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Irwin 37 5
Designer: Ted Irwin  ·  Builder: Irwin Yachts  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Irwin 37 5

Built during Irwin Yachts' productive era in the 1980s, this 37-footer represents the Florida builder's commitment to creating affordable cruising sailboats for the growing recreational sailing market. Irwin consistently focused on delivering practical vessels that balanced performance with comfort, making sailing accessible to middle-class sailors seeking adventure without breaking the bank. This model reflects typical Irwin design philosophy with a moderate displacement hull optimized for coastal cruising and occasional offshore passages. The boat features a spacious interior layout that maximizes livability, a hallmark of Irwin's approach to cruising yacht design. Like other vessels in the Irwin lineup, this 37-footer likely incorporates a shoal draft keel configuration, enhancing versatility for exploring shallow anchorages and coastal waters. While not built for racing, these boats earned respect among cruising sailors for their seaworthiness and value proposition. Irwin's reputation centered on creating boats that everyday sailors could afford to purchase and maintain, making them popular choices for couples and families entering the cruising lifestyle. The model represents solid 1980s production boat construction, offering dependable performance for coastal exploration and extended cruising adventures throughout protected and semi-protected waters.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.00 ft / 11.28 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 20,000.00 lb / 9,072 kg
Ballast 7,800.00 lb / 3,538 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 625.00 ft² / 58.06 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Ted Irwin
Builder Irwin Yachts
First Built 1982
Last Built 1982
Related Sailboats ["Irwin 37 4" · "Valiant 37" · "Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall" · "Dickerson 37 Cc" · "Passport 37"]
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Performance Ratios
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
 13.62
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
 37.23
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
 1.7
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. 7.34
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
 1.28
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 42.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.5
P (Mainsail Luff) 35.5
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.5
SA Fore 367.5
SA Main 257.38
How It Compares

vs. Dickerson 37 Cc, Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall, Valiant 37

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Irwin 37 5 ★
37.0 ft
Dickerson 37 Cc
37.0 ft
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
37.0 ft
Valiant 37
37.0 ft
LWL
Irwin 37 5 ★
30.0 ft
Dickerson 37 Cc
28.3 ft
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
30.0 ft
Valiant 37
31.6 ft
Beam
Irwin 37 5 ★
11.5 ft
Dickerson 37 Cc
11.3 ft
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
11.6 ft
Valiant 37
11.5 ft
Displacement
Irwin 37 5 ★
20 lbs
Dickerson 37 Cc
15 lbs
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
20 lbs
Valiant 37
17 lbs
Ballast
Irwin 37 5 ★
7 lbs
Dickerson 37 Cc
5 lbs
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
8 lbs
Valiant 37
6 lbs
Sail Area
Irwin 37 5 ★
625 sq ft
Dickerson 37 Cc
675 sq ft
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
726 sq ft
Valiant 37
667 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Irwin 37 5 ★
13.6
Dickerson 37 Cc
17.6
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
15.8
Valiant 37
16.2
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Irwin 37 5 ★
37.2
Dickerson 37 Cc
30.3
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
36.9
Valiant 37
30.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Irwin 37 5 ★
1.70
Dickerson 37 Cc
1.83
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
1.71
Valiant 37
1.79
Hull Speed
Irwin 37 5 ★
7.3 kts
Dickerson 37 Cc
7.1 kts
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
7.3 kts
Valiant 37
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Irwin 37 5 ★
1.3
Dickerson 37 Cc
1.5
Endeavour 37 Cutter Tall
1.5
Valiant 37
2.2
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