Design and Construction
The hull is a one-piece fiberglass molding built from alternating layers of hand-laid mat and 24-ounce woven roving. Irwin used no chopper guns or blown glass in the process. Extra laminate was added in high-stress areas, and floor timbers were hand-glassed into all keel models. For a boat built to a price, the structure shows considered robustness.
The deck is also a one-piece fiberglass molding, with a plywood core for stiffness and insulation. Early boats were mostly shallow-draft full-keel models with centerboards, while later versions shifted to fixed fin keels drawing 4 feet 6 inches. On fin-keel boats, the pre-cast lead ballast is through-bolted with stainless steel bolts to a reinforced keel boss. The rudder is supported by a partial skeg.
A slight spring in the sheerline, a modest stern overhang, and a little teak on deck give the Irwin 28 a recognizable profile.
Rig and Handling
The Irwin 28 was always sloop rigged. It carries an anodized aluminum mast and boom, standard 1x19 stainless wire standing rigging, and single upper and lower shrouds. The shroud chainplates land midway between the coachhouse wall and toerail. They’re heavy-duty steel strips bolted firmly to the hull grid—a genuine strong point on a 28-footer.
The mainsheet traveler is mounted on the companionway threshold, while very small jib-lead tracks sit on the cockpit gunwales. Test sailors found that the boat tracks well enough but needs precise sail trim to balance the tiller. Weather helm is easily controlled with the traveler.
The Irwin 28 doesn’t back down well. Strong prop walk to starboard makes steering in reverse nearly ineffective. Under sail, however, she handles moderate conditions nicely. Test sailors found her controlled and manageable in winds up to about 25 knots and Lake Michigan seas of 5 or 6 feet. Close hauled is her favorite point of sail.
Accommodations
Starting at the bow and moving aft, the cabin has a roomy V-berth, a hanging wet locker to starboard, and an enclosed head with sink and vanity to port. Adult-length settees run along both sides of the saloon. Farther aft are a bulkhead-hinged table, an L-shaped galley to starboard, and a quarter berth to port.
Storage is plentiful, although much of it is recessed beneath the berths and settees, where it isn’t always convenient to reach. The galley includes a roomy icebox, an alcohol stove, and a flip-up countertop extension. Some boats also have a slide-out navigation table above the quarter berth.
The cabin’s best feature is the large dining table, which folds neatly against the bulkhead when not in use. A rope-and-chain locker sits in the bow, but it can be reached only through the V-berth rather than from the deck.
Equipment and Engine Access
Irwin offered the boat with either tiller or pedestal wheel steering. Factory auxiliary power came from a Volvo or Universal gasoline engine. The two-cylinder Volvo MB10A produces 15 peak horsepower and is still made by Marna Marine in Norway. Exhaust is routed through a waterlift muffler.
Engine access isn’t ideal. Oil and plug changes can be handled from the front after removing the companionway steps. There is also a small access panel in the quarter berth and starboard-side access through the cockpit lazarette.
Known Issues and Refit Considerations
For all their strength, the chainplates are prone to deck leaks. A number of Irwin 28 owners have also reported seepage at the deck-to-hull joint. The proper fix for joint leaks is to remove and reseal the toerail along its entire length.
Anyone shopping for a used Irwin 28 should expect to inspect—and likely renew—the deck-to-hull seal. The job is straightforward because the remedy centers on the toerail.
The boat also lacks a midships cleat, anchoring platform, and anchor roller. Those omissions are real drawbacks for cruising use.
Performance and Cruising Role
A 41% ballast ratio makes the Irwin 28 relatively stiff. Her length-to-displacement ratio is 286.2, placing her in the average cruising band, and her PHRF rating is 213. Taken together with her moderate-weather handling, these figures support her role as a capable coastal cruiser for sailors on a modest budget.
The Verdict
The Irwin 28 is a thoughtfully built small cruiser. Its hand-laid hull, substantial chainplates, and predictable handling in moderate weather make it a sensible coastal boat. The tendency to leak around the chainplates and deck-to-hull joint is real, as are the shortcomings in anchoring hardware, but both are manageable. Below, the cabin serves two people well without pretense.
Pros
- Hand-laid fiberglass hull with extra laminate in high-stress areas and no chopped-strand spray-up
- Heavy-duty chainplates bolted to the hull grid
- Stiff, confident feel from a 41% ballast ratio
- Controlled and manageable in winds up to 25 knots and sizable Lake Michigan seas
- Bulkhead table and L-shaped galley well suited to a compact cruising layout
Cons
- Known deck-to-hull and chainplate leaks that require the toerail to be resealed
- No midships cleat, anchor roller, or anchoring platform
- Poor control in reverse because of strong prop walk to starboard
- Limited engine access
- Bow locker accessible only through the V-berth
