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.
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What is the Ds 22's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Ds 22 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 19.15. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Ds 22's comfort ratio?
The Ds 22 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 11.95. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Ds 22 safe for offshore sailing?
The Ds 22 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 2.39. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Ds 22?
The theoretical hull speed of the Ds 22 is 5.76 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Ds 22 weigh?
The Ds 22 has a displacement of 2,400.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 21.67 ft.
Who designed the Ds 22?
The Ds 22 was designed by Bruce Kirby, first built in 1983.