The Irwin 52 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

There were two versions of the Irwin 52: the standard version and the center cockpit version. The center cockpit version had a larger aft cabin and a smaller cockpit, while the standard version had a smaller aft cabin and a larger cockpit. The center cockpit version was also available with a cutter rig instead of a ketch rig.

The Irwin 52 has a spacious and comfortable interior, with four cabins and three heads. The forward cabin has a V-berth and a private head, the port cabin has two single berths, the starboard cabin has a double berth and a shared head, and the aft cabin has a queen berth and a private head. The saloon has a U-shaped dinette to port and a settee to starboard. The galley is located aft of the saloon, with a three-burner stove, an oven, a refrigerator, a freezer, and ample storage. The navigation station is opposite the galley, with a large chart table and an instrument panel.

There were some variations in the accommodation layout of the Irwin 52, depending on the owner's preferences. Some examples are: having a single head in the forward cabin instead of two; having a single large head in the aft cabin instead of two; having an office or a workshop in one of the midship cabins; having a washer/dryer or a generator in one of the lockers; having an extra fuel tank or a watermaker in the bilge.

The Irwin 52 was originally designed as a ketch, with a mainmast and a mizzenmast. The mainmast had two spreaders and carried a mainsail, a genoa, and a staysail. The mizzenmast had one spreader and carried a mizzen sail and an optional mizzen staysail. The sail area was about 1,400 square feet. Some owners opted for a cutter rig instead of a ketch rig, with a single mast and three headsails. The cutter rig had more sail area and better performance upwind, but less stability and maneuverability downwind.

The Irwin 52 had two keel options: a shoal draft keel and a deep draft keel. The shoal draft keel had a draft of 5.5 feet and a ballast of 16,000 pounds. The deep draft keel had a draft of 7 feet and a ballast of 14,000 pounds. The shoal draft keel offered better access to shallow waters, while the deep draft keel offered better performance and stability.

The Irwin 52 is a fast and comfortable cruiser that can handle most sea conditions. It has good speed and power under sail, reaching up to 10 knots in moderate winds. It has good balance and stability, with an easy motion in waves. It has good manoeuvrability and responsiveness, with hydraulic steering and electric winches. It has good visibility from the cockpit and the saloon, with large windows and hatches. It has good ventilation and insulation, with dorade vents and air conditioning.

The average cost of a secondhand Irwin 52 depends on the year, condition, equipment, and location of the boat. According to YachtWorld.com, as of July 2023, there are seven Irwin 52 boats for sale in the US, ranging from $84,000 to $230,000. The average asking price is $162,873.

No, unfortunately this boatbuilder is not still in business. Irwin Yachts was founded by Ted Irwin in 1966 and produced over 6,000 boats until 1991, when it went bankrupt due to financial difficulties. Ted Irwin died in 2015 at the age of 74.

Ted Irwin was a prolific and innovative designer who created many sailboats of different sizes and styles. Some of his most famous designs are: the Irwin 10/4, a 34-foot racer/cruiser that won the SORC in 1975; the Irwin 37, a popular center cockpit cruiser that sold over 600 units; the Irwin 43, a spacious and luxurious aft cockpit cruiser that won the Cruising World Boat of the Year in 1986; the Irwin 65, a large and elegant ketch that was one of the first production boats to have a pilothouse; and the Irwin 68, a custom-built flagship that featured a retractable keel and a hydraulic lifting platform.