1986 31 ft irwin citation sailboat

IRWIN 31 CITATION Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of IRWIN 31 CITATION. Built by Irwin Yachts and designed by Ted Irwin, the boat was first built in 1983. It has a hull type of Fin w/spade rudder and LOA is 9.53. Its sail area/displacement ratio 17.21. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Yanmar, runs on Diesel.

IRWIN 31 CITATION has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about IRWIN 31 CITATION and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, contributions, who designed the irwin 31 citation.

IRWIN 31 CITATION was designed by Ted Irwin.

Who builds IRWIN 31 CITATION?

IRWIN 31 CITATION is built by Irwin Yachts.

When was IRWIN 31 CITATION first built?

IRWIN 31 CITATION was first built in 1983.

How long is IRWIN 31 CITATION?

IRWIN 31 CITATION is 8.08 m in length.

What is mast height on IRWIN 31 CITATION?

IRWIN 31 CITATION has a mast height of 11.28 m.

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1986 Irwin Yachts Citation 31

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Irwin 31 Boats for sale

1983 Irwin 31

Sea Bright, New Jersey

Category Sloop Sailboats

Posted Over 1 Month

1983 Irwin 31 REDUCED! This popular family cruiser has seen very good care and is seriously for sale.

Bayville, New Jersey

Category Sailboats

1983 Irwin 31 Citation

Gordonville, Texas

Model 31 Citation

1983 Irwin 31 Citation The owner of this 1983 31' Irwin Citation is ready to sell.  She is in good condition.  Price includes a New Westerbeke Rotary air conditioner that has not been installed.

1984 Irwin Citation 31

Placida, Florida

Model Citation 31

1984 Irwin Citation 31          The Irwin 31 is a great day/weekend sailing vessel which offers good performance for those who wish to participate in club PHRF sailboat racing.   All the lines are lead aft for easy operation by one or two people, and with the full bimini and dodger you will be able to keep cool & out of the sun.  In the spring of 2014 the boat was gone through with many new items. The mast was removed and all standing rigging inspected and serviced to include the roller furling jib.  Vessel was hauled out and a complete bottom job was done with fresh bottom paint,  new pendant (Swivel pin ) for the center board, and a new propeller installed.   This is a great boat for the couple who just wants an inexpensive fun boat to day sail or weekend sail,  or do some club racing,  and with so many new items it should be almost maintenance free boat for years to come. This Centerboard 31 Irwin is the ideal boat for South Florida and the Bahamas. She draws 4 feet with the centerboard up, and 8 feet with the board down. We have just replaced the centerboard cable, and installed a new battery charger with two new batteries. She also has a brand new $1,500. Bimini., along with a new Garmin 540s Chartplotter, New Raw Water Pump, New Alternator, New Mixing Elbow on Engine, New Zincs, & New Drive Shaft Packing. There is also a new 30amp Shore Power Cord, New Stainless Steel Water Heater,New LED Spreader Lights, New LED Compass Light, New Multi-media Stereo with Remote, Lazy Jack System with New Lines, New Main Halyard and New Furling Jib Line, & New Davis Mast Top Wind Indicator. There is a Racor Fuel Filter System that was just serviced with new filters.!!!  A great boat to spend your winters on in the Islands!!! Call us today-come take a look-Make us an offer!!!!

1984 Irwin 31 Sloop

St Petersburg, Florida

Model 31 Sloop

1984 Irwin 31 Sloop This 31' Irwin is in terrific condition for its age.   The owner has taken pride in her care.  The running rigging is strong and it boasts 7 Lewmar self tailing winches. All halyards and sheets lead to rope clutches in the cockpit.  The cockpit features a steering station complete with a single engine control plus a teak pedestal table that folds away and includes 6 beverage holders.  The dripless coupling bearing makes for a dry and exceptionally clean bilge.  The Furlex genoa furler is practically new.  Scally Waggs has and entire cockpit enclosure and ll dodger & bimini canvas have new protective covers.   The interior offers over 6' 2" head room and the cushions have been recently dry cleaned.  No leaky port holes.I CONSIDER THIS VESSEL TO BE TURN-KEY!!!!

