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by | Mar 21, 2018 | Verbena

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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]

Production

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]

Design

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 3,200 lb (1,451 kg) and carries 1,500 lb (680 kg) of lead ballast.[1][3]

The boat has a draft of 5.75 ft (1.75 m) with the centerboard extended and 2.42 ft (0.74 m) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water or ground transportation on a trailer.[1][3]

The boat is normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp (2 to 4 kW) 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 57 in (145 cm).[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 5.8 kn (10.7 km/h).[3]

Operational history

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]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Irwin 23 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  2. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Ted Irwin 1940 - 2015". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page 236. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN 978-0-07-163652-0
  4. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Irwin Yachts 1966 - 1992". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  5. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Irwin Yacht Owners". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
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