The Pearson 22 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 18.5′, the Pearson 22 tops out around 5.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √18.5′ LWL = 5.8 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
252s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
SA / Displacement
18.5
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Comfort Ratio
13.4
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.26
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
512lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
13.4
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.26
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Pearson 22 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Santana 22
245s/nm
Pearson 22
252s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
Cape Dory 22
282s/nm
Alberg 22
285s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
2.4 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
| Close Reach60° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.5 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.3 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
4.8 |
| Run150–180° |
2.6 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (5.8 kts),
SA/D (18.5), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Pearson 22 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Pearson 22.
|
Pearson 22 |
Alberg 22 |
Cape Dory 22 |
Grampian 22 |
S2 68 |
Santana 22 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
22.3 |
22.0 |
22.3 |
22.3 |
22.3 |
22.3 |
| LWL |
18.5 |
16.0 |
16.3 |
17.4 |
18.3 |
18.8 |
| Beam |
7.8 |
7.0 |
7.3 |
7.0 |
8.0 |
7.5 |
| Displacement |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| Ballast |
1 |
1 |
1 |
850 |
1 |
1 |
| Sail Area |
218 |
236 |
— |
— |
217 |
218 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
252 |
285 |
282 |
— |
— |
245 |
| SA/Disp |
18.5 |
17.4 |
— |
— |
17.1 |
18.5 |
| Bal/Disp |
— |
— |
43.8 |
51.5 |
37.9 |
47.3 |
| Comfort |
13.4 |
20.8 |
— |
— |
14.4 |
13.9 |
| Capsize |
2.26 |
1.90 |
— |
— |
2.25 |
2.18 |
| Hull Speed |
5.8 |
5.4 |
— |
— |
5.7 |
5.8 |