1968 Irwin 31' Yawl

Lancaster, Virginia

Category Cruiser Motorcycles

Length 31.0

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 1968 Irwin 31 Re-Rigged as Yawl Specs Builder: Irwin Designer: Ted Irwin Keel: Centerboard Dimensions LOA: 31 ft 1 in Beam: 9 ft 7 in Minimum Draft: 3 ft 4 in Maximum Draft: 7 ft 10 in Displacement: 9600 lbs Ballast: 3800 lbs Engine: Engine Brand: Yanmar Engine Model: 2GM20F Engine Type: Inboard Engine/Fuel Type: Diesel Propeller: 3 blade propeller Tanks Fresh Water Tanks: 1 50 Gallons Fuel: 25 Gallons Hot Water Heater: 2.5 Gallons Accommodations Number of heads: 1 Shower - In Process Deck & Hull Features Hull color - White Non-Skid - Beige/Tan Delta Anchor - 300' Cockpit Cushions Dodger Bimini Swim - Boarding Ladder Interior Accommodations Sleeps 5 Holding Tank Type - Fiberglass with Y valve 120V Refrigerator - Ice Box 2 Burner Propane Stove with Oven Stereo System & CD Port sette fold out into double bunk Full V-Bearth Electrical Features Batteries - 1 Start 3 House Gell Cell Shorepower 110V - 30Amp Battery charger Rigging Features Roller Furling - Harken Self Tailing winches for Head Sail Couach House winch for Centerboard South Coast winches for Mizzen Lazy Jacks for Main Sail Wheel Steering/Helm Sails: 150 RF Head Sail - Good Condition 130 RF Head Sail - Excellent Condition Full Batten Main 2 Reef Points - Above Average Condition Full Batten Mizzen - Above Average Condition Spinaker - Good Condition Mizzen Sta'sail - Above Average Condition Hank on Storm Sta'sail - Excellent Condition Navigation & Electronics Systems Compass at Helm Depth Sounder - Datamarine Knotmeter - Datamarine Auto Pilot - ST4000 VHF 25W Garmin GPS - Plotter Safety 4 Adult Life Jackets Life Sling 3 Fire Extiguishers Extras 8 New Found Metals Portlights Available

1979 Irwin Citation 34

Edgewater, Maryland

Model Citation 34

Category Racer Boats

1979 Irwin Citation 34 Well maintained 1979 Irwin Citation 34'-4" with 11'-4" beam light tan hull. 15 HP Yanmar inboard diesel, 4' keel with drop down center board. "Nearly Enough" has a 80 gallon water tank and 31 gallon fuel tank. Forward cabin - V berth, storage below and cabinets with hanging closet. Main cabin - Double berth, quarter berth. Galley-Ice box, refrigerator, stove/oven, stainless sink, dinning table, Nav. station, air conditioner. Head- Toilet, sink, shower Sails- Main sail full batten with cover, 135% roller furling jib. Lovingly cared for and ready for your inspection.

1976 Irwin 42 Center Cockpit Ketch

Lothian, Maryland

Model 42 Center Cockpit Ketch

1976 Irwin 42 Center Cockpit Ketch,1976 Irwin 42 Center cockpit KetchVery large, shoal draft boat with ample accommodations. This is an ongoing project boat that is very usable, sailed constantly for the last 14 years. Many many upgrades, (see below) needs someone to finish off some details and touches. The boat is currently on a mooring south of Annapolis and can be shown and sea trialed by appointment.I am happy to walk the new owner through everything that has been done and needs to be done. She has been a great boat, its time to downsize a bit. Reasonable offers will be considered, its ready to sail for the rest of the season!SpecsKeel:shoal draftDimensionsLOA: 42 ft 6 inBeam: 13 ft 4 inLWL: 35 ft 1 inMinimum Draft: 4 ft 6 inMaximum Draft: 4 ft 6 inDisplacement: 29000 lbsBallast: 12000 lbsEnginesTotal Power: 62 HPEngine 1:Engine Brand: PerkinsYear Built: 1993??? (newer than the boat)Engine Model: 4-154Engine Type: InboardEngine/Fuel Type: DieselEngine Power: 62 HPApprox 300 hoursSingle lever shift/throttle addednew starter solenoid and starter switch 201697 amp upgraded alternatorCruising Speed: 6 knotsMaximum Speed: 8 knotsBorg Warner velvet drive transmission rebuilt in 2010Shaft, coupler, stuffing box and cutlass bearing replaced in 2014 (stainless)TanksFresh Water Tanks: 2 (100 Gallons)Fuel Tanks: (80 Gallons)AccommodationsNumber of double berths: 2Number of heads: 2Electrical/Systems12volt DC system Blue Sea panel (2010) (migrating original panel to new panel)Perko 2 bank Battery on/off switch110v AC system includes shore power cord Whole boat main GFCI protectionGalvanic isolatorBlue Sea vessel system monitorPro Mariner 60 amp Pro Nautic battery charger (2014)Mastervolt AGM batteries (2 8D house, 1 Group 31 Start) 2014Electric bilge pump with automatic float switch.Jabsco variable speed pressure water pump (cold only)Fwd vacu-flush head (2011)Aft vacu-flush with electric head (2011)DeckFull cockpit captains navy sunbrellla bimini top (2012)CQR anchor with 30' chainRiggingFull batten hood main with dutchman flaking systemRoller furling yankee cut genoa with captains navy sunbrella UV coverCutter rig forestay & boom (not installed)Running backstays (mizzen)Spinnaker pole (not installed)

1982 Freedom Cat Ketch 33' - WEEKEND PRICE ONLY

Davie, Florida

Wanderer was built with the sailor in mind!  Easy to handle even for single hand.    Her accommodations are beautiful!   Additional Specs, Equipment and Information: Boat Name WANDERER Specs Flag of Registry: United States Keel: Fin Dimensions LOA: 33 ft 0 in Beam: 11 ft 0 in LWL: 30 ft 0 in Maximum Draft: 4 ft 6 in Displacement: 12000 lbs Ballast: 3800 lbs Engines  Engine 1: Engine Brand: Yanmar Engine Model: 3GM30F Engine Type: Inboard Engine/Fuel Type: Diesel Engine Hours: 2690 Tanks Fresh Water Tanks: 1 Plastic (83 Gallons) Fuel Tanks: 1 Aluminum (25 Gallons) Holding Tanks: 1 Plastic (8 Gallons)   The Boat Practical Sailors evaluation of this boat says, "Basic construction of the Freedom 33 hull and deck is, in our opinion, among the best in the production boat building industry.  The aesthetic impression created by the interior joiner work is among the best we have had about any production boat." As far as performance, Practical Sailor has this to say, "Boat for boat she will sail by Morgan 41s, Irwin 44s, CSY 44s, Westsails and their ilk.", and "The boat does have speed and liveliness that exceeds that of most out and out cruising boats of her size, and in many conditions can rival the performance of the many so called racer-cruisers or performance cruisers." Both the main and mizzen sails are fully battened, improving both the performance and convenience of sailing. Hull and deck construction is hand laminated fiberglass with balsa core. There is 6'0" headroom through out the cabin.  Interior joinery is handcrafted in ash with oak trim. Teak and holly sole. All sail controls lead aft so that one need not leave the cockpit to hoist, reef or douse sails. The freestanding masts are specially constructed in carbon fiber for strength and lightness, and the booms are aluminum. Edson wheel steering and emergency tiller are standard. Bow and stern pulpits are stainless steel, with double life lines and aluminum toe rails.   Accommodations All the wood below is varnished ash with cedar strips. The warmth and illusion of spaciousness imparted by these light colored woods will appeal to many sailors. The cabin sole is teak and holly. "The stowage capacity of the Freedom 33 is by far the best we have seen in a boat this size." (Practical Sailor) With the mast right forward in the stem, the hull fullness must be carried forward to support the weight. Consequently, the forward cabin Vee berth is roomy with good stowage under and with full length shelves. Head and hanging locker are next aft port and starboard respectively. The door to the head is curved giving more room inside the head/shower. The main salon has a U-shaped settee and a handsome gimballed table with folding leaves to port. A long bench is opposite to starboard with excellent stowage. The galley is port side aft. There is ample counter space and a huge galley drywell incorporating a sliding section for seldom used items. The fore and aft chart table is large and comfortable with good stowage and a large shelf for electronics and books. Behind the chart table is a comfortably wide quarter berth. She is bright and airy yet very tranditional in detail.   Galley Hillerange SS LPG 3 burner Stove w/oven ADLER BARBOUR Refrigeration SPRINGFIELD digital thermostat Salt water tap Stainless steel sink Hot water tank 6 gallons, engine heated Insulation added to ice box Wall mounted Silverware holder H&C pressure water Wall mounted spice rack Water filter   Deck and Hull Boat color is white Barn Door external rudder Fresh water shower in cockpit Saltwater washdown in cockpit Vinylester Bottom applied (1994) Bronze thru hulls and fittings (9) Opening ports and screens (4) Overhead hatches Companionway screens 33 lb. Bruce with 150’ chain and 85’ rode Swim ladder Emergency tiller   Electronics AUTOHELM ST 4000 Auto pilot Compass, RITCHIE Globe master SP 5 Barometer, Chelsea Brass Clock, Chelsea brass striking DATMARINE Depthsounder Charts for Chesapeake, Florida and the Bahamas APELCO 365 Fish finder DATAMARINE Knotmeter FURUNO M#821 2KW radar SONY Stereo/cassette SONY remote disc changer (6) Speakers   Electrical HEART Freedom 10 Inverter (4) 6v Golf cart batteries glass mat (2011) (1) Group 31 battery (2011)  (1) hour meter Remote panel for inverter Shore power CALIFRANO 12v fan Copper ground plane BALMAR 90 Series 100 amp alternator (2) BLUE SEAS battery switch HEART INTERPHASE EMeter AQUA SIGNAL chart light (2) 85 watt Solar Panels Electrical panel totally rewired (2009) 12v panel Heart interface battery charger Solar panel voltage regulator   Mechanical YANMAR FWC Diesel Model 3GM30F Kanzaki manual gear box Flexible engine mounts(2011) Engine instrument panel 3 blade prop 16 x 10 1/2 1” stainless steel shaft Dripless shaft seal (2011) Acoustic insulation in engine compartment Aluminum fuel tank Racor filter 12v JABSCO bilge pump 12v dry mounted secondary bilge pump Manual head with salt water flush Wire cable steering (2005) Cutlass bearing replaced (2011) High water bilge alarm   Sails & Rigging Cat Ketch Rig Carbon fiber masts Aluminum booms Tall rig option Rigid Vang on main Barient 23 winches Double life lines (2009) Dacron sails (2009) St. Micheals Dacron sail covers (2009) Binnacle cover (2009) Lazy jacks (2009) Bridge clearance 50’ Halyards and reefing lines replaced (2005)   She is priced to move!     Please call Scott Clements at 423 884 6530 anytime for more information or requests!

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1985 Irwin Citation 31

• Description

Seller's Description

31 Irwin Citation 1985

Shoal Draft 4’ - Hull & Deck Just Polished - Bottom 2 Years Old

Upgrades In 2009 New Main and Jenny, New Standing Rigging, New Deck Hardware, New Mast Wiring in 2009, New Interior Cushions

Heat/AC, & Yanmar Diesel Inboard

Always In Fresh Water

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Teak Interior. Sleeps 5. 6’3” Headroom in Main Salon. Bi-Fold Door for V-Berth Privacy. Teak & Holly Sole in Main Salon & Forward Cabin. Fold Down Dinette Table. Navigation Station w/Chart Table, Equipment Stowage & Shelves. Drawers Throughout for Storage. Private Head Compartment w/Marine Toilet & Holding Tank, Vanity, Sink & Counter. Hot & Cold Pressure Water w/6 Gallon Hot Water Tank. Heat/AC System Galley w/Stainless Steel Sink & Pressure Water. 3 Burner Gimballed Propane Stove w/Oven. Ice Box w/Shelf. Dish Locker, Drawers & Stowage Below.

Equipment: HULL/RIGGING:

Bottom Painted in 2000. New Standing Rigging, New Deck Hardware, New Toe Rails & New Running Rigging in 2009. 522 Sq.Ft. Sail Area. New Main and 155 Jenny in 12/2009, Used Genoa, Used Working Jib, Used Main & Lightly Used Cruising Spinnaker. Mast Stepped At Keel & Keel of Cast Lead. T-Shaped Cockpit, 2 Cockpit Storage Lockers, 2 Coaming Lockers, Access Hatch to LPG Locker & Engine Access Hatch in Cockpit Sole. Manual Bilge Pump. SS Double Bow & Stern Pulpits & Double Lifelines. Anchor Well In Foredeck. 3 Ventilating Hatches. 4 Opening Ports. Wheel Steering w/36” Destroyer Wheel w/Pedestal, Guard & Teak Cockpit Table. Inboard Genoa Tracks.

ELECTRICAL:

12V D.C. & 110V A.C. Protected Systems. Shore Power w/Cord. Interior Outlets. Heat/AC Master Panel w/Circuit Breakers. Interior Cabin Lighting. Navigation Lights. 2 High Capacity 12V Batteries Mast Wiring New in 2009. Knot & Depth Meter New in 2008. 2010 New Stereo/CD/DVD

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Keel/cb version: BU: 4.0’ BD: 8.92’. Shallow draft fixed keel: 4.0’

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Boats for Sale & Yachts

Irwin citation 31 1984 boats for sale & yachts, irwin citation 31 boats review and specs.

