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New Boat Review: Island Packet 370
By
Capt. Thom Burns
Following the Annapolis Boat Show this
fall I had the unique opportunity to not
only sail on the Island Packet 370, but
to sail aboard all the way from
Annapolis, Maryland to Rock Hall,
Maryland on the Eastern Shore directly
across the bay from Baltimore. Rock Hall
is the beautiful home of Gratitude
Yachting Center. Ed Kurowski owns
Gratitude and graciously arranged for
the 20 mile sail with Captain Michelle
Martinage in about 15 to 20 knots of
wind!
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The Island Packet story is unique. In 26
short years, Island Packet has come on
the scene and become one of the most
respected names in cruising sailboats.
Island Packet began with the start of
one dream, and the end of another. The
Bombay Trading Company had closed its
doors, and naval architect Bob Johnson
was looking to start his own company.
Bob had worked on the design and
production teams of both Endeavour and
Irwin; he felt there was a place for a
true cruising boat, not just another
racer/cruiser compromise that so many
builders were producing.
The availability of the barely used
molds from the 26 foot Bombay Express
gave Bob a way to economically get
started. With borrowed cash, Bob set off
on his own with some minor
modifications, including a masthead rig
with a staysail, a bit higher freeboard,
and a new keel shape that ultimately
would evolve into what today is known as
the Full Foil Keel.
The Full Foil Keel was Bob's answer to a
relatively new problem at the time. How
to preserve the fine seakeeping and
safety attributes of a traditional wine
glass-shaped full keel while enhancing
its performance and maneuverability like
the newer fin keel shapes. Not wanting
to give up on the benefits of a shoal
draft, Bob took the modern 'U'-shaped
performance underbody of the fin keel
boats of the day and took its fin keel
shape and essentially 'shortened and
stretched it lengthwise,' giving it a
longer cord length with less draft. The
lateral surface area to maintain
windward ability was still there, as was
the tracking ability and the gentle ride
of the more traditional full keel. Even
better, with the balanced spade hung
rudder protected by the keel, the
maneuverability was improved over the
traditional shapes, and the advantages
of the protected propeller were gained.
Traditional Watercraft, Inc., Bob's
fledgling company, introduced the first
yacht simply as the “Island Packet,” an
unassuming, cat-like, 26 foot pocket
cruiser with a swing keel, a barn door
rudder and a jaunty attitude. The year
was 1979, not the best of economic
periods to launch a new company, but a
market for the “Island Packet” did
exist, and Bob sold the yachts from the
kitchen telephone, farming out the
majority of construction to a local boat
building contractor. The company built
the 'Island Packet' to various stages of
completion, from a simple hull and deck
for those wishing a kit boat, to the
completed yacht, ready for an afternoon
sail. The boat sailed as well as
expected and sold better than expected.
By renting some production space and
hiring a few boat builders, the company
known as Island Packet Yachts today
began building their own yachts. The
Island Packet 26 Mark II incorporated
standing headroom, eliminated the swing
keel, and brought the barn door style
rudder under the boat with an Edson rack
and pinion steering system. While sales
were not exactly soaring in the early
eighties for any boat builder, over 70
of the two versions of the 26 were
built.
On a shoestring, and with the future of
the company hanging in the balance,
Island Packet “bet the farm” and
developed a 31 footer with a clever aft
cabin, loads of storage space, and what
was becoming a readily identifiable
cutter rig and anchor platform/bow
sprit. The first Island Packet 31 made
its debut at the Annapolis Boat Show in
1983, and was quickly an unqualified
success.
The next project was the 27; a further
evolution of the 26, but this time Bob
designed and built it his way. The 27
found an instant following. An
investment in property and a larger
assembly building followed. As the first
building erected on Wild Acres Road, Bob
chose 1979, the year he founded the
company for the street address.
The Island Packet 38 was added to the
line-up in 1986 along with a second
building. This building housed assembly
of the 38 along with an expanded wood
mill, producing virtually all of the
pieces needed for interior and exterior
cabinetry and trim.
