Heavy even by 1970s standards, the Tanzer 22 nevertheless punches above its length under sail. Its roomy, full-beam cockpit favors racing and daysailing, while the compact interior provides basic accommodations for protected-water cruising.
Design and Construction
The Tanzer 22 measures 22 feet 6 inches overall, with a 19-foot-11-inch waterline and a beam of 7 feet 10 inches. The fin-keel version displaces 2,900 pounds, while the keel-centerboard model weighs 3,100 pounds.
The hull is hand-laid fiberglass laminate. A core stiffens and strengthens the deck, and period reviewers considered the construction better than average for this size of production fiberglass sailboat.
The hull and deck meet at outward flanges bedded in adhesive. Depending on the year and builder, the joint was fastened with either Monel pop rivets or 3/16-inch machine screws on roughly 6-inch centers. Vinyl molding caps the flange and protects it from minor dock rash.
Inside, a molded fiberglass liner forms the berths, cabinets, and sole while adding structure and defining the layout. The keel itself is cast iron, a material that brings some recurring maintenance concerns.
Rig and Sail Plan
The single-spreader aluminum mast steps on the cabin top through a tabernacle. The masthead rig has a forestay, backstay, and single upper and lower shrouds.
The sail plan relies on a small, 112-square-foot mainsail with almost no roach. Most of the driving power comes from a 170-percent, 200-square-foot genoa, and the class also permits a 375-square-foot spinnaker.
Most boats have the performance-oriented, swept-back fin keel, which draws 3 feet 5 inches. About 10 percent were built with the keel-centerboard arrangement, drawing 2 feet with the board up and 4 feet with it down. That version sacrifices some close-windedness.
Outboard power comes from a six-horsepower engine mounted on a transom bracket—a simple and adequate arrangement.
Sailing and Handling
Testers recorded tacks through 75 degrees in smooth conditions. The deep, rounded afterquarters make the Tanzer 22 easy to steer, though it’s reluctant to plane where a J/22 might.
PHRF ratings range from 92 to 98. Reviewers found that the boat could trade blows with others of its size and era while keeping pace with older designs two to four feet longer.
The original shallow, aft-raking semi-scimitar rudder is a weak point. It tends to lift and ventilate when the boat heels in a puff. An owner-developed replacement, which races alongside the original, addresses the problem for about two hundred dollars.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cockpit is one of the boat’s defining features. With no side decks, it uses the full beam and stretches well over 7 feet in length. Six people can fit in a pinch, while four can sail comfortably. That space reflects deliberate one-design priorities rather than cruising excess.
Below, the cabin house extends to the sheer, making the interior feel more open. Headroom remains strictly limited, however: Practical Sailor gives a maximum of 4 feet, while the used-boat review reports 4 feet 6 inches in the cabin area.
The layout includes a sharply tapered V-berth forward, a narrow quarter berth, a small galley to starboard, and a dinette to port. The dinette converts to a double, but it’s too small for comfortable dining and inadequate as a berth when converted.
Known Issues
The cast-iron keel is the problem owners return to most often: it rusts, and one owner reported finding no primer beneath the factory bottom paint. It requires inspection and proper coating.
The cockpit offers plenty of social and working space, but it’s too large to drain quickly. There’s also no bridgedeck between the cockpit and cabin. An unusual influx of water—the kind a knockdown might produce—can therefore spill directly into the accommodations and flood the boat.
Practical Sailor also notes the original rudder’s tendency to ventilate, a problem addressed by the aftermarket foil. These are manageable, documented issues rather than structural rot, but they influence how the boat should be maintained and sailed.
Ownership and Support
The active owners’ association provides unusually deep support for a 22-foot 1970s design. Fleet continuity is also helped by a sailing school that still keeps 10 Tanzer 22s for training and rental.
The owner-developed rudder is a known, low-cost upgrade, while the iron keel remains a recurring maintenance item.
The Verdict
The Tanzer 22 is a heavy-displacement one-design that sails beyond its length, supported by a large, organized owner community. Its cockpit and cabin trade-offs make it better suited to day racing and protected-water cruising than liveaboard comfort. Buyers should pay particular attention to the iron keel and the cockpit’s drainage path.
Pros
- Better-than-average fiberglass construction for its size, including a structural interior liner
- Strong sailing performance relative to its length and era
- Active one-design class
- Large, full-beam cockpit
- Exceptional owner support and fleet continuity
Cons
- Cast-iron keel rusts; some factory bottom paint reportedly lacked primer
- Oversized cockpit drains slowly, with no bridgedeck separating it from the cabin
- Original rudder ventilates when heeled
- Minimal headroom and limited berths
- Keel-centerboard version is less close-winded than the fin-keel model
