Strengths are many but: build quality and manufacturer support are top 2. Aesthetics, classic look. I had a model that was one of the best outfitted, had everything: fridge, autopilot, full instrumentation: GPS, wind depth etc. Boom room was great, plus marine head with macerator pump option. Also had numerous options to make trailering easier: used fastpins for some of the stays and a separate line and mast bail for raising and lowering the mast. Biggest drawbacks are that it is a 22 ft boat with no shower (we used sun shower on the bow pulled up with the spare halyard). Sails like a dream with light helm but keel/cb makes it tender at first until you get to 10-15 degrees. We had it on a lake and trailered to the coast but when we moved to the coast moved to a Catalina 310. The R22 was in our opinion too small for ocean sailing. Could do it (we did after downsizing Genoa from 175 to 150) but the window of conditions was too narrow. In the ocean 10 knots great, 15 knots OK but anything more too much and seas were another concern. If you trailer regularly and distance I recommend the dual axle trailer and a new one with a pickup truck. We had a new single axle with a 4runner and it was OK but long distances were tiring because we were right on the edge of comfort. Stan at the factory is priceless....