Back to Search
North American 22
Designer: Carl Alberg  ·  Builder: North American Fiberglass Moulding(Can)  ·  First built: 1963
+ Add to Compare
About the North American 22

Carl Alberg's design prowess shines through in this compact pocket cruiser that has earned a devoted following since its debut in 1963. Built by North American Fiberglass Moulding in Canada, this 22-footer exemplifies the designer's philosophy of creating seaworthy boats with traditional sailing characteristics scaled down to an accessible size. The long keel configuration and substantial displacement of 3,200 pounds, nearly half of which is ballast, creates exceptional stability and tracking ability. With a comfort ratio of 20.79, this boat offers a remarkably steady ride for its size, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and weekend getaways. The conservative capsize screening formula of 1.9 reflects its inherent seaworthiness, while the masthead sloop rig provides straightforward sail handling. This design appeals particularly to sailors seeking a traditional feel without the complexity of larger boats. The hull's proportions deliver respectable sailing performance with a hull speed of 5.36 knots, though the emphasis clearly lies on comfort and safety rather than racing prowess. For new cruising sailors or those wanting a manageable boat for protected waters and gentle coastal exploration, the North American 22 represents classic small-boat cruising at its most approachable.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
Beam 7.00 ft / 2.13 m
Max Draft 3.08 ft / 0.94 m
Displacement 3,200.00 lb / 1,451 kg
Ballast 1,540.00 lb / 699 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Carl Alberg
Builder North American Fiberglass Moulding(CAN)
First Built 1963
Related Sailboats ["Alberg 22" · "South Coast 22" · "Columbia 22" · "Venture 22" · "Hurley 22"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a North American 22? Submit a known issue

Performance Ratios
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
 48.13
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
 348.77
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
 20.79
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
 1.9
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. 5.36 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
 1.44
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. 400.19 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. 17.46
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 27.80 ft / 8.47 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.80 ft / 2.68 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.50 ft / 2.90 m
SA Fore 122.32 ft² / 11.36 m²
SA Main 114.00 ft² / 10.59 m²
SA Total (100%) 236.32 ft² / 21.95 m²
Est. Forestay Length 29.16 ft / 8.89 m
How It Compares

vs. Columbia 22, South Coast 22, Venture 22

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
North American 22 ★
22.0 ft
Columbia 22
22.0 ft
South Coast 22
22.0 ft
Venture 22
22.0 ft
LWL
North American 22 ★
16.0 ft
Columbia 22
20.1 ft
South Coast 22
17.5 ft
Venture 22
19.5 ft
Beam
North American 22 ★
7.0 ft
Columbia 22
7.8 ft
South Coast 22
7.1 ft
Venture 22
7.3 ft
Displacement
North American 22 ★
3 lbs
Columbia 22
2 lbs
South Coast 22
1 lbs
Venture 22
1 lbs
Ballast
North American 22 ★
1 lbs
Columbia 22
1 lbs
South Coast 22
505 lbs
Venture 22
475 lbs
Sail Area
North American 22 ★
—
Columbia 22
232 sq ft
South Coast 22
228 sq ft
Venture 22
218 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
North American 22 ★
—
Columbia 22
269 s/nm
South Coast 22
276 s/nm
Venture 22
260 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
North American 22 ★
—
Columbia 22
22.0
South Coast 22
24.7
Venture 22
25.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
North American 22 ★
48.1 %
Columbia 22
50.0 %
South Coast 22
28.1 %
Venture 22
29.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
North American 22 ★
20.8
Columbia 22
10.8
South Coast 22
10.9
Venture 22
8.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
North American 22 ★
1.90
Columbia 22
2.39
South Coast 22
2.33
Venture 22
2.51
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
North American 22 ★
348
Columbia 22
121
South Coast 22
149
Venture 22
96
Hull Speed
North American 22 ★
5.4 kts
Columbia 22
6.0 kts
South Coast 22
5.6 kts
Venture 22
5.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
North American 22 ★
1.4
Columbia 22
4.6
South Coast 22
4.4
Venture 22
5.7
Find a North American 22 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace