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Ds 22
Designer: Bruce Kirby  ·  Builder: Diller-Schwill (Can)  ·  First built: 1983
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About the Ds 22

Designed by renowned naval architect Bruce Kirby in 1983, this compact 22-footer demonstrates the thoughtful proportions that made Kirby famous for boats like the Laser dinghy and Sonar keelboat. Built by Canadian manufacturer Diller-Schwill, the DS 22 combines a traditional masthead sloop rig with modern fiberglass construction and a practical keel-centerboard configuration. The boat's hybrid keel/centerboard design offers exceptional versatility, allowing sailors to explore shallow waters while maintaining the stability benefits of fixed ballast. With 890 pounds of ballast in her 2,400-pound displacement, she carries sufficient weight low for confident sailing in moderate conditions. Her relatively high sail area to displacement ratio of 19.15 suggests spirited performance in light to moderate winds, while the comfortable beam provides decent interior volume for weekend cruising. The DS 22 suits coastal exploration and daysailing particularly well, with her shoal-draft capability opening up gunkholes and beaches unavailable to deeper-draft boats. Her low comfort ratio indicates she's better suited for shorter trips rather than extended cruising, but her seaworthy proportions and Kirby's proven design philosophy make her a capable small boat for protected waters and near-coastal sailing.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 21.67 ft / 6.61 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Min Draft 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
Displacement 2,400.00 lb / 1,089 kg
Ballast 890.00 lb / 404 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 214.00 ft² / 19.88 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bruce Kirby
Builder Diller-Schwill (CAN)
First Built 1983
Related Sailboats Vision 660
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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
 255
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
 19.15
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
 37.08
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
 169.22
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
 11.95
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. 5.76 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
 3.38
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. 528.82 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. 19.19
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.30 ft / 2.83 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 22.80 ft / 6.95 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 7.80 ft / 2.38 m
SA Fore 125.55 ft² / 11.66 m²
SA Main 88.92 ft² / 8.26 m²
SA Total (100%) 214.47 ft² / 19.92 m²
Est. Forestay Length 28.56 ft / 8.71 m
How It Compares

vs. Vision 660

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Ds 22 ★
21.7 ft
Vision 660
21.7 ft
LWL
Ds 22 ★
18.5 ft
Vision 660
18.5 ft
Beam
Ds 22 ★
8.0 ft
Vision 660
8.0 ft
Displacement
Ds 22 ★
2 lbs
Vision 660
2 lbs
Ballast
Ds 22 ★
890 lbs
Vision 660
890 lbs
Sail Area
Ds 22 ★
214 sq ft
Vision 660
222 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Ds 22 ★
255 s/nm
Vision 660
261 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Ds 22 ★
19.2
Vision 660
19.9
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Ds 22 ★
12.0
Vision 660
12.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Ds 22 ★
2.39
Vision 660
2.39
Hull Speed
Ds 22 ★
5.8 kts
Vision 660
5.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Ds 22 ★
3.4
Vision 660
3.4
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