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Island Packet 35

1988–1994 · designed by Bob Johnson · built by Island Packet Yachts

Designed by Bob Johnson as a shoal-draft, full-keel cutter aimed at coastal and Bahamas/ICW cruising couples, prioritizing shallow-water access, load-carrying interior volume and forgiving directional stability over speed or point. Part of Island Packet's signature encapsulated-keel line, the class built a reputation as a conservative, grounding-tolerant cruiser rather than a performance boat.

This is a general read on the Island Packet 35 class — informed background, not a verdict on any individual boat. Condition, refit history, and how a particular hull was sailed and stored matter far more than class reputation. Use it to know what to look for; for a read on a specific listing, run a free FairKeel report on that boat.

At a glance

Hull form: Full Keel
Ballast type: Encapsulated Lead
Rudder: Keel Hung
Mast step: Keel Stepped
Hull construction: Fiberglass
Production: 1988–1994
Built in: USA

What the Island Packet 35 is known for

Encapsulated lead ballast means no external keel bolts to inspect, torque or replace, removing one of the most common long-term failure/leak points on bolted-fin cruisers.
Shoal draft (roughly 4.5 ft) combined with a full keel and keel-hung rudder gives real grounding protection and access to thin-water cruising grounds (ICW, Bahamas banks) unusual for a 35-footer.
Heavy, solidly built hand-laid fiberglass hull typical of Bob Johnson designs; the class has a strong reputation for shrugging off groundings and hard use.
High-volume, beamy hull form gives generous interior space, storage and tankage relative to LOA, a genuine advantage for liveaboard or extended cruising couples.
Active Island Packet Yacht Owners Association and long production run of the marque keep parts knowledge, rigging specs and refit experience easy to find even though the original builder later changed hands.

Known trade-offs

Full keel and shoal draft trade away windward performance; the class points noticeably higher and slower to tack than fin-keel cruiser-racers of similar length.
Heavy displacement and a cutaway-but-still-full keel make the boat sluggish in light air, especially off the wind, so average passage times lag lighter designs.
Every hull is now 30+ years old, so original engine, fuel tank, wiring, standing rigging and plumbing are at or past normal service life regardless of a specific boat's logged history.
Cutter rig with bowsprit and bobstay adds rigging complexity, hardware count and maintenance points compared with a simple masthead sloop.
Island Packet Yachts' original ownership ceased operations in 2016 amid financial trouble; although the brand and factory continued under new ownership (Hake Yachts), buyers of this era's boats rely mainly on the owners' association and generic marine suppliers rather than original-manufacturer support.

Age-related quirks to expect

Original Yanmar diesel engine and metal fuel tank still in service severity: High affects: 1988-1994 (all hulls)

Standing rigging at or beyond typical 20-25 year replacement interval severity: High affects: 1988-1994 (all hulls)

Optional teak decks on some hulls, risk of core moisture at fastener penetrations severity: Medium affects: 1988-1994 (teak-deck-equipped hulls only)

Gelcoat blistering, generally lighter than contemporaries due to Island Packet's vinylester skin coat but not absent on early hulls severity: Low affects: 1988-1991 (earlier hulls more exposed)

Original opening ports and deck hardware bedding compounds well past service life severity: Medium affects: 1988-1994 (all hulls)

Systems to check before you buy

Engine and fuel system priority: offshore, liveaboard, motor

Original-era Yanmar 35 or 38 hp diesel, now decades old; check hours, maintenance records and signs of a prior repower. Metal fuel tanks of this vintage are prone to internal corrosion and should be inspected or sounded.

Keel-to-hull joint and bilge priority: offshore, coastal

The encapsulated keel avoids keel-bolt issues but shoal-draft full keels absorb groundings directly into the hull laminate; inspect the keel/hull seam and forward bilge for stress cracking or old repair work from touching bottom.

Standing rigging, bowsprit hardware and rudder post priority: offshore, coastal

Cutter rig standing rigging on a class this old is almost certainly original or at least one replacement cycle overdue; pay particular attention to the bobstay, whisker stays and bowsprit attachment for corrosion and fatigue. The rudder post attaches to the keel via a strap and is a known bending point after hard groundings, so check for play and prior repair.

Deck hardware, portlights and any teak decking priority: coastal, liveaboard

Original opening ports and deck hardware bedding are past typical service life; where teak decks were fitted as an option, check for core moisture at fastener penetrations.

Water and holding tanks, plumbing priority: liveaboard, offshore

Original tankage and hoses from the late 1980s/early 1990s are commonly original; check tank integrity and hose condition given the class's generous water/fuel capacity is a selling point only if it still holds.

How it fits your plans

Offshore: Conservative full-keel cutter with a keel-hung rudder is forgiving and directionally stable for passages, but shoal draft and heavy displacement cost windward ability and speed compared with fin-keel offshore designs.
Coastal: One of the class's strongest fits: shallow draft plus grounding-tolerant keel gives easy access to ICW and Bahamas-bank style coastal cruising that deeper-draft boats can't do.
Liveaboard: Beamy, high-volume hull and generous tankage make it a comfortable liveaboard for a couple at this length, provided original tanks and systems have been addressed.
Weekending: Capable but overbuilt and heavy for short daysails; not the boat for quick, nimble outings.
Racing: Not competitive; full keel and heavy displacement make it slow under any racing rule.
Motor: Tracks well under power due to the full keel, and shoal draft is attractive for gunkholing, though prop/engine access and tankage depend on maintenance history.

This guide is the class. A report is that hull. Paste the listing you're looking at and FairKeel grades every claim in it against what's known about the Island Packet 35 — where the evidence is thin, the red flags worth a second look, the costs likely to land in your first season, and whether the boat suits the plans you describe in a few short questions.

It won't read the photos or put a number on the boat — that's the $249 Deep-Dive, and for the real answer, a surveyor. It will tell you when a Deep-Dive isn't worth buying. Free, no account, usually a minute or two.

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