Westerly Marine Construction built the Nomad. The marque had secured Lloyd’s Series Production Certificates for its hulls from the outset, and Rayner built his boats under Lloyd’s supervision.
Design and Construction
Rayner insisted that his boats should be safe and solid, and the Nomad reflects that philosophy. Beyond the Lloyd’s certification baseline, he applied additional standards of his own to the design and construction process. Period observers describe his boats as over-engineered.
The Nomad has a solid fiberglass hull and solid fiberglass deck. It measures 22.25 ft overall with a 7.42 ft beam and displaces 3,150 lb, including 1,050 lb of iron ballast. Its twin-keel configuration gives it the character of a bilge-keeler, while the profile has a distinctive turned-up nose that owners readily recognize.
Current owners of these early Westerly yachts remain confident in their strength and reliability—a testament to the structural conservatism built into them.
Rig and Handling
The Nomad is a masthead sloop with 187 sq ft of sail area. Rayner designed it with all running rigging led aft to the cockpit for easier single-handing, a layout that remains modern in its thinking.
On the water, the Nomad is heavy, safe, and predictable rather than quick. Owners report that it won’t earn prizes for speed, but in a stiff breeze it heels to fifteen degrees and no more, then tracks along hour after hour with only a light touch on the helm.
That combination suits sea, estuary, and canal cruising. The 2.02 capsize ratio and 33.33 ballast-displacement ratio also underpin the steady, forgiving manner owners describe.
Accommodation
Rayner insisted that cabins should provide sitting headroom for tall men. The Nomad answers that brief with a cabin extending right across the hull. Owners describe the space as large as they would expect on a twenty-six-footer, giving this 22-foot hull generous interior volume.
A charcoal-burning stove can be fitted. When lit, it makes the cabin warm, dry, and comfortable in the worst weather. In restorations, the otherwise redundant space under the cockpit floor has also been used for a freshwater tank and pump, showing how the beamy hull can accommodate practical liveaboard adaptations.
Known Issues
One of the most instructive accounts of neglect comes from an owner who recovered a Nomad that had been left almost derelict on a farm in Normandy. Its paint was peeling, the plywood in the main hatch had rotted, and the electrics were shot.
At some point, dubious modifications had also been made to the rudder and cockpit. A previous owner had removed the inboard engine and attempted to install an outboard well—a good idea, but poorly executed.
Closer inspection showed that the main problem was grime and neglect rather than structural failure. This shows that these boats survive hardship but suffer cosmetically and in their soft systems when left unattended.
Refits and Ownership
In principle, restoring a neglected Nomad is straightforward. On the Normandy boat, yellowed gelcoat was sanded back to white, sealed, and polished. The hatches were rebuilt with hardwood strips over two layers of 12mm ply, and the 12-volt electrical system was replaced.
The poorly executed outboard well was rebuilt, while the space under the cockpit was converted to hold a freshwater tank and pump. Owners who invest in these areas find a boat with retro charm and the kind of overbuilt structure that makes the effort durable.
The Verdict
The Nomad 22 sums up Denys Rayner’s design experience: it’s a safe, solid, over-engineered small cruiser with a roomy cabin and a rig arranged for single-handing. It won’t win races, but it offers predictable handling, twin-keel access to estuaries and canals, and a structure that owners of early Westerlys still trust.
The caveats are familiar ones for an aging bilge-keeler that has been left unattended: rotten hatches, failed electrics, and improvised engine-well conversions rather than inherent flaws.
Pros
- Safe, solid, over-engineered construction under Lloyd’s supervision
- Cabin volume comparable to that of a 26-footer, with sitting headroom
- All running rigging led aft for easier single-handing
- Predictable handling with limited heel, suited to sea, estuary, and canal cruising
Cons
- Not fast by any measure
- Hatches and electrics are vulnerable to neglect
- Improvised outboard-well conversions made after removing the inboard need scrutiny
