layout makes sensible use of the boat’s 20.58-foot waterline.
Verdict
The Seaward 22 is a thoughtfully executed small cruiser that trades outright speed for shallow-draft freedom and trailerability. Hake’s hand is evident in the plumb bow and careful finish. Its accommodations—including a genuinely private forward cabin, practical galley, and dual-access icebox—outclass those of many boats of similar length.
She’s best suited to a couple or small family interested in coastal exploring rather than racing.
Pros
- Shallow 1.92-foot draft with the board raised supports trailer launching and gunkholing
- Private forward cabin with an enclosed head and full sitting headroom
- Icebox accessible from both cockpit and cabin
- Quality hardware and careful finish
Cons
- PHRF 285 reflects a slow pace compared with lower-rated contemporaries
- Propulsion is by outboard motor
