Spacesailer 22 Buyer's Guide
The Spacesailer 22 is a 22-foot fibreglass keelboat designed by Kim Swarbrick and built by Swarbrick Bros. Yachts from the mid-1970s through 1990, with most examples constructed between 1975 and 1990. On the Australian used market she presents as a long-keel masthead sloop offered in fixed-keel and trailable swing-keel forms, backed by an active class association that preserves uniformity of hull, rig and equipment. For a buyer she is an entry-level keelboat that races one-design on the Swan River yet cruises a couple or a small family with real cabin room.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats follow the standard production interior with moulded fibreglass furniture: four berths including two roomy quarter berths, a sink and icebox module, a stove and cupboard module, and a bow area sized for a chemical toilet. The pop-top cabin roof gives six-foot headroom over the main cabin, and a large transom locker reached through the rear cockpit seat adds exterior stowage. Fixed-keel boats draw about four feet; the swing-keel versions trade that for trailering convenience, and either layout keeps the same class-ruled cabin plan.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The original sail wardrobe is a fully battened mainsail with up to three headsails and two spinnakers, and the class rules mean most racing-fit boats still carry that uniform inventory. Buyers should look at the running rig — halyards and sheets sized to the standard plan — as the core of what makes her quick, since the generous masthead sail area is the boat's defining performance asset. Beyond that, equipment on these boats tends to reflect owner history rather than a standard fit, so any added navigation or sail-handling gear should be judged on its own condition rather than assumed.
What to Inspect
The SS22 proved very durable in service, and most examples remain in use decades after building, with over fifty still sailing in WA alone. The practical review points worth a buyer's attention are therefore age-related — the solid fibreglass hull and deck should be checked for osmotic or impact damage, and the swing-keel pivot and trunk on trailable versions examined for wear. The class association's uniformity rules help here, because a standard layout gives a clear baseline for what an unmodified boat should show.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Spacesailer 22s are typically found in Australia, concentrated around the Perth clubs where the class races. For a buyer, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Confirm fixed-keel versus swing-keel for your trailing needs
- Verify class-rules uniformity of hull, rig and sails if you intend to race
- Inspect solid fibreglass for age-related osmosis or impact, and swing-keel gear if fitted
- Expect a pop-top cabin and four-berth layout as the standard used-boat specification
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Spacesailer 22. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | 1 | $2,073 | — |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $2,073 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Spacesailer 22 listings appear across 1 country. Australia has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $2,073 | 2 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship 22 | 23.95' | $ 8,917 | 13 | 2 |
| Bonito 22 | 21.85' | $ 5,637 | 6 | 4 |
| Spacesailer 22You are here | — | $ 2,079 | 2 | 1 |