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Island Packet 37

1995–1999 · designed by Bob Johnson · built by Island Packet Yachts

Bob Johnson-designed cutter-rigged coastal-to-offshore cruiser. Signature "Full-Foil Keel" shoal-draft modified-full-keel form delivers ~4'3" draft with offshore-credible keel volume and protected rudder. Heavy displacement, generous beam, substantial interior volume for the LOA. Built in Largo, Florida. Strong used-market price retention and active class community.

This is a general read on the Island Packet 37 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.

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At a glance

Hull form: Full Keel
Ballast: Encapsulated Lead
Rudder: Spade
Mast step: Keel Stepped
Hull construction: Fiberglass
Production: 1995–1999
Built in: USA

What the Island Packet 37 is known for

Full-Foil Keel gives genuine shoal-water access without the offshore compromises of a swing keel or wing keel. Class signature.
Strong used-market price retention and active IPYOA class community. One of the most active owner networks in US production cruising.
Heavy build, generous bulkhead count, robust hardware — IP class reputation for durability is well-earned.

Known trade-offs

Heavy displacement + shoal-draft hull form = mediocre light-air performance. Owners report needing 12-14kn TWS for satisfying sailing.
Premium used pricing means limited negotiation room — IP buyers should expect to pay close to asking on a well-maintained hull.
Production span and low hull count mean fewer comps than larger IP classes; confirm a listing is IP37, not IP35/IP38/IP370.

Age-related quirks to expect

Full-Foil Keel — IP's trademark shoal-draft modified-full-keel form. NOT a fin-keel with stub; ballast is encapsulated in the keel cavity Low all (architectural)

Original 38hp Yanmar diesel — service-cycle parts widely available; major repower rarely needed at the boat's current age Low 1994-1998

Cutter rig staysail furler / staysail stay — original Hood / Harken hardware now 30+ years; bearings + furler-drum service due Low all (age-driven)

Systems to check before you buy

Cutter rig — standing rigging, chainplates, staysail stay priority: offshore, coastal

Original wire + chainplates typically due at 25-30 years. The cutter rig adds the staysail stay + its chainplate as an extra inspection item compared to a sloop. Mast is keel-stepped — check the mast step and partners at the deck and the keel-step bilge for water ingress history.

Hull below waterline — warranty / blister history + barrier coat priority: coastal, offshore, liveaboard

The IP37 review notes a transferable ten-year warranty covering hull, osmotic blisters, and deck-composite delamination. Confirm whether any hull had a documented blister-repair / barrier-coat history; do not carry over pre-1992 blister language from earlier Island Packet models.

Tankage + plumbing (water + holding + fuel) priority: offshore, liveaboard, coastal

IP 37s have generous tankage for the LOA. Original tanks at 30+ years — aluminum fuel tanks especially worth checking for pinhole corrosion. Replacement access is generally good thanks to the IP interior layout.

Engine (Yanmar 3JH/4JH-series) + drivetrain priority: coastal, offshore, liveaboard

The review identifies a 38hp fresh-water-cooled Yanmar diesel. Confirm engine hours, raw-water pump impeller history, and check the shaft + cutless bearing on a full-keel boat — drivetrain access is tighter than on a fin-keel boat.

How it fits your plans

Offshore: Credible offshore platform within the limits of a coastal-favoured shoal-draft cruiser. Cutter rig + heavy displacement + protected rudder = forgiving offshore. IP 37s have completed Bahamas + Caribbean + transatlantic passages.
Coastal: Sweet spot. Designed for it. Shoal draft gives access to ICW + Bahamas + Florida Keys that deeper-draft contemporaries cannot match.
Liveaboard: Strong for a couple. Generous-volume philosophy applies.
Weekending: Overspecced but a forