Part of the Citation series, the Mk II carries the racing DNA of Ted Irwin’s SORC-winning Razzle Dazzle designs, tempered by a layout intended for family cruising. Original literature positioned it as a solid, bluewater-capable cruiser under 40 feet.
Design and Construction
At just over 40 feet on deck, the Irwin 40 Mk II has a 31-foot waterline and a beam of 12 feet 2 inches. It displaces 16,890 pounds and carries 6,500 pounds of lead ballast in the keel.
Developed as a performance-oriented coastal and moderate-offshore cruiser, the Mk II is a more purposeful boat than the earlier Mk I, built from 1977 to 1979. The most consequential change below the waterline was a deeper forefoot for improved upwind performance, which improved its ability to hold a lane to weather. The design is also stiffer and more seaworthy than the Mk I—a meaningful step for a boat intended to venture beyond the coast.
Irwin Yachts offered either a shoal-draft fixed keel or a keel-centerboard configuration. Owners could choose between the standing stability suited to offshore legs and the shallow-water access useful for Bahamas cruising and East Coast gunkholing.
Solid fiberglass forms both hull and deck. During this era, however, Irwin Yachts used brass gate valves instead of proper marine seacocks on below-waterline through-hulls in several models. It’s a detail worth keeping in mind with any Irwin from the period.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a masthead sloop, with a ketch available as an option. Compared with the Mk I, the Mk II introduced updated rigging often arranged as a high-aspect cutter.
The sail plan is generous. A 324-square-foot mainsail works with a 399-square-foot jib, while the 150-percent genoa measures nearly 619 square feet. A reaching asymmetrical exceeds 1,000 square feet. Paired with the deeper forefoot, that inventory helps explain the boat’s reputation for being stiff and quick.
The shoal-draft and keel-centerboard options make the Mk II versatile in shallow water while maintaining stability for passages such as Bahamas or East Coast runs. In particular, the keel-centerboard extends its shallow-water usefulness without sacrificing the composure that makes the design credible offshore.
Accommodations
Where the Mk I felt darker and tighter, the Mk II has enhanced interior layouts for better light and ventilation. Its beam of just over 12 feet gives the saloon and sleeping spaces room to breathe. The emphasis on airflow and daylight reflects a design brief that balanced racing heritage with family-friendly livability.
The Verdict
The Irwin 40 Mk II is a thoughtful second-generation development of an already capable design. Ted Irwin combined the race-bred instincts of his Razzle Dazzle programs with a cruising hull that is stiffer, better ventilated, and more versatile than its predecessor.
The deeper forefoot and cutter-leaning rig give it capable upwind manners, while the keel-centerboard option keeps it useful in thin water. It’s a believable bluewater candidate under 40 feet, provided a buyer respects the period-typical through-hull hardware.
Pros
- Deeper forefoot and updated rig improve upwind performance over the Mk I
- Stiffer and more seaworthy than the earlier generation
- Shoal-keel or keel-centerboard options for shallow-water cruising
- Brighter, better-ventilated interior with family-friendly livability
- Credible moderate-offshore capability under 40 feet
Cons
- Irwin Yachts’ through-hull practice favored brass gate valves below the waterline rather than proper marine seacocks
- Only about 100–150 were built, so individual hull history matters more than fleet averages
