Irwin 34 Citation Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The below-decks plan is the model’s draw: a forward V-berth, head with shower to port, hanging locker to starboard, a port dinette that folds to a small double, a starboard settee, and a quarter berth aft with a compact nav station. The starboard U-galley is large for the size with unusual counter space. Four cruise comfortably on short trips, but longer voyages expose limited stowage and little privacy, since tankage sits beneath the berths and the forward cabin lacks a door. A 1982 change swapped the long fixed trunk window for two smaller opening ports, a useful date clue when inspecting. Cockpits are big enough for four adults, with wide side decks for fore-aft movement and a low trunk giving seated visibility.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Original standard gear was complete for its era—pressure water, shower, propane stove, and AC/DC electrics—and on the used market air conditioning, heating, and a bimini are commonly fitted. For a buyer, the consequential clusters are comfort and canvas (bimini, heating, air conditioning supporting extended coastal living) and power and energy: most boats carry a 15-hp Yanmar with a 22-hp option, and a removable cockpit sole panel gives very good maintenance access. Early boats may retain the optional DynaFurl roller, worth budgeting to replace, and standard winches were minimal, so a self-tailing upgrade helps. Because most left the factory with solid props, a folding or feathering prop is the meaningful sailing upgrade.

What to Inspect

The most serious used-boat concern is the deck-to-hull joint fastened only with screws, with leaks that are difficult and expensive to repair due to inaccessibility. Screw-fastened stanchions and bow/stern rails are unsafe if loosened and let water into the balsa core, and poorly fit windows and ports also leak, though more easily fixed. Examined centerboard boats showed badly chafed Dacron pennants needing replacement, and two had delaminated teak-holly cabin soles. Owners report gelcoat patches lifting with voids and crazing, plus mast paint failure. The shallow bilge means water taken aboard is poorly contained, so check for prior flooding traces.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

Used Irwin 34 Citations appear on the market in the United States, with centerboard versions dominant and shoal keels scarce. A short checklist for the prospective owner:

• Verify deck-to-hull joint and window seals for leak stains or core softening
• Confirm stanchions and rails are through-bolted or budget the retrofit
• Inspect centerboard pennant and cabin sole for chafe or delamination
• Prefer a 20-to-22-hp engine and plan prop and winch upgrades
• Expect to add privacy and offshore gear before any ocean passage