Back to Search
Irwin 38 2
Designer: Ted Irwin  ·  Builder: Irwin Yachts  ·  First built: 1984
+ Add to Compare
About the Irwin 38 2

Built during Irwin Yachts' active production era, this 38-foot cruising sailboat represents the company's commitment to creating affordable family cruisers for the growing recreational sailing market. The Irwin 38 2 designation suggests this was likely a refined version of an earlier Irwin 38 model, incorporating improvements based on owner feedback and evolving design standards. Irwin Yachts earned a reputation for building practical, seaworthy vessels that balanced comfort with sailing performance, making them popular choices for coastal cruising and extended passages. The company's designs typically featured spacious interiors optimized for liveaboard comfort, with thoughtful layouts that maximized the available space below decks. While detailed specifications remain limited, boats in this size range from Irwin were generally well-suited for serious coastal cruising and capable of offshore passages in experienced hands. The design likely incorporates a moderate displacement hull with sufficient beam to provide interior volume while maintaining reasonable sailing characteristics. These vessels typically appealed to sailors seeking a reliable platform for extended cruising adventures without the premium pricing of custom builders, making them accessible choices for sailors transitioning from smaller boats to serious cruising vessels.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.00 ft / 12.19 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.50 ft / 9.91 m
Beam 12.25 ft / 3.73 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 20,000.00 lb / 9,072 kg
Ballast 7,000.00 lb / 3,175 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 771.00 ft² / 71.63 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ted Irwin
Builder Irwin Yachts
First Built 1984
Last Built 1988
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

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
16.81
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
31.62
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
1.81
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. 7.64
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
2.06
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) 49.75
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.25
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.75
E (Mainsail Foot) 16.0
SA Fore 429.09
SA Main 342.0
How It Compares

vs. Endeavour 40, Hunter 40 1, Intrepid 40, Lancer 40, Tartan 40 Offshore

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Irwin 38 2 ★
40.0 ft
Endeavour 40
40.0 ft
Hunter 40 1
40.0 ft
Intrepid 40
40.0 ft
Lancer 40
40.0 ft
Tartan 40 Offshore
40.0 ft
LWL
Irwin 38 2 ★
32.5 ft
Endeavour 40
32.0 ft
Hunter 40 1
34.6 ft
Intrepid 40
32.8 ft
Lancer 40
33.7 ft
Tartan 40 Offshore
36.0 ft
Beam
Irwin 38 2 ★
12.3 ft
Endeavour 40
13.0 ft
Hunter 40 1
13.5 ft
Intrepid 40
12.6 ft
Lancer 40
12.0 ft
Tartan 40 Offshore
13.3 ft
Displacement
Irwin 38 2 ★
20 lbs
Endeavour 40
25 lbs
Hunter 40 1
18 lbs
Intrepid 40
20 lbs
Lancer 40
15 lbs
Tartan 40 Offshore
26 lbs
Ballast
Irwin 38 2 ★
7 lbs
Endeavour 40
9 lbs
Hunter 40 1
7 lbs
Intrepid 40
7 lbs
Lancer 40
4 lbs
Tartan 40 Offshore
10 lbs
Sail Area
Irwin 38 2 ★
771 sq ft
Endeavour 40
788 sq ft
Hunter 40 1
762 sq ft
Intrepid 40
749 sq ft
Lancer 40
689 sq ft
Tartan 40 Offshore
788 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Irwin 38 2 ★
Endeavour 40
147 s/nm
Hunter 40 1
102 s/nm
Intrepid 40
125 s/nm
Lancer 40
Tartan 40 Offshore
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Irwin 38 2 ★
16.8
Endeavour 40
14.8
Hunter 40 1
17.4
Intrepid 40
16.3
Lancer 40
17.8
Tartan 40 Offshore
14.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Irwin 38 2 ★
Endeavour 40
36.0 %
Hunter 40 1
40.0 %
Intrepid 40
Lancer 40
Tartan 40 Offshore
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Irwin 38 2 ★
31.6
Endeavour 40
36.9
Hunter 40 1
24.5
Intrepid 40
30.5
Lancer 40
24.6
Tartan 40 Offshore
34.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Irwin 38 2 ★
1.81
Endeavour 40
1.78
Hunter 40 1
2.05
Intrepid 40
1.86
Lancer 40
1.93
Tartan 40 Offshore
1.80
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Irwin 38 2 ★
Endeavour 40
340
Hunter 40 1
199
Intrepid 40
Lancer 40
Tartan 40 Offshore
Hull Speed
Irwin 38 2 ★
7.6 kts
Endeavour 40
7.6 kts
Hunter 40 1
7.9 kts
Intrepid 40
7.7 kts
Lancer 40
7.8 kts
Tartan 40 Offshore
8.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Irwin 38 2 ★
2.1
Endeavour 40
1.3
Hunter 40 1
Intrepid 40
2.1
Lancer 40
3.0
Tartan 40 Offshore
Find a Irwin 38 2 For Sale