Jasper Marine says its Defender 22 is built with a clear mission in mind: to serve active boaters who want rugged reliability without sacrificing comfort. It’s designed as a versatile expedition-style pocket cruiser, which means you can fish it, dive from it, or just spend a day aboard with the kids tubing and gunkholing.
For anglers and divers, the 22 offers practical storage solutions for everything from tackle to scuba tanks. For families, the customizable cockpit can adapt from a working platform to a relaxed social space. For those who want to blur the line between land and sea, there’s even a pop-up tent option that stows on the rooftop racks, turning the boat into a base for camping adventures.
With a beam of 8 feet, 6 inches—the Defender 22 is highway-legal, so you can trailer it to places far beyond the home port. The length at waterline is 21 feet, four inches. Length overall is 27 feet.
The boat is made of welded, marine-grade aluminum that minimizes maintenance headaches. Endura epoxy paint on the hull (with 18 degrees deadrise) provides a durable finish. The 22 is powered by single or twin outboards up to 500 horsepower. With twin 150s, it’s capable of speeds near 48 mph.
Owners can choose between an open-bow model or the enclosed Storm Bow version. The latter adds protection for cold, wet climates, making it appealing for boaters in northern regions who want to extend the season. At the helm, Shockwave Sentinel shock-absorbing seats at ensure that even when conditions kick up, the ride remains comfortable. Large, opening windows brighten the interior and make for good visibility.
The Defender 22 is built in British Columbia by Jasper Marine, which was founded by Jasper Vermeulen. Raised on the Pacific Northwest coast, Vermeulen says his life has always been tied to the ocean. His early career in custom stainless manufacturing and later work as a certified welder in the Canadian oil industry gave him a foundation in craftsmanship and building techniques. He finetuned his skills while working at Q-West Boats—a builder of ocean-going aluminum vessels in New Zealand.
In the Defender 22, Vermeulen says his team has created a boat that speaks to modern boaters who want it all: strength, performance, versatility, and comfort in a compact package.
Soundings toured the 22 at the Newport Boat Show in September. Learn more about this build by watching the video here.
