Irwin 40 Mk II Buyer's Guide
The Irwin 40 Mk II is a Ted Irwin design built by Irwin Yachts from 1980 through 1985, with somewhere between 100 and 150 hulls completed. On the market she presents as a fiberglass masthead sloop — occasionally a ketch — that blends racing-derived handling with a cruising interior, and the keel-centerboard or shoal-keel choice means no two viewing appointments look exactly alike below the waterline.
Layouts on the Used Market
The sloops and ketches share the same beamy 12-foot-2 hull, but the keel-centerboard version sits higher in thin water than the shoal fixed keel. The enhanced interior layouts for better light and ventilation over the Mk I are the visible giveaway that you are aboard a Mk II rather than the earlier generation, so check the ports and hatches for the brighter saloon before weighing rig differences.
What to Inspect
The one documented construction habit to check on this boat is the below-waterline through-hull hardware. Irwin Yachts of this era fitted brass gate valves on through-hulls beneath the waterline instead of proper marine seacocks on several models, so on a specific Mk II you should trace every below-water fitting and confirm what sits between the hull and the hose. A gate valve that turns with a loose handle, shows green corrosion at the body, or lacks a proper backing block is a replacement item, not a cosmetic one — and a flooded bilge from a failed valve is an expensive way to learn the difference.
Buyer's Takeaway
- Confirm every below-waterline through-hull and replace any brass gate valve with a proper seacock
- Decide early whether a shoal keel or keel-centerboard suits your grounds
- Verify the rig matches the updated Mk II cutter-leaning arrangement
- Check the interior for light and ventilation upgrades over the darker Mk I
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Irwin 40 Mk II. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 36 Mk II | 36.33' | $ 67,000 | 246 | 61 |
| Catalina 400 Mk II | 41.5' | $ 140,000 | 43 | 3 |
| Irwin 38-2 | 40' | $ 40,000 | 27 | 15 |
| Irwin 41 | 41.5' | $ 51,950 | 20 | 2 |