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Columbia 22
Designer: William Crealock  ·  Builder: Columbia Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1966
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Columbia 22
Photo: Columbia Yachts / Public domain
About the Columbia 22

Designed by renowned naval architect William Crealock, this compact cruiser emerged from Columbia Yachts in the late 1960s as an affordable entry into serious sailing. With 1,541 hulls produced between 1966 and 1972, the Columbia 22 became one of the more popular small cruisers of its era, offering remarkable value for coastal cruising and daysailing adventures. The boat's traditional lines belie its modern underbody design, featuring a fin keel with spade rudder configuration that provides responsive handling and respectable performance. At 22 feet overall with a 20-foot waterline, she maximizes sailing length while remaining trailerable for many owners. The substantial displacement of 2,200 pounds, with half dedicated to ballast, creates a stable platform with predictable motion in choppy conditions. Crealock's design emphasizes seaworthiness over pure speed, making this an ideal choice for new sailors learning coastal cruising or experienced sailors seeking a simple, reliable boat for weekend adventures. The masthead sloop rig with 232 square feet of sail area provides adequate power without being overwhelming. While not built for offshore passages, the Columbia 22 excels in protected waters, offering comfortable daysailing with occasional overnighting capability for two people.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.08 ft / 6.12 m
Beam 7.75 ft / 2.36 m
Max Draft 3.17 ft / 0.97 m
Displacement 2,200.00 lb / 998 kg
Ballast 1,100.00 lb / 499 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 232.00 ft² / 21.55 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Crealock
Builder Columbia Yachts (USA)
First Built 1966
Last Built 1972
Number Built 1541
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 269
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 22
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 50
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 121.31
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 10.76
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.39
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.00 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 4.58
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 556.05 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 21.97
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 26.56 ft / 8.10 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.38 ft / 2.55 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 23.50 ft / 7.16 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.25 ft / 3.12 m
SA Fore 111.29 ft² / 10.34 m²
SA Main 120.44 ft² / 11.19 m²
SA Total (100%) 231.73 ft² / 21.53 m²
Est. Forestay Length 27.85 ft / 8.49 m
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