The IP35 followed two years later in
1988. Sales were so brisk that
additional property and another
production building were added. The new
Island Packet 35 was known as the first
of the “next generation of Island
Packets,” mainly due to the refined keel
profile and the addition of several
standard features that still help define
the Island Packet line today: pre-tinned
wiring, bronze flanged thru-bolted
seacocks, and stainless steel ports, to
name a few. The 'next generation' series
also introduced the 29, 32, 37, 40, and
44 foot models.
| Specifications: LOA 37'10" LWL 31'0" Beam 13'1" Draft 4'3" Cabins / Berths 3/7 CE Stability Index (STIX) 43 Displacement (lbs) 21,000 Ballast (lbs) 8,400 Sail Area-Cutter Rig (sq ft) 814 Auxiliary Power (Diesel) 54 HP Headroom 6'5" Mast Above DWL 54’3” Water Capacity (gal) 160 Fuel Capacity (gal) 75 Holding Capacity (gal) 55 Disp / Length Ratio 315 Sail Area / Disp Ratio 14.4 Ballast / Disp Ratio 40% Storage Volume (Cu Ft) 300 |
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Yet another evolution occurred with the
introduction of the Island Packet 350 in
1996. The transom swim platform made its
debut on this model, and every
subsequent model since has had a version
of it. The 380 followed in 1997 and
evolved the Island Packet concept a bit
further with the elimination of the
'dolphin-striker' that had historically
tied the anchor platform and stem head
fitting with the bow of the yacht at the
waterline. The 380's bow had a finer
entry and more of an angled bow,
allowing the stem head fitting to attach
directly to the bow. This feature,
together with a refined keel shape with
a finer trailing edge, a cleaner profile
and cross section of the rudder, and
other 'tweaks' to the underbody shape,
improved both performance and seakeeping
motion. Both the 420 and the new 485
carry these design elements forward.
The 370
According to designer, Bob Johnson, the
biggest challenge in developing any new
Island Packet is to create a yacht that
will not only be the preferred choice
compared to competitor's offerings, but
even more importantly, the preferred
choice compared to used Island Packet
alternatives. This requires significant
evolution with each of our new models.
The 370 has a new look with a
proportionately wider stern compared to
prior Island Packet models. This allows
for more sail carrying power, improved
boat speed, more space for
accommodations, equipment and stowage,
as well as room for a larger stern
platform.
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| A Galley with counter space. |
The underbody of the 370 has integral
fairings for the optional bow thruster,
reducing drag underway and improving
thruster response when docking.
According to Ed, Gratitude Yachting
Center, almost all new Island Packets
are being sold with bow thrusters.
The Rig
The 370 has a taller, higher aspect
configuration compared to earlier
models. This takes advantage of the
wider stern and its added sail carrying
ability. Buyers may choose between a
standard sloop configuration or, the
double headsail Hoyt Boom® equipped
cutter sailplan. The sloop can be
upgraded to the cutter rig without too
much grief because deck bearings and
structural features for the cutter rig
are built into all boats.
On Deck
On deck trademark IP features include
integral bow platform with twin anchor
rollers, recessed foredeck, and full
length cabin top handrails, cockpit
stern rail seats, are all standard on
the 370. New features include side deck
drains scuppered to a boot stripe outlet
which keep the topsides streak-free,
according to IP. Other additions include
a foredeck hatch for improved access to
the chain locker, wide cockpit coaming
with two integrally molded stowage bins
for active and spare LPG bottles each
with a gasket lid, two covered loose
gear bins, four open line stowage bins,
a loose gear bin under a seat hatch, and
two spacious sail lockers. Steps are
molded into the transom, a telescoping
swim ladder tucks away under a flush
hatch.
Accommodations
I really like walking below in an Island
Packet. Expect to be impressed. Just to
your right is the open "U" configured
galley. It has a generous amount of
built-in stowage. The details from the
counters, stove, and accessible holders
are everywhere. The icebox features a
new foaming construction process that
should provide exceptional energy
efficiency for refrigeration systems. A
drawer-type AC/DC refrigerator is
available as a factory option, replacing
the larger of two dry storage drawers
under the icebox. This is a roomy,
comfortable galley.
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| Galley & Aft Cabin / Office |
The aft stateroom is of particular
interest because it has been designed as
a potential multiple use center as a
guest cabin, nav center and office. The
large double berth is readily accessible
from either side. A hinged lid under the
berth covers a large blanket bin. The
outboard locker is configured with
removable shelves and a closet rod at
the top so it can be used as either a
bureau or hanging locker. At the forward
end of the stateroom is a multi-use desk
area for use as a vanity, office area or
full nav station. Hinged mirror doors
fold away to reveal a large nav panel
area for owner installed instruments. A
favorite is the swivel mounted seat
which rotates under or out from the desk
area at the touch of a switch. Finally,
the bulkhead dividing this stateroom
from the saloon has a removable hinged
panel, opening and joining this aft area
with the saloon when desired.
The main salon has full-length settees
port and starboard with the port side
convertible to a double. There is lots
of stowage available underneath and
outboard of both settees. The salon
table folds out of the way against a
bulkhead rack, opening the salon for
entertaining or socializing. New on the
370 are port and starboard molded sole
details for a drop-in tubular leg and
table top. The "cocktail table" feature
is an option which has proven very
popular on the IP 485. The deep hanging
locker at the forward end of the
starboard settee has two closet rods;
the outboard rod provides extra height
for long garments. Finally, a chart
drawer is fitted under the port settee.
The head compartment offers extra space
by enclosing the mast within the area. A
dedicated shower area with molded seat
and sole detail features a folding
acrylic door that, when stowed against
the bulkhead, maximizes the useful space
of the head compartment.
The forward stateroom has a centerline
island berth with storage under and more
width on top. Wide shelves, three
lockers, a blanket bin under a hinged
lid with a deep drawer under add up to
lots of stowage. Room is available for
an optional bow thruster installation
under the forward berth area. The
forepeak bulkhead is fully watertight
from the accommodations with a bilge
drain and shut-off valve accessible
under the forward end of the berth.
Performance
The boat handles exceptionally well
under power; particularly with the
optional bow thrusters. Michelle
Martinage, our Captain for the trip
backed this big heavy boat into the slip
without a hitch in an 18 knot crosswind.
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| The main saloon is an entertainment center you’ll be proud of. The amenities are too numerous and often owner driven. |
Under sail the boat performed very well.
We were mostly on a beam reach, close
reach and close-hauled for a shorter
distance. The boat gave us a very smooth
ride in 15 - 20 knots of breeze. The
potential buyer aboard initially did not
want to reef. This put excessive heel on
the boat at about 25 plus degrees. This
boat is designed to sail flatter than 25
degrees of heel. The result was
significant side slippage going upwind.
The moment we reefed and set the boat
back on its feet at ten to fifteen
degrees of heel, the slippage went away
although the speed did not seem to
decrease at all. It should be noted that
the mainsail reefed into the mast
without a problem in the higher winds.
The boat tracked well on all three
points of sail except for the exception
above. The helm was finger tip all the
time. This boat is a totally easy
sailing experience.
Conclusion
Ed Kurowski, at Gratitude Yachting
Center, the oldest continuous dealer for
Island Packets since 1982, said that
Island Packet is there bread and butter
boat. "We need to be looking for ways to
make sailing easier, less stressful and
more enjoyable especially for
short-handed sailors." It is pretty
clear to me that the manufacturer, the
leading dealer and the customers are on
the same page with their Island Packet
boats. They have to be building a great
product because it is not inexpensive at
over $300,000 with everything on it.
Yet, Island Packet enjoys the highest
degree of customer satisfaction as
measured nationally by the National
Marine Manufacturers Association. Part
of this has to come from a manufacturer
warranty of three years stem to stern
and ten years on the hull and deck.
Don't take my word for the quality of
these boats, go look at one and see if
it fits in your budget.
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| The Island style berths fore and aft are a favorite of
Island Packet owners. |
Capt. Thom Burns publishes Northern
Breezes and Sailing Breezes Internet
Magazine.
For more info: Sailor’s World,
Wayzata, MN 952-475-3443
www.sailorsworldinc.com
Holland Yacht Sales
Holland, MI 616-335-3144
www.hollandyachtsales.com
Toledo Beach Yacht Sales
LaSalle, MI 734-243-3830
www.toledobeachyachtsales.com
Gratitude Yachting Center
Rock Hall, MD 410-639-7111
www.gratitudeyachting.com