Irwin 43-CC Mk III Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Irwin 43 CC Mk III means looking at a Ted Irwin-designed center-cockpit cruiser built by Irwin Yacht & Marine Corp. from the mid-eighties onward. These are solid-fiberglass hulls with wing keels, a cutter rig, and the voluminous center-cockpit layout that defines the name. A used example will reward a careful look at the systems and the few weak points that age and the builder's habits can expose.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 43 CC Mk III is offered as a center-cockpit cruiser with the saloon and galley set amid-ships and sleeping cabins split fore and aft. The beam of about 13.6 feet on a 45.5-foot hull gives a roomy plan for the size, and the 179-gallon fresh water tankage is a notable cruising asset carried over from the original specification anchor.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Solar panels are commonly fitted, reflecting the boat's role as a liveaboard or long-stay cruiser where independent power matters. A furling main and a gennaker are also commonly found, simplifying short-handed sail handling and extending light-air range beyond the standard cutter. A freezer is another commonly fitted item, pointing to owners who provision for distance rather than weekend hops. None of these are universal, but together they sketch the well-equipped cruiser you are most likely to walk onto.
What to Inspect
On a specific hull, open the locker and work the below-waterline through-hull handles — where the builder historically used brass gate valves instead of proper marine seacocks on several designs, a soft, greening, or stuck valve is a replacement item, not a cosmetic one. Also inspect the toe rail and gunwale joint for hairline cracks or weeping where some earlier Irwin models used self-tapping screws rather than through-bolts on the hull-to-deck flange, and tap for delamination sound changes along the joint. Confirm the wing keel stub and hull intersection are fair and uncracked, and verify the 4.92-to-5.22-foot draft matches the load and keel configuration of the boat in front of you.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States, New Caledonia, Greece, and New Zealand. For a viewing, keep a short list in hand:
- Check below-waterline through-hulls for brass gate valves and test their action.
- Inspect the hull-to-deck joint for cracks or softness along the flange.
- Verify the wing keel root for impact or gelcoat crazing.
- Confirm the cutter rig sheet sizes match a 45.5-foot jib and 113.8-foot mainsheet.
- Test the fresh water system for the original 179-gallon capacity integrity.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Irwin 43-CC Mk III. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 1 | $79,000 | — |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $113,518 | +43.7% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $69,472 | -38.8% |
| Feb 26 | 4 | $69,900 | +0.6% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $59,000 | -15.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $59,000 | 0.0% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $95,000 | +61.0% |
Where they're listed
Irwin 43-CC Mk III listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 6 (66.7%), followed by Greece and New Caledonia.
Country view
9 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $68,950 | 6 | 0 | 66.7% |
| Greece | $113,518 | 1 | 0 | 11.1% |
| New Caledonia | $68,000 | 1 | 0 | 11.1% |
| New Zealand | $70,944 | 1 | 0 | 11.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau Cyclades 43.3 | 43.5' | $ 103,093 | 58 | 14 |
| Irwin 38-2 | 40' | $ 40,000 | 27 | 15 |
| Irwin 41 | 41.5' | $ 51,950 | 20 | 2 |
| Irwin 43-CC Mk IIIYou are here | — | $ 69,900 | 10 | 1 |
| Gulfstar 43 | 43.33' | $ 47,450 | 8 | 2 |
| Catalina Morgan 43 | 43' | $ 55,000 | 5 | 3 |