BoatsBristol Yachts 22 Caravel

Bristol Yachts 22 Caravel

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1968–1978

A 1968-1978 masthead sloop originally marketed by Sailstar, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for coastal sailing

Designed by Halsey C. Herreshoff.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 2.36 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,293 kg of hull, so roughly 1,900 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Shoal draftDraws 1.07 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 14 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 14
CoastalBluewater

2.19 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.19
LightHeavy

172 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 172
EasygoingPowered-up

16.4 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.4
TenderStiff

40% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 40%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.4
Displacement / length
171.6
Comfort ratio
14.2
Capsize screening
2.19
Hull speed
5.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
540
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1968–1978
Units built
325
Designer
Halsey C. Herreshoff
Builder
Bristol Yachts Inc

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/247.32 mSame hull family0.6 m longerThe world's most popular one-design keelboat, featuring a light 1406kg displacement for responsive, agile handling
Catalina Yachts 22 MKII7.26 mSame hull family0.6 m longerAn upgraded 1995 iteration of the classic trailerable cruiser, featuring a fin keel and transom-hung rudder
Sirius 7277.27 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA development of the Sirius 24, this fractional sloop features a fin keel with skeg-mounted rudder for balanced handling
Halcyon 236.93 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA triple-keeled masthead sloop by Alan H. Buchanan, offering shallow-draft versatility based on the earlier Crystal 23
Marieholm Boats S-206.00 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA short-run 1970s fractional sloop with a fin keel and transom-hung rudder, designed for coastal agility
Dehler Yachts 25CR7.50 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA Van de Stadt-designed fractional sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for spirited performance

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

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