[TSOJOURNER]

Does anyone have any experience with a 1972 Irwin 32?... I''m considering buying one of these boats to sail the Caribbean with for a year or so. Any thoughts on seaworthiness, quality of construction, weak areas that may need beefing-up for offshore cruising?... Thanks!

 

[Jeff_H]

Think of early 1970''s Irwins as the Hunters of their day. They were built to be inexpensive and available to the masses of people getting into the sport in those days. They were a little heavier than a modern boat, but were really not well engineered or constructed so they were no stronger. The design of the 32 itself was not bad (The hull eventually became the Endeavor 32) but the yawl rig lacks the kind of mast support found on the sloop. Also 32 feet is awfully small for a yawl rig. These boats were only intended as coastal cruisers and the idea of taking a 30 year old one offshore for extended cruising does not really make sense in my book.

Jeff