The boat was conceived for high-performance racing in inshore and limited offshore events, but it also offers simple, spacious cruising accommodation at a modest cost. That combination—a light-displacement racer with a genuine cabin—lies at the heart of its appeal.
Design and Construction
The SS22 has a solid fibreglass hull and deck and a long-keel configuration. Most were built as fixed-keel yachts, though a smaller number were produced as trailable swing-keel variants.
Displacement is 2,650 pounds, including 900 pounds of iron ballast. Its 34-percent ballast ratio and 144 displacement-length ratio place it firmly among the boats reviewers classify as light racers. A capsize screening value of 2.26 and a motion comfort ratio of 12.6 describe a stiff, responsive hull rather than a soft cruiser.
The builder’s own record says the design has proved very durable. More than 50 examples are still sailing in WA, concentrated at the South of Perth and Claremont yacht clubs. The class association maintains uniformity in hulls, sails, rigs and equipment through its rules, so used boats still closely resemble their sisterships decades later.
Rig, Performance and Handling
The SS22 is a masthead sloop with a fully battened mainsail. It can carry up to three headsails and as many as two spinnakers. The sail plan is generous for a boat of this length: one review observed that it carries more rig than 92 percent of comparable sailboats.
With a reference sail area of 222 square feet, the sail area-to-displacement ratio is 18.6. That rises to 22.2 with a 135-percent genoa. Wetted surface is roughly 182 square feet, helping the boat remain light on its feet.
Two adults can cruise the SS22 easily, but competitive racing calls for four adults to achieve optimum performance. The class still runs state championship series on the Swan River each summer.
A 4-foot draft allows access to shallow marinas. An immersion rate of about 550 pounds per inch means the boat holds its lines under crew weight without wallowing.
Accommodation and Stowage
Most SS22s have the standard production layout, built around moulded fibreglass interior furniture. There are four berths, including two spacious quarter berths with good stowage beneath them.
The pop-top cabin roof provides six-foot headroom over the main saloon when raised. Basic galley facilities comprise a sink-and-icebox module and a stove-and-cupboard module, while the bow has space for a chemical toilet.
A large transom locker, reached through the rear cockpit seat, completes the storage. Together, these features make the SS22 an ideal entry-level keelboat for a husband-and-wife crew, while still providing comfortable camping accommodation for a weekend afloat.
Verdict
The Spacesailer 22 is a genuinely quick, light-displacement racer that hasn’t forgotten how to cruise. Class rules keep the hull and rig uniform, while fixed- and swing-keel versions broaden its appeal. Durable fibreglass construction has helped keep more than 50 examples sailing in WA alone.
It’s a small boat, but its generous sail plan and pop-top cabin give it more reach than its length might suggest.
Pros
- Light-racer performance, including a 22.2 sail area-to-displacement ratio under genoa
- Durable fibreglass hull with a long-keel configuration
- Spacious four-berth cabin with pop-top headroom
- Moulded galley modules and useful stowage
- Active one-design racing supported by a class association that preserves uniformity
Cons
- Competitive racing requires a four-person crew, limiting solo or couple-only regatta use
- Swing-keel variants are in the minority, while the fixed-keel draft may not suit the most trailer-oriented buyers
