Irwin 28 Mk III Buyer's Guide
The Irwin 28 Mk III is a Ted Irwin design built by Irwin Yacht & Marine Corp, a 28.5-foot fiberglass sloop that has spent its life as an accessible coastal cruiser. On the used market she is a straightforward boat to evaluate: the structure is honest, but the deck and foredeck hardware are where a buyer needs to spend time at the viewing.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Mk III was built with different keel alternatives, and you will find both fin-keel boats drawing about 4.5 feet and stub/centreboard versions drawing roughly 3 feet depending on load anchor. Below, the layout runs from a roomy v-berth forward to a quarter-berth aft, with an enclosed head, settees both sides, and an L-shaped galley. Some boats carry a slide-out nav table above the quarter berth. The rope and chain locker is reached only through the v-berth, so check how the previous owner lived with that arrangement.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Boats on the market commonly come fitted with hot water, air conditioning, a gennaker, and a spinnaker. For a buyer, the air conditioning and hot water speak to how seriously a previous owner equipped the boat for liveaboard or warm-weather cruising, while the gennaker and spinnaker indicate a sail inventory built for light-air performance rather than just daysailing. Beyond those, the factory offered both tiller and pedestal wheel steering, and the original auxiliary was a gasoline Volvo or Universal — confirm which engine is installed and its condition.
What to Inspect
The chainplate arrangement is a known leak path: the heavy steel strips pass through the deck and are prone to deck leaks anchor. At the viewing, look for staining or softness around the chainplate exits on both sides, and sniff for mildew in the cabin liner below. Several owners have noted leaks in the deck-to-hull joint; run a hand along the interior joint line and check the bilge after a rain for telltale streaks, since the remedy is a full toerail removal and reseal. Confirm there is no midships cleat and no anchor roller or platform at the bow — a retrofit roller is a plus, an absent one is original. Engine access is restricted; verify you can pull the companionway steps to reach the front of the engine for oil and plug service, and inspect the small port quarterberth panel and starboard lazerette opening.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a viewing, keep a short list:
- Check chainplate deckside for leaks and liner stains.
- Inspect the hull-to-deck joint interior for moisture streaks.
- Confirm anchor handling setup at the bow.
- Verify engine access via companionway steps.
- Identify the keel type and measure the draft.
- Confirm which gasoline auxiliary is installed.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Irwin 28 Mk III. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 2 | $75,000 | — |
| May 26 | 1 | $75,000 | 0.0% |
Where they're listed
Irwin 28 Mk III listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $75,000 | 3 | 0 | 100.0% |