Irwin Yacht 43 (1971)

The Irwin Yacht 43, designed by Ted Irwin and built by Irwin Yacht, Marine Corp., and Irwin Yachts, is a masthead sloop with a keel/centerboard hull, produced from 1971 to the present. This 13.26-meter (43-foot) sailboat has a beam of 3.51 meters and a draft of 2.44 meters, displacing 10,433 kg. Fixed keel and yawl rig variants were available, as was an optional diesel engine. Aboard *Sailing Into the Mystic*, a 1988 Irwin MKIII CC, the center-cockpit layout includes a salon with 6'3" standing headroom, a three-burner stove, and a large fridge-freezer.0:51 The master suite provides direct access to the engine compartment, which is also accessible from the galley.7:56 The vessel is equipped with BNG radar, wind instruments, a roller furler, and two large anchors, with solar panels and a barbecue mounted in the cockpit.7:26 The crew of *Sailing Into the Mystic* replaced all through-hulls and ball valves during a haul-out, noting the hull's thickness and structural integrity, and plans to relocate the fiberglass-encased chain plates to the exterior for easier inspection. *Salt & Tar* sailed an Irwin 43 named Windswept in 20-knot winds, testing its storage and organizational solutions. *Lady K Sailing* notes that 1980s Irwin sailboats often have poor construction, with deck hardware screwed directly into fiberglass or wooden toe rails, leading to water intrusion, rot, and soft decks.4:14 These boats are characterized by heavy, high-windage hulls that perform poorly under sail, often requiring motor-sailing.7:11 Interior layouts frequently lack effective sea berths, adequate handholds, and ergonomic fiddles.6:38