Tanzer 22 vs San Francisco Pelican

A Round 1 Mini-Cruiser Madness Match-up

Here’s another match-up of disparate designs, but both with loyal followings. Where the diminutive, quirky SF Pelican with its standing lug rig is more generally popular with our audience, it’s not especially suited to comfortable cruising. The heavy Tanzer 22 is fairly comfortable even for extended cruising, but not the sort of boat we’d want to trailer, rig and launch more than once a season.

In our initial review of the Tanzer 22 we summed up that tradeoff this way: At around 22 feet, sailboats cross a size threshold that promises cruising couples or small families adequate space and amenities to enjoy a weekend afloat with little inconvenience or discomfort. There’s usually enough beam for below-deck luxuries such as convertible dinettes and functional galleys, and honest sitting headroom is virtually a given. Some of these larger boats also include a partial bulkhead dividing the main saloon from the V-berth or providing some sequestering of the head. It’s also a size at which, with reasonably prudent handling, the likelihood of a knockdown or capsize is quite remote, yet its all-up tow weight can often be managed by a capable pickup truck or SUV.

After our test we noted: After raising the main and genoa we sheeted in and set off. It was light air sailing, but the Tanzer kept her way on and came through tacks. One of the assets of the 22—once you get her in the water—is her substantial weight. Undoubtedly heavier than the 2900 pounds she’s said to weigh, the Tanzer maintains momentum and moves like a much larger yacht. …The Tanzer 22 offers roominess, quality and safety, and remains one of the better choices in a large trailerable for cruising and racing.