Design and Construction
Ted Irwin drew the “Classic” 32 in 1970 as a cruiser-racer conceived before the IOR rulebook. The hull is fiberglass and the keel is lead.
Buyers could choose a keel/centerboard version drawing 3 feet 6 inches or a long fin keel drawing 5 feet. Later summaries put the fin-keel draft at roughly 5 to 5.3 feet, depending on load, and the stub/centerboard version at about 3.5 to 3.8 feet.
With a beam of 9.67 feet and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.31, the hull is slimmer than 62% of comparable sailboat designs. A displacement-length ratio of 329 places the Irwin 32 among heavy cruisers; only 21% of similar designs are heavier.
Rig and Sail Plan
The standard sloop rig carried a 242-square-foot mainsail and a 235-square-foot working jib, while the optional yawl rig substituted a 216-square-foot main and added a 53-square-foot mizzen. The yawl gave owners a versatile offshore rig without changing the underlying hull.
Standing and running rig dimensions are well documented. The main, jib, and spinnaker halyards each run 90.6 feet and are 3/8-inch in diameter; jib and genoa sheets are 32 feet long and 1/2-inch in diameter; and the mainsheet is 80 feet long and 1/2-inch in diameter.
Keel Options, Accommodations, and Power
The centerboard configuration trades some keel depth for access to shallow marinas. The fin keel suits sailors who prefer a fixed 5-foot bite.
For auxiliary power, owners could choose between a 30-horsepower Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine and a 25-horsepower Volvo MD-2B diesel.
Performance and Seakeeping
The theoretical hull speed for a displacement hull of this length is 6.7 knots. Calculated maximum speed under inboard power is near 6.0 knots.
A capsize screening value of 1.72 meant that, by this formula alone, the boat would qualify for ocean racing. Its Motion Comfort Ratio of 31.7 is higher than that of 86% of similar designs, indicating a comparatively easy motion in a seaway for a boat of this size. Wetted surface is about 279 square feet, and immersion is near 843 pounds per inch.
From Irwin 32 to Endeavour 32
The Irwin 32 and Endeavour 32 have identical sail plans and the same displacement, making the Irwin 32 the genetic parent of an otherwise separate marque.
Verdict
The Irwin 32 is a thoughtfully conceived pre-IOR cruiser-racer. Its keel and rig options allowed owners to tailor draft and versatility, while its heavy-cruiser displacement and comfort ratio suggest a stable, forgiving platform for coastal and offshore sailing. Its place in design history is also clear: it directly spawned the Endeavour 32.
Pros
- Choice of centerboard or fin keel for draft flexibility
- Optional yawl rig as an alternative to the standard sloop
- Comfort ratio higher than that of 86% of similar designs
- Direct design parent of the Endeavour 32
Cons
- Engine choices limited to the gasoline Atomic 4 or a modest 25-hp diesel
- Slimmer beam than most peers, with 62% being broader
- Original 1970s systems are now decades old
