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Irwin 43 1971
Designer: Ted Irwin  ·  Builder: Irwin Yacht & Marine Corp.  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Irwin 43 1971

Built during the height of the fiberglass production boat boom, this substantial cruising sailboat emerged from Irwin Yachts' Florida facility as part of their growing fleet of family-oriented designs. The 43-footer represents the builder's commitment to creating spacious, comfortable vessels for coastal and offshore cruising adventures. Irwin established a reputation for building solid, practical sailboats that prioritized livability and ease of handling over racing performance. The moderate displacement hull design typical of the era provides stable, predictable sailing characteristics that appeal to cruising sailors seeking comfort over speed. The boat's generous beam creates expansive interior volume, making it well-suited for extended cruising or liveaboard use. While documentation from this vintage remains limited, the design reflects classic early 1970s styling with traditional lines and practical deck layout. The substantial construction methods employed by Irwin during this period have allowed many examples to remain seaworthy decades later. This model would appeal to sailors seeking a proven platform for coastal exploration or protected offshore passages, particularly those who value interior space and comfort over cutting-edge sailing performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 43.50 ft / 13.26 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
Beam 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
Max Draft 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Min Draft 4.25 ft / 1.30 m
Displacement 23,000.00 lb / 10,433 kg
Ballast 10,500.00 lb / 4,763 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 872.00 ft² / 81.01 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ted Irwin
Builder Irwin Yacht & Marine Corp.
First Built 1971
Related Sailboats Cc 43 1 · Columbia 43 · Gulfstar 43 Ms · Nicholson 43 · Swan 431
Owner Reviews

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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
 177
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
 17.32
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
 38.77
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
 1.62
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. 7.58
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
 1.67
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) 51.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.5
P (Mainsail Luff) 44.8
E (Mainsail Foot) 19.0
SA Fore 446.25
SA Main 425.6
How It Compares

vs. Cc 43 1, Columbia 43, Gulfstar 43 Ms, Nicholson 43, Swan 431

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Irwin 43 1971 ★
43.5 ft
Cc 43 1
43.3 ft
Columbia 43
43.3 ft
Gulfstar 43 Ms
43.3 ft
Nicholson 43
43.3 ft
Swan 431
43.3 ft
LWL
Irwin 43 1971 ★
32.0 ft
Cc 43 1
35.0 ft
Columbia 43
32.0 ft
Gulfstar 43 Ms
39.2 ft
Nicholson 43
30.0 ft
Swan 431
33.3 ft
Beam
Irwin 43 1971 ★
11.5 ft
Cc 43 1
12.8 ft
Columbia 43
12.3 ft
Gulfstar 43 Ms
13.9 ft
Nicholson 43
11.5 ft
Swan 431
13.4 ft
Displacement
Irwin 43 1971 ★
23 lbs
Cc 43 1
21 lbs
Columbia 43
18 lbs
Gulfstar 43 Ms
21 lbs
Nicholson 43
19 lbs
Swan 431
26 lbs
Ballast
Irwin 43 1971 ★
10 lbs
Cc 43 1
9 lbs
Columbia 43
9 lbs
Gulfstar 43 Ms
—
Nicholson 43
9 lbs
Swan 431
11 lbs
Sail Area
Irwin 43 1971 ★
872 sq ft
Cc 43 1
901 sq ft
Columbia 43
806 sq ft
Gulfstar 43 Ms
660 sq ft
Nicholson 43
867 sq ft
Swan 431
896 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Irwin 43 1971 ★
177 s/nm
Cc 43 1
—
Columbia 43
111 s/nm
Gulfstar 43 Ms
153 s/nm
Nicholson 43
114 s/nm
Swan 431
87 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Irwin 43 1971 ★
17.3
Cc 43 1
18.8
Columbia 43
18.2
Gulfstar 43 Ms
13.9
Nicholson 43
19.0
Swan 431
16.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Irwin 43 1971 ★
—
Cc 43 1
46.8 %
Columbia 43
50.3 %
Gulfstar 43 Ms
—
Nicholson 43
49.9 %
Swan 431
44.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Irwin 43 1971 ★
38.8
Cc 43 1
29.4
Columbia 43
29.1
Gulfstar 43 Ms
24.1
Nicholson 43
34.9
Swan 431
35.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Irwin 43 1971 ★
1.62
Cc 43 1
1.85
Columbia 43
1.86
Gulfstar 43 Ms
2.02
Nicholson 43
1.70
Swan 431
1.80
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Irwin 43 1971 ★
—
Cc 43 1
221
Columbia 43
257
Gulfstar 43 Ms
155
Nicholson 43
328
Swan 431
319
Hull Speed
Irwin 43 1971 ★
7.6 kts
Cc 43 1
7.9 kts
Columbia 43
7.6 kts
Gulfstar 43 Ms
8.4 kts
Nicholson 43
7.3 kts
Swan 431
7.7 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Irwin 43 1971 ★
1.7
Cc 43 1
2.7
Columbia 43
2.2
Gulfstar 43 Ms
2.8
Nicholson 43
—
Swan 431
1.6
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