Sisu is a Finnish word that’s difficult to translate. It means something like endurance, determination, stamina, fortitude—or, in American slang, guts. Certainly, the expression fits the Sisu 22. Designed four decades ago, the doughty Downeaster has been called one of the most seaworthy designs ever for a small powerboat.
It came off the drawing board of Maine’s Royal Lowell, the dean of all things lobster boat. In the 1970s, Lowell drew three designs, including a 22-footer, for a New Hampshire builder. The boats were lauded, but the business failed and the fiberglass hull molds were disbursed.
But the 22 survived. Prized for its rugged build and seakindly, round chine hull, along with its simple layout and basic amenities, the boat came off the line at different companies in various places,…