Irwin 23 | |
Designer: | Ted Irwin |
Location: | United States |
Year: | 1968 |
Builder: | Irwin Yachts |
Role: | Cruiser |
Draft: | 5.75feet with centerboard down |
Displacement: | 32000NaN0 |
Hull Type: | monohull |
Construction: | fiberglass |
Loa: | 23feet |
Lwl: | 18.5feet |
Beam: | 8feet |
Engine: | outboard motor |
Keel Type: | fin keel with centerboard |
Ballast: | 15000NaN0 |
Rudder Type: | internally-mounted spade-type rudder |
Rig Type: | Bermuda rig |
I: | 28.5feet |
J: | 9.5feet |
P: | 25feet |
E: | 10.25feet |
Sailplan: | masthead sloop |
Sailarea Main: | 128.13square feet |
Sailarea Headsail: | 135.38square feet |
Sailarea Total: | 263.5square feet |
Phrf: | 252 |
The Irwin 23 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Ted Irwin as a cruiser and first built in 1968.[1] [2] [3]
The design was built by Irwin Yachts in the United States, from 1968 until 1975, but it is now out of production.[1] [3] [4]
The Irwin 23 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig, a spooned raked stem, a plumb transom, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel, with retractable centerboard. It displaces 32000NaN0 and carries 15000NaN0 of lead ballast.[1] [3]
The boat has a draft of 5.75feet with the centerboard extended and 2.42feet with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water or ground transportation on a trailer.[1] [3]
The boat is normally fitted with a small 3to outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[1] [3]
The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin, a drop-down dinette table and a straight settee in the main cabin and an aft pilot berth on the port side. The galley is located on the port side amidships. The galley is equipped with a sink. The head is located in the bow cabin on the starboard side. Cabin headroom is 570NaN0.[1] [3]
For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker.[1] [3]
The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 252 and a hull speed of 5.8kn.[3]
The boat is supported by an active class club, the Irwin Yacht Owners.[5]
In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "The Irwin 23 was the smallest boat commercially produced by Irwin, who ended up building hundreds of boats and dozens of models. Best features: Among her comp[etitor]s, the Irwin is probably the fastest boat, despite her PHRF rating and maximum theoretical speed being equal to both the Sovereign [23 and Sovereign Antares], which have no centerboard for going upwind efficiently, as does the Irwin. The Sovereigns also have higher topsides and a taller cabin, which may provide better headroom but contribute 'top hamper' or windage that tends to slow the boat upwind. Worst features: Irwin's construction quality tended to be so-so at best."[3]