Design and Construction
The Irwin 25 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, and the hull is solid fiberglass. The keel is lead. The centerboard version has a retractable board housed in a fixed stub-keel trunk, while the alternative fin-keel model offers a simpler underwater profile.
With the centerboard raised, the stub-keel version draws roughly 2.66 to 2.96 feet, depending on load. The fin-keel version draws about 4.0 to 4.3 feet. Either variant can tuck into shallow marinas.
The hull has a spooned, raked stem and a raised counter with a plumb transom. Steering is by tiller through an internally mounted spade-type rudder.
The Irwin 25’s proportions place her among the heavier cruisers of her length. Her displacement-to-length ratio is 280, ballast ratio is 41 percent, and beam-to-length ratio is 3.16. Owners comparing her with the Morgan 24/25 note that she has the same displacement but a bit more ballast. She also has a waterline that is one foot shorter but a longer overall deck length because her overhangs are less abruptly cut off. Below the waterline, the two boats share many similarities, including a high-aspect-ratio centerboard.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Irwin 25 carries a masthead sloop rig. According to one database comparison, she carries more sail rig than 21 percent of comparable sailboats. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 16.6 with the reference sail and 19.4 with a 135 percent genoa—moderate figures for a boat of her weight.
The theoretical hull speed is 6.1 knots. The wetted surface is about 226 square feet, and the immersion rate is 572 pounds per inch. Her capsize screening value is 1.83, with a motion comfort ratio of 23.7.
On the race course, the Irwin 25 has an average PHRF handicap of 228. One owner reported that her PHRF is only three seconds per mile higher than that of the Morgan 24/25.
Accommodations
Below deck, the Irwin 25 sleeps four to six people. The bow cabin contains a double V-berth, while the main cabin has two straight settees. One settee converts to a double berth with the drop-down dinette table. An aft quarter berth is fitted to port.
The galley sits to starboard, abeam of the companionway ladder, and includes a fold-down two-burner stove, an icebox, and a sink. The enclosed head is to port, just aft of the bow cabin.
Buyers could choose between a layout with settee berths and a portside quarter berth or a dinette arrangement. Compared with the Morgan, the Irwin’s doghouse adds an inch of headroom.
Known Issues
The centerboard and its pendant are the principal weak points. Owners report recurring problems with both components—an important concern on a design that relies on a retractable board in a stub-keel trunk for its shallow-water capability.
Verdict
The Irwin 25 is a small, solidly built cruiser-racer with a practical trailerable package. Its shoal-draft centerboard option broadens its potential cruising grounds, while the accommodations are generous for a 25-foot boat. Owners also have the support of an active class club, the Irwin Yacht Owners. The retractable board, however, requires careful inspection and maintenance.
Pros
- Trailerable, with shoal-draft centerboard and fin-keel options
- Sleeps four to six, with a convertible dinette and aft quarter berth
- Active class-club support through the Irwin Yacht Owners
Cons
- Centerboards and pendants are prone to problems
- Short waterline and modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limit pace
