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Irwin 30
Designer: Ted Irwin  ·  Builder: Irwin Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Irwin 30

Designed by Ted Irwin and first launched in 1976, this 30-footer represents solid American production boat building from Irwin Yachts' Florida facility. With her moderate displacement of 9,200 pounds and generous beam of just over 10 feet, she offers the interior space and stability that made her popular among coastal cruisers during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The masthead sloop rig and 474 square feet of sail area provide adequate power for relaxed sailing, while the fin keel with rudder mounted on a protective skeg offers a good balance of performance and directional stability. Her comfort ratio of 23.25 places her in the moderate range, suggesting she'll provide reasonably comfortable motion in seaway conditions typical of coastal cruising. Built with fiberglass construction typical of the era, the Irwin 30 was designed primarily for the recreational sailing market, emphasizing livability over racing performance. Her hull speed of nearly 7 knots and capsize screening value of 1.94 indicate she's best suited for protected waters and coastal passages rather than offshore voyaging. The substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio of nearly 45 percent contributes to her stability and sailing characteristics, making her an approachable choice for intermediate sailors seeking weekend cruising capability.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.92 ft / 8.21 m
Beam 10.17 ft / 3.10 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 9,200.00 lb / 4,173 kg
Ballast 4,100.00 lb / 1,860 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 474.00 ft² / 44.04 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ted Irwin
Builder Irwin Yachts (USA)
First Built 1976
Associations Irwin Facebook Group
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 186
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 17.33
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 44.57
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 210.53
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 23.25
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.94
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.95 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.62
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 978.23 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 17.32
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 41.68 ft / 12.70 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 35.00 ft / 10.67 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
SA Fore 281.34 ft² / 26.14 m²
SA Main 192.50 ft² / 17.88 m²
SA Total (100%) 473.84 ft² / 44.02 m²
Est. Forestay Length 43.81 ft / 13.35 m
Mast Height (DWL) 45.50 ft / 13.87 m
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