Table of Contents

“Diversion” is one super clean boat and she is in great condition.  She is an Irwin Citation 31, Ted Irwin designed and introduced the Citation 31, a high-performance family cruiser. Eighteen years of experience went into the design, the result is one of the best values available in her class. Recognized for her high-tech underbody, she quickly gained respect on the race course. However, the enduring success of the Citation 31 is her ability to cruise in comfort.  A VERY BEAUTIFUL & VERSATILE YACHT…AND AT THIS PRICE, A VERY BEAUTIFUL DEAL!

Contact Information

Irwin Citation Boats for Sale Craigslist & Irwin Citation Specs & Pictures

Related posts:.

• Irwin Citation 31 1985
• Irwin Citation 41 1985
• Irwin Citation 35 1988
• Irwin Citation 1984

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• Sailboat Reviews

Irwin Citation 38

The main reason to choose the citation 38 is sailing performance: she has the feel of a well-designed boat..

The “Irwin” in Irwin Yachts is Ted Irwin, a boat designer and builder who has been around nearly as long as production fiberglass boats have.

Over the years, Ted Irwin has designed, and Irwin Yachts has built, a variety of sailing boats—from flatout cruising condos to full-bore racing machines. Starting with the combination racer/cruisers that were then fashionable, Irwin began producing in the 1970s not only cruiser/racers like the Irwin 28, 30, and 37 one-ton, but also roomy center cockpit cruisers like the 37, 38 and 43.

The company has been consistent in the niche they occupy in the sailboat market. Their line has been known as middle of the spectrum, better in quality than the cheapest boats on the market, yet with low enough prices to make the economy shopper think twice before jumping for the cheaper alternatives.

In style, the Citations continue the moderate tradition of Irwin designs. The Citation models are all similar, fairly high-sided with very short overhangs and a low cabin top. The distinctive profile is usually accentuated by a dark sheer stripe that makes a sharp downturn to follow the reverse transom.

In all modern boats with flat bottoms, it’s hard getting good headroom without making the boat look ugly. The choice is to keep the sheer line low and attractive and use a high cabin house, or use high sheer and a low cabin top. The Citations use the second method and depend on the sheer stripe to keep the high freeboard from looking ugly. The sculpted cabin top keeps the entire profile low, with a high coaming flowing from the back edge of the cabin to the back of the cockpit.

A distinctive characteristic of the Citations is a complex swim ladder at the aft end of the cockpit. The ladder is molded into a section of the transom which opens up and swings down for boarding. With the rear end of the cockpit open, it is an effective ladder, but owners report that it is somewhat awkward and difficult to prepare for use. The owner of the boat we sailed described the deployment of the ladder as a “nuisance.”

As the largest of the Citations, the 38 is probably the best looking, handling the high-sidedness better than her smaller sisters. The boat has three windows set in the sheer stripe on each side, so they are not very noticeable. Like the other Citations it is distinctly modern-looking—not pretty, but not ugly either.

The company touts the 38 and the two smaller Citations as developments of Irwin’s custom racer, Razzle Dazzle , which performed very well on the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit. But they seem to us at best distant cousins of that flashy racer.

Though Irwin has never gone for super-lightweight boats, the production Citations are so much heavier that the comparison seems to be primarily a marketing ploy.

Hull And Deck

In general, Irwin uses conventional modern techniques in building the fiberglass hull and deck. The hull is a one-piece hand-laminated molding, using 24-ounce roving and biaxial fiberglass. Forward of the mast, the hull molding has a foam core—a design feature to provide stiffness and save weight. In today’s market, such cored construction is economically feasible if you want a stiff hull and can charge a price above the bottom of the market.

The hull is further stiffened and strengthened by the interior fiberglass grid which incorporates fiberglass stringers to support the keel, mast, and major components of the cabin interior.

The deck is also a one-piece molding, with foam core in the cabin top and walkways, plywood core underneath the winches and hardware. Hull and deck are bolted together through an aluminum toerail.

Standard keel on the 38 is a lead wing design drawing 4′ 11″. A conventional lead fin is available as an option, and the boat we sailed had the conventional fin. Both keels are external, bolted through the hull and the interior grid.

The shoal draft of the wing, saving 2′ compared to the fin, is an obvious advantage. We generally remain skeptical of the value of the wing keel, having seen some very poorly performing ones which were about as effective going to windward as a flopperstopper.

But Irwin apparently has enough faith in their design to make it standard. If we were never going to race the boat, we’d consider trying a wing, but otherwise we’d probably opt for the fin and pay the draft penalty.

The rudder is a conventional modern high-aspect spade driven by a 36″ wheel on a pedestal.

Exterior finish of the boat is generally good. The gelcoat does not have a high-gloss finish, but rather more of a matte appearance. This should be easier to maintain, making nicks and scratches less noticeable. The hull molding is fair, with no evident hard spots or ridges, and the deck molding is well done. The non-skid pattern is adequate, but minimal; it should be easy on bare feet.

There is hardly any exterior wood to care for—four teak grab rails and two plywood companionway hatch boards. The hatch boards on our test boat were poorly finished. A meticulous owner will want to finish them properly, or perhaps replace them with some higher-quality plywood, teak or plastic.

The rig is made in-house by Irwin and would generally be considered overbuilt by modern standards. The mast has two sets of spreaders and is stepped on the keel. The backstay is split to accommodate the fold-out boarding ladder in the transom, and the boat we sailed had single lower shrouds with a babystay forward. Halyards and other running rigging are internal.

Although the top quarter of the mast is tapered, the extrusion is so heavy that we had trouble bending it with the backstay adjuster. The adjustable babystay was also arranged in such a way that there was minimal pull forward, but we re-rigged it and were finally able to get enough mast bend to flatten the mainsail in heavy winds. It is not clear to us why Irwin uses an adjustable babystay rather than forward lower shrouds, especially when the mast is so stiff. Cruisers would more likely prefer the more conventional rig with double lowers, which would be somewhat stronger.

The boom and fittings are good quality, with jiffy-reefing lines and topping lift led internally from the outboard end to exit at the mast.

Halyards and all other running rigging are Dacron. Standing rigging is conventional stainless steel wire with swaged fittings, plenty heavy, but lighter than you might expect with the super-heavy mast. Shroud chainplates are set well inboard, with stainless tierods belowdecks leading to anchor points on the hull grid.

Handling Under Sail

We raced four triangle races on the Citation 38 to judge her sailing ability. In general, she proved to have good sailing characteristics, well behaved with no obvious flaws or other problems.

Irwin advertises her PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) rating as 130 with the wing keel, 120 with the fin keel—roughly about the same speed as a C&C 35 or many of the 1970s one-ton racer/cruisers like the Irwin 37 and Morgan 36. However, the local handicap of the boat we sailed is 108, a rating she could sail to only in light air off the wind.

In light winds the boat sails exceptionally well. In heavy winds, she certainly sails well enough to satisfy any serious sailor other than the dedicated racer, but she will not sail up to her rating relative to other modern lighter boats. She is generally fast enough to make good, satisfying passages for the cruising sailor. But we would generally not recommend her to the serious racer since the boat sails to her rating only in one condition, and it will be a struggle to win with the boat in heavy winds. For the very occasional racer who cruises most of the time, she should be satisfactory.

Specifically, the boat is exceptionally close-winded in light air, and ran very well in all winds.

Reaching, she is sometimes a handful in a breeze, but overall she is a good sailer, typical of the best modern production boat designs.

We were surprised at the apparent thoughtlessness in many details of the rigging. While the hardware and fittings such as blocks, winches and shackles were all top quality, the way things were set up made for all sorts of problems.

For instance, the backstay adjuster was arranged with what looked like a clever idea. The split backstay was equipped with a typical double-ended block and tackle arrangement. To cleat the line, a tunnel was cut through the coaming so the line could be led to a cam cleat inside the cockpit. Unfortunately, given the anchor points for the tackle, the line bound on itself and on the block, creating so much friction that the tackle was almost impossible to use—we resorted to one person hanging on the line while a second took the slack through the cam cleat.

Similarly, the mainsheet traveler is well forward—a good place to keep it out of the way of people, but a poor place for getting good leverage on the boom. Unfortunately, the traveler hardware was set up so that it was impossible for a single person to move the traveler car in heavy air. Two people were required: one to pull up the boom by hand and the other to pull in the traveler control lines. Before the third race we replaced the whole traveler with a multi-part Harken system that made it possible, if not easy, to control the traveler.

There are a number of other details in the rigging—such as the fact that none of the exits from the mast or boom are labeled in any way—that indicate corners cut in rigging the boat. Fortunately, all the problems are fairly easily corrected by an owner, but it is surprising to see a boat with good sailing potential handicapped by this rather sloppy attention to detail.

Handling Under Power

The boat is equipped with a 27 hp 3-cylinder Yanmar, which is adequate for the boat’s size and weight, although it is certainly not an excess of power. The boat backs well, turns sharply, and is easily driven to hull speed by the engine. The cruiser addicted to powering at a knot over hull speed may want to talk to Irwin about a larger engine, though one is not currently offered as an option. Irwin installs the same engine in the Citation 35, which seems like a better match. The tank on the 38 holds 30 gallons of diesel fuel—ample for good cruising range.

The engine is located in the center of the boat above the keel, underneath part of the settee and the galley cabinet. With an aft-cabin boat, this seems a sensible arrangement to us, giving good access to the engine while keeping the weight centered in the boat.

Like many builders, Irwin continues the practice of shipping the boat with a solid two-bladed prop, a crude way of keeping the price down. Anyone who is likely to order this type of well-performing sailboat will want to get a folding prop immediately. Most similar practices—such as offering the boat without lifelines as standard—have disappeared from the marketplace, but this peculiarity continues with almost all manufacturers.

The low cabin house of the 38 makes the decks very usable, both for working the boat under sail and for lounging around. Furthest forward is an anchor roller beside the forestay, just ahead of an ordinary anchor locker to fit a Danforth-type anchor. The foredeck is wide and roomy enough to handle foresails. A big forward hatch in the low cabin top is usable for passing sails up and down.

The walkways are wide, with inboard shrouds, and the cockpit coaming is an easy step. Halyards and other control lines are led aft to the back of the cabin house where two Barient 17s are located. Small Dorade-type air inlets are molded into the cabin top just ahead of the traveler. The companionway hatch is off-center to port.

The cockpit is T-shaped, with comfortable benches and backrests. Barient 24 primaries are just adequate for the boat, but most owners will probably go for self-tailers all around.

There is a shallow cockpit locker on the port side, but the starboard locker is cavernous. We have yet to see a really good way of organizing these huge cockpit lockers, or of handling the oversize locker lid made up of the bench seat and part of the backrest.

The helmsman’s seat is peculiar in that it is removable as part of the process of folding out the transom ladder. Engine controls are on the steering pedestal.

Double lifelines, pulpit, and stern rail are standard.

With a 12′ 6″ beam and a 30′ 8″ waterline, the interior of the Citation 38 is enormous, but it is broken up enough not to seem like a cavern. Forward is an ordinary V-berth that should be good for sleeping or sail storage. There’s a small bureau and hanging locker opposite, just aft of the berth.

In the main cabin, a U-shaped dinette is opposite a settee which can be used for a berth. The galley is roomy, open, and quite workable.

On the starboard side opposite the galley is a good navigator’s station with a swing-out chair and electrical panel above it. Just aft of the nav table is the head, with entrances from both the galley and the aft cabin.

The aft cabin is quite roomy, made possible mostly by the offset companionway hatch and forward engine location. The berth is huge and comfortable, and this cabin will undoubtedly be one of the selling points of the boat.

In general, interior equipment is of good quality, with propane stove, 90-gallon water tank, hot water heater, a dozen opening ports, and good lighting. Like most modern boats, the interior seems set up for weekending, with very little real storage space. A long-distance cruise will require converting some of the space for basic storage.

The only other shortcoming of the interior is that it looks like a standard, run-of-the-mill production boat, with lots of veneer and plastic, finished a little crudely in spots. But, for a relatively low-priced boat, it’s better to compromise here than in the hull construction or mechanical systems.

Conclusions

Overall, the Citation 38 is a good boat that seems a little ordinary, generally representative of mid-line production boats. Though such a statement may sound like faint praise, it really isn’t.

The boat is not as well finished as competitive boats like the Pearson 37, but it is generally better done than lower-priced boats such as the Hunter, and the price is appropriately in between.

Why would anyone choose this Irwin rather than one of her competitors? There are, of course, the personal considerations of appearance and aesthetics. Many people will consider the Citation 38 better looking than some of her boxier competitors.

To us, the main reason for choosing this boat would be the sailing performance. She has the feel of a well-designed boat, unlike so many other contemporary models which get their performance merely by combining big sail areas, long waterlines, and light weight. This boat sails very well.

The other consideration, of course, will be price. You can buy cheaper boats and you can easily buy more expensive boats. To us, Irwin has kept the price down in the most sensible way—not by compromising basic construction or eliminating layers of fiberglass, but by going to conventional components and easy construction in the interior.

For the avid racer, the Citation 38 is too much of a cruiser—something like the J/35 would be a better racing boat. And for the pure cruiser more interested in room than in sailing performance, a boat like the center cockpit Irwin 38 might be more suitable.

For a serious cruising sailor who likes a boat that sails well but still wants the size necessary for cruising in comfort, the Citation 38 would be a reasonable choice.

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I like the article. An Irwin 38 in Redondo Beach is for sale and I wanted to research the boat a bit. Thanks

Is this boat a worthnes buying? How high is the head room in the cabin

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Irwin citation 32

• Thread starter Flyflicker
• Start date Aug 25, 2016
• Brand-Specific Forums

Hey Guys, New to this site. I'm having a hard time finding any feedback on the citation 32. any info would be great. It's a 1987. sailboat data says it has 6ft draft but owner says it's 4.3 are there two draft sizes. Sailing qualities and thanksinfo would be great.  

I delivered a 38 a few months ago, but can't help you with the 32. My principal (and almost only) reservation about the boat was that it had an offset companionway.  

The 32 is not off set. not much talk about these.. Found favorable posts about handling . Found one post about a 34 with 4.3 keel so I guess this info is correct for the 32. Thanks for the reply.  

Have you tried sailboatdata.com for info on measurements, etc.?  

Yes. Said it was a 6 ft draft.No other info. was told it was 4.3  

Sorry, missed that in the original post. Sailboatdata.com will often make it clear if a boat came in two different drafts, but I can't guarantee that it is complete. Don't know if there are any Irwin associations, but you might want to google search for that, and check Facebook for an Irwin group. For just the question of draft, find an experienced, been-around-a-long-time broker and ask him if he knows whether the boat came in two drafts that year. Or, ask the owner if you can be present the next time the hull is cleaned. Drop a sounding line over the side and ask the diver to read off the draft.  

thanks for the response. Ill do that  

Well SF, As far as the Keel is concerned, there is a note at the bottom of the specs page on sailboat data that shows a shoal draft option. My bad. thanks for your help. Just wish I could find some owners comments.  

Glad you found at least part of what you wanted. Now for the (possibly) bad news. Regardless of what the website says the shoal draft is, you need to check it yourself. My shoal draft H31 is supposed to draw 4 feet. While it was on the hard last year, I measured it at about 4' 9". Haven't confirmed that in the water due to visibility issues, but she sits on her lines, so I suspect it is close. Make sure you verify what you draw.  

Flyflicker, I have been spending some time researching the Irwin Citation 31 lately as a 1985 31 recently caught my attention and I stumbled on the 32 as well in the process. It appears the 32 started production in 1986 and went out of production soon afterwards when Irwin went kaput (1987?). Info and sales info can be found here: http://www.irwinyachts.com/ Anyway, the 31 came with a fin of 6', shoal draft of 4', and a shoaldraft/centerboard combo model of 4' board up/8.2' board down. I am not 100% sure (just about 90%) that the differences between the 32 and the 31 are: - the 32 has a new fold down door with a walk-through transom where the 31 did not - the 32 dropped the centerboard keel and kept the shaoldraft and the fin - the 32 adopted the new 2GM20 (18HP) Yanmar (the 31 has the older 2GM (13HP) Other than that as far as I can tell the two boats are identical, same interior layout and appointments, same rig and sail plan, and the sailing performance is similar. I really like the 31 but I am hesitant on the 2GM being enough to move the boat up rivers against the current. The 2GM seems a bit weak for this size boat as a cruiser...maybe a day sailor. The 2GM20 in the 32 is an improvement but the Catalina 30 from this same timeframe has a 27HP 3-cylinder. I hope all this helps!  

thanks a bunch that does help. I guess the fact that it was only made for a couple years is why I can't find very many boat owners. Again for your response  

Pretty sure Good Old Boat had a review of the Irwin 32. A friend had one for sale so I was looking for info on and found the review. Did a search and found they did an Irwin Citation 31 in Jan/Feb 2007 issue. Might that be close enough? You can order back issues.  

Okay thanks Ward. Yeah they're tough I was trying to pull it up but they want me to pay $8 to download the whole magazine lol I appreciate the heads-up  

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Irwin 38 citation

The irwin 38 citation is a 38.0ft masthead sloop designed by ted irwin and built in fiberglass by irwin yachts since 1986..

The Irwin 38 citation is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser.

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