1989 Island Packet 38
Price
$108,000
Length
38 ft
Builder
Island Packet
Bring up the Island Packet 38 as a topic of discussion and you’re likely to hear
opinions that range from amazing offshore cruising yacht to sit back and get
comfortable, it’s going to be a
long ride.
When the 38 rolled off the assembly line in 1986, it offered few surprises from
a boat builder known for staying close to the same design despite variations in
hull length.
On the upside, buyers expecting a safe, heavy, solidly built, full-keel yacht
got exactly that. The boat’s relatively high price tag of $128,000 put off some
potential buyers. Sailors in the market for a pre-owned boat have since found
the 38 holds its value remarkably well, and in some cases the current used price
is about the same as it was in the showroom.
First impressions
Sound construction, utilitarian layout and voluminous storage capacity are the
prime virtues of the Island Packet 38. Belowdecks the roominess and overall
comforts are likely to catch the eye of liveaboards, couples cruising with
guests and sailors planning an extended journey. Teak trim above deck and
generous wood panels below add a traditional nautical luster.
Construction
The first 38 was built in 1986, and the 188 were constructed by 1993. Bob
Johnson, founder and chief executive officer of Island Packet Yachts designed
the 38-footer with a protruding bowsprit that pushed its overall length to
nearly 42 feet.
An MIT graduate with a master’s degree in naval architecture, Johnson worked in
California designing missile systems for McDonnell Douglas and later, using
aerospace materials, made surfboards for a company he started under the Hollow
Wave brand. As his career progressed, he joined Irwin Yachts as a designer,
eventually taking those skills to Endeavor Yachts before striking out to build
boats on his own.
The 38, with its distinctive beige hull and deck, boasted 100% hand-laid
fiberglass construction. The hull was molded in one piece with strong triaxial
glass that was unified with a molded, interior grid structure. The laminated
deck was cored with a synthetic material nearly impervious to rot. All deck
hardware was through-bolted with aluminum backing plates. The deck was attached
to the hull flange with bolts, lock nuts and adhesives. Ballast was integrated
into the full keel.
On deck
The 38 has a roomy cockpit with shower, folding swim ladder and cavernous
lockers. The engine control panel has a protective cover. Nonskid decking,
double lifelines and full-length cabin top rails suggest safety, while teak
coamings and cap rail add touches of elegance.
Deck hardware and equipment includes cutter-style standing rigging with twin
backstays, self-tailing Lewmar winches, a mainsheet traveler, a boom vang with
preventer package, spring line cleats and a single-line reefing system.
Down below
Spaciousness is a key word aboard the 38. Headroom tops out at 6 feet 4 inches.
Large staterooms are located fore and aft, flanking the saloon. There are two
heads, but owners have maximized the space by keeping the forward head and
transforming the aft head into a dedicated navigation station instead of a
cramped navigation nook.
Bill and Amy Betts of Florida, who spent 12 years circumnavigating aboard their
38, Estrellita, gutted the forward head and turned it into a sail locker, but
say the boat has plenty of storage.
“This boat swallows tools and spare parts, along with three month’s worth of
groceries,” he said. “We have all kinds of storage, especially behind the
settees. We call it our hardware store.”
Belowdecks there are oversized hanging lockers, a bureau with chest of drawers,
large settees, retractable table and a pull-out double berth. The U-shaped
galley has an LPG range with oven, double deep sinks, 14-cubic-foot icebox, teak
dish rack, cutlery drawers, hot and cold-water pressure in the galley and both
heads, and lots of natural light via overhead hatches and opening ports. Four
dorade vents assist ventilation. The boat can carry 157 gallons of water.
Engine
The yacht is equipped with a reliable 44-horsepower, freshwater-cooled Yanmar
diesel engine. Access to the engine compartment is excellent, via matching side
panels and from behind the companionway ladder. The fuel tank holds 57 gallons,
and a supplemental, flexible fuel tank can be added.
Underway
“It’s comfortable, and in heavy air it doesn’t get knocked around in a following
sea like boats with fin keels.”
It should be noted the owners of an upgraded 38 have sailed it without incident
along the East Coast, to the Bahamas and on to Central America. She has been
everywhere at some point in time and enjoyed the world over.
Bill Betts offered a different view, noting Island Packet yachts often
participate in the Newport-to-Bermuda Race and other prestigious offshore
competitions.
“We cruised around the world for 12 years and just got back in the fall. We had
a 110% genoa and a large drifter. The latter makes all the difference in light
air,” Betts said, adding the boat is seakindly and has never been swamped by a
following sea. “The rear end lifts up for a dry and comfortably ride, not a
sloshy one.”
Blaine Parks wrote about his family adventures aboard their Island Packet in an
online journal.
“We agree that our boat doesn’t move as well in light air, but we’re going
around the world, not just around the racing buoys,” he wrote. “The ability to
take the heavier air is more important to us than the lighter air sailing.”
Parks added that a quality cruising chute kept their boat moving in most
conditions.
Conclusion
Built for comfort, the spacious and stable 38 is an ideal yacht for a family
planning to coastal cruise, sail offshore to the Bahamas, hang out indefinitely
in the Caribbean, and maybe even go around the world.
DESIGN QUALITY: The 38 is a full keel, cutter-rig sloop designed by naval
architect Bob Johnson. Ballast is integrated into the keel and its design does
not offer the performance of a fin-keel boat, but most IP-38 owners are not
racers.
CONSTRUCTION QUALITY: The 38 is solidly constructed of hand-laid fiberglass and
the deck is securely fastened to the hull. Teak handrails and trim enhance the
deck while exotic wood panels warm the interior. High-quality Island Packet
workmanship is exhibited throughout.
USER-FRIENDLINESS: The full-keel design lessens the need to worry about snagging
fishing nets while providing plenty of living and storage space below deck. The
cutter rig allows for easier sail handling. The 38 is, however, a weighty vessel
and that typically translates to needing more sail area to get her going.
SAFETY: The 38 was designed with generous freeboard that keeps its passengers
high above the water where it’s easier to stay dry. The boat has a Category A
offshore rating. From the helm, views across the cabin top and deck surface are
unobstructed.
TYPICAL CONDITION: Most Island Packet owners take pride in, and care of, their
boats, so finding a used 38 in good-to-excellent condition is more the norm than
the exception.
REFITTING: The 38s are often upgraded with refrigeration, electric winches,
electric windlass, full-batten mainsail, larger genoa to replace the standard
110% genoa, and three-blade propeller instead of the stock two-blade version.
AVAILABILITY: Brokers report the boats tend to get snapped up quickly.
INVESTMENT AND RESALE: The 38 holds its value and can even sell for more than
its original price when new. A cultlike following ensures the resale value
remains high.
Cay Marine Group is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This
boat is centrally listed by S&J Yachts. It is offered as a convenience by this
broker/dealer to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation
of a particular vessel
Vessel Year:
1989
Engine Type:
Diesel
Engine Mfg:
Yanmar
Engine Model:
4JHBE
Horsepower:
44
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