Launched in 1976 and produced through 1985, this substantial cruising ketch represents Ted Irwin's vision of a comfortable offshore sailing yacht during the golden age of American fiberglass boat building. With 250 hulls completed over nearly a decade of production, the design proved popular among serious cruising sailors seeking a capable bluewater platform. The staysail ketch configuration provides excellent sail handling flexibility for shorthanded crews, while the generous beam of over 15 feet creates spacious interior accommodations that made these boats popular with liveaboard cruisers. The fin keel with rudder mounted on a protective skeg offers a good balance of performance and protection, particularly valuable when exploring remote anchorages or dealing with floating debris offshore. Built by Irwin Yachts in Florida, these boats earned a reputation for solid construction and practical layouts suited to extended cruising. The moderate displacement and sail area provide steady performance without being overpowered, while the comfort ratio suggests good motion at sea. The capsize screening number indicates reasonable offshore capability for experienced crews. Today, these boats remain sought after by sailors planning serious cruising adventures, offering proven offshore capability with the spacious accommodations that made Irwin's larger designs particularly appealing to the cruising community.
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What is the Irwin 52's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Irwin 52 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 15.22. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Irwin 52's comfort ratio?
The Irwin 52 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 48.32. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Irwin 52 safe for offshore sailing?
The Irwin 52 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.62. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Irwin 52?
The theoretical hull speed of the Irwin 52 is 8.89 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Irwin 52 weigh?
The Irwin 52 has a displacement of 55,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 52.00 ft.
How much does a used Irwin 52 cost?
Based on 2 recent market listings, used Irwin 52 sailboats typically sell for between $60,000 and $60,000, with a median asking price of $60,000. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.
Who designed the Irwin 52?
The Irwin 52 was designed by Ted Irwin, first built in 1976.