Irwin 25

Description

The Irwin 25 (1969–1974) is one of Ted Irwin’s earliest production designs and an iconic “big little boat” of the early 1970s, with more than 300 built. At 25 ft LOA (22 ft 2 in LWL), 8 ft beam, and only 4 ft 2 in draft with the swing keel up (5 ft 5 in down), she was conceived as an inexpensive, trailerable family cruiser that still offered standing headroom and genuine weekender comfort. Displacement is a light 3,800 lb. with 1,400 lb. of lead in the keel stub (plus the retractable steel centerboard), and the masthead sloop rig carries a generous 310–320 sq ft—enough to make her surprisingly quick for her day (PHRF around 240–255). Below, she has a full-height enclosed head, a small but usable galley, a dinette that drops to make a double, and a narrow quarter berth—sleeping four in reasonable comfort or six if everyone is friendly. Simple, ruggedly built, and fitted with an inboard atomic 4 or outboard in a well, the Irwin 25 became a favorite on the Great Lakes, Chesapeake, and Florida; many are still actively sailed and raced today, often with updated rigs and interiors, and the design is widely regarded as one of the best-value 25-footers ever produced in the United States.