The Citation is a masthead sloop measuring 34 feet 3 inches overall, with an 11-foot 3-inch beam and a displacement of 11,500 pounds. In standard configuration, it carries 538 square feet of sail and 4,100 pounds of lead ballast.
Design and Hull Form
The Citation combines elements of a beamy 1960s CCA centerboarder with those of a mid-1970s IOR racer. That lineage shows in its concave bow, typical of Irwin’s work; a fairly flat sheer with a molded cove stripe; and the IOR-era stern tuckup.
Below the waterline, the hull is beamy and saucer-shaped. Above it sits a low, traditional trunk cabin. A centerline fence aft of the keel extends back to form a skeg ahead of the spade rudder.
Irwin offered three keel arrangements: a deep fin drawing 5 feet 4 inches, a rare shoal-draft version, and the much more popular centerboard model. Unlike boats compromised by adding a centerboard to a hull designed for a fin keel, this hull shape appears well matched to the board. The centerboard retracts into a shallow stub keel. Its Dacron pennant leads to the deck through a tube that doubles as a galley grabrail.
Construction
The hull uses a conventional lay-up of mat and woven roving, while the deck is a balsa-core sandwich. On the boats examined, the basic fiberglass work appeared solid and good. The cost-cutting becomes more evident in the details.
The deck and hull meet on an inward flange, secured with sheet-metal screws through an aluminum toe rail. The lifeline stanchions and the bow and stern rails were screwed down rather than through-bolted. The through-hull valves were inexpensive, and the chainplate bolts lacked washers. On one surveyed boat, even the deck cleats were fastened only with sheet-metal screws.
Owner surveys report an unusually high incidence of gelcoat trouble, including lifting patches, large voids, and excessive crazing. Leaks at the deck-to-hull joint are common, difficult, and expensive to repair because the joint is inaccessible.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The Citation carries a large rig, well balanced between mainsail and jib. The mainsheet traveler sits on the cabin top just ahead of the companionway, while the shrouds are set well inboard to allow good windward sheeting angles.
With a PHRF rating around 160, the Citation trails the slightly quicker cruiser-racers of its era, but it still makes good passages. Testers found it reasonably stiff, with plenty of initial stability from the beamy hull. Many owners, however, consider it tender—particularly in centerboard form—and an early reef appears prudent in heavy air. For cruising, it sails acceptably under a roller-furling jib alone.
The standard 15-hp Yanmar generally earns owner approval, although some consider the boat underpowered. A 20-hp Yanmar was optional. Some owners also report difficulty backing the boat in a straight line. Most Citations left the yard with fixed propellers; performance-minded sailors will want a folding or feathering prop.
Accommodations and Equipment
The interior is the strongest part of the package. The layout includes a forward V-berth, a head and shower to port, and a hanging locker to starboard. In the saloon, a port-side dinette converts to a small double berth, opposite a starboard settee. A quarter berth runs aft, although its foot is tight for a tall person.
To starboard, the large U-shaped galley provides an icebox and good counter space. The electrical panel is mounted at its aft side, alongside a small, angled navigation station. Seven opening ports, plus forward and midship hatches, provide good ventilation.
Tankage is generous: 30 gallons of fuel, 80 gallons of water, and a sizable holding tank. Those tanks occupy the space beneath the berths, however, leaving minimal stowage. The forward cabin also lacks privacy doors.
Standard equipment was modern for the period. It included pressure hot and cold water, a shower, propane stove, deep cushions, AC/DC electrical systems, and wheel steering. The large cockpit has an ice locker, lazarettes, and propane stowage. A removable section of the cockpit sole provides superior engine access—the best seen on a boat of this size. Large cockpit drains are another uncommon courtesy in a production boat.
Known Issues
In addition to deck-joint leaks and gelcoat distress, every centerboard boat examined had a badly chafed pennant that needed replacement. Two boats had discolored, delaminated teak-and-holly cabin soles. Owners have also reported mast-paint failure caused by poor priming of the aluminum.
The shallow bilge means that water taken aboard is slow to collect and manage, a serious drawback in a flooding event. The Citation isn’t recommended for ocean passages until considerable basic upgrading has been completed.
Verdict
For a coastal cruiser who enjoys a project, the Irwin 34 Citation is a handsome, well-thought-out design with a genuinely good interior and complete original equipment. Its beamy hull provides surprising stiffness, and the centerboard version adds versatility. But cost-cutting in the fastenings and deck-to-hull joint calls for a careful buyer who’s willing to tackle repairs and upgrades.
Pros
- Centerboard hull well matched to its shoal-draft role, with good initial stability
- Generous tankage and a genuinely roomy, well-arranged coastal-cruising interior
- Excellent access to the engine through the cockpit sole
- Large cockpit drains, uncommon among comparable production boats
Cons
- Screw-fastened rails can loosen unsafely, while the screw-fastened deck joint is prone to leaks
- Frequent gelcoat defects and chafed centerboard pennants
- Shallow bilge makes water slow to collect and manage
- Standard engine can feel underpowered
- Not suited to offshore passages without substantial upgrades
