Irwin 23
{{Short description|Sailboat class}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox sailboat specifications
|name = Irwin 23
|insignia =
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|designer = Ted Irwin
|architect =
|location = United States
|year = 1968
|no built =
|design =
|class =
|brand =
|builder = Irwin Yachts
|role = Cruiser
|boats =
|crew =
|trapeze =
|draft = {{convert|5.75|ft|m|abbr=on}} with centerboard down
|air draft =
|displacement = {{convert|3200|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
|hulls =
|hull type = monohull
|construction = fiberglass
|loa = {{convert|23.00|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|loh =
|lwl = {{convert|18.50|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|beam = {{convert|8.00|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|hull draft =
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|engine = outboard motor
|appendages =
|keel type = fin keel with centerboard
|ballast = {{convert|1500|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}
|rudder type = internally-mounted spade-type rudder
|rigs =
|rig type = Bermuda rig
|I = {{convert|28.50|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|J = {{convert|9.50|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|P = {{convert|25.00|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|E = {{convert|10.25|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|mast length =
|rig other =
|sails =
|sailplan = masthead sloop
|sailarea main = {{convert|128.13|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|sailarea headsail = {{convert|135.38|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|sailarea spin =
|sailarea gen =
|sails other =
|sailarea upwind =
|sailarea downwind =
|sailarea total = {{convert|263.50|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|rating =
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|phrf = 252
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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.{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/irwin-23|title= Irwin 23 sailboat |access-date= 28 May 2021|last= McArthur| first= Bruce |work= sailboatdata.com|year= 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210528140941/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/irwin-23|archive-date= 28 May 2021|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/designer/irwin-ted|title= Ted Irwin 1940 - 2015|access-date = 28 May 2021|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20200518142435/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/irwin-ted|archive-date= 18 May 2020|url-status= live}}Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page 236. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-07-163652-0}}
Production
The design was built by Irwin Yachts in the United States, from 1968 until 1975, but it is now out of production.{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/builder/irwin-yachts|title = Irwin Yachts 1966 - 1992|access-date = 28 May 2021|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210526021133/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/irwin-yachts|archive-date= 26 May 2021|url-status= live}}
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 {{convert|3200|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and carries {{convert|1500|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of lead ballast.
The boat has a draft of {{convert|5.75|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the centerboard extended and {{convert|2.42|ft|m|abbr=on}} with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water or ground transportation on a trailer.
The boat is normally fitted with a small {{convert|3|to|6|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.
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 {{convert|57|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}.
For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker.
The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 252 and a hull speed of {{convert|5.8|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}.
Operational history
The boat is supported by an active class club, the Irwin Yacht Owners.{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/association/irwin-yacht-owners|title= Irwin Yacht Owners|access-date = 28 May 2021|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210526021147/https://sailboatdata.com/association/irwin-yacht-owners|archive-date= 26 May 2021|url-status= live}}
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."
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Irwin Yachts}}
{{Trailer sailers and Trailer yachts worldwide}}
Category:1960s sailboat type designs