BoatsIrwin Yachts 65/68

Irwin Yachts 65/68

Staysail Ketch · Keel/centreboard · First built 1981

A Ted Irwin-designed staysail ketch with a centerboard for shoal-draft cruising in a heavy, comfortable displacement

Designed by Ted Irwin.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.

See her sail

The Irwin Yachts 65/68, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Sailing Blue Pearl

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 47 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 47
CoastalBluewater

At 1.62 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.62
LightHeavy

211 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 211
EasygoingPowered-up

15.7 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.7
TenderStiff

30% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 30%

A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.

  • Heavier than ~93% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~97% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~90% of boats her size on file

Compared with 72 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Irwin Yachts 65/68, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Irwin Yachts 65/68 is a 19.8-meter staysail ketch designed by Ted Irwin and built by Irwin Yachts, with production beginning in 1981. It has a beam of 5.3 meters, a draft of 1.8 meters, and a displacement of 35,607 kg. The boat's LOA with bowsprit extends to 72.0 feet.5:41 While one crew aboard a 43-foot Irwin met the crew of the 65-foot *Blue Pearl* in the Sea of Cortez, the larger Irwin's specific sailing characteristics or living arrangements were not detailed.7:26 The Irwin line is generally considered suitable for Caribbean and Bahamas cruising, though some sources suggest they prioritize interior volume over structural stiffness, potentially requiring reinforcement for bluewater passages.6:05

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Irwin Yachts 65/68 on video

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
29.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Staysail Ketch
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.7
Displacement / length
210.6
Comfort ratio
46.9
Capsize screening
1.62
Hull speed
9.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
3406
Hull
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1981
Designer
Ted Irwin
Builder
Irwin Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Gunfleet Marine 5818.25 mSame hull family1.5 m shorterA masthead sloop featuring a keel-centerboard configuration and dual rudders for deep-water stability and control
[OFF MARKET] Gunfleet 58 (ELIAN) with Andrew Fairbrass - Yacht for Sale - Adored and Doted onfrom Berthon International
Little Harbor 6319.46 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 19.46-metre ketch with a high comfort ratio of 42.56, engineered for stable, long-range offshore cruising
A Sailboat Tour of the Exquisite Little Harbor 63 Ketch1:44from Practical Sailor
Hylas 7021.21 mSame hull family1.5 m longerA German Frers-designed masthead sloop with a keel-centerboard configuration built for high-performance blue water cruising
Sailing 1000 miles on a 70 ft SAILBOAT! + HYLAS 70 BOAT TOUR (HD) ⛵️ [Ep.69] The Bohemia Journey24:36from El Viaje de Bohemia
Southerly 57 RS17.72 mSame hull family2.0 m shorterA 17.72-metre flagship featuring a Solent rig and a lifting keel that allows for deep-water performance and shoal access
Episode #76 Annapolis Sailboat Show!0:02from Sailing Nervous- Starting Over!
Irwin Yachts 5416.46 mSame hull family3.3 m shorterA 16.46-metre staysail ketch with a 39.9 comfort ratio, built since 1988 for stable, long-range cruising
WE WENT TO THE ANNAPOLIS BOAT SHOW - 2025! | EP845:20from Sailing Solé
Southerly Yachts 48014.98 mSame hull family4.8 m shorterA Stephen Jones-designed 14.98-metre cruiser featuring a Solent rig and a centerline skeg to protect the propeller
Southerly 480 (MANUKA) - Yacht for Sale - Simply Stunning Throughout (1)from Berthon International

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Irwin Yachts 54A 16.46-metre staysail ketch with a 39.9 comfort ratio, built since 1988 for stable, long-range cruisingIrwin Yachts 46A Ted Irwin-designed staysail ketch featuring a keel-centerboard hull for versatile performance in varying depthsIrwin Yachts 41A masthead ketch with a skeg-mounted rudder and shallow draft, designed for stable, long-range coastal cruising

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