Design and Construction
The Seaward 22 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, carrying a solid fiberglass hull and deck. At 22 feet overall with an 8.33-foot beam and a displacement of 2,200 pounds, the boat is light enough to trail behind a family vehicle yet substantial enough to carry four people comfortably. A fixed stub keel with a centerboard gives a minimum draft of 1.92 feet with the board up and 3.42 feet with it down, enabling both shallow gunkholing and reasonable windward performance. The transom-hung rudder is controlled by a tiller, and the profile is marked by a plumb stem and vertical transom. Steve Henkel noted that the hardware is generally top quality and the finishing touches carefully applied anchor, which speaks to the builder's care in outfitting a boat of this size.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a fractional sloop rig under a Bermuda configuration, with 193 square feet of sail area and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.25. The PHRF racing average handicap of 285 places her firmly in the slow end of the cruiser spectrum. Henkel observed that she appears to suffer badly in the speed department compared to the Columbia 22, which carries a PHRF rating a full 99 seconds lower despite being several hundred pounds heavier anchor. The centerboard and stub keel let her operate in shallow water and be transported on a trailer, a flexibility that offsets the modest turn of speed for owners who prize access over racing.
Accommodations
Below, the Seaward 22 sleeps four. A private forward cabin with full sitting headroom contains a 7'4" V-berth enclosing the head, as Cruising World described in its review anchor. The main cabin houses two 6'6" settee berths. The galley sits to starboard and includes a pull-out two-burner stove tucked under the starboard bunk with a sink above it. An icebox accessible from both the cockpit and the cabin offers a real convenience when the helm wants a cold drink without going below. Six round portholes in the coach house bring light into the compact interior, and the overall layout makes sensible use of the 20.58-foot waterline.
The Verdict
The Seaward 22 is a thoughtfully executed small cruiser that trades outright speed for shallow-draft freedom and trailerability. Hake's hand shows in the plumb bow and careful finish, and the accommodations—genuinely private forward, with a practical galley and dual-access icebox—outclass many peers of this length. She is best suited to a couple or small family coastal exploring, not the racecourse.
Pros
- Shallow 1.92-foot draft with board up enables trailer launch and gunkholing
- Private forward cabin with enclosed head and full sitting headroom
- Icebox reachable from cockpit and cabin
- Quality hardware and careful finish
Cons
- PHRF 285 reflects a slow pace next to lighter-rated contemporaries
- Propulsion is by outboard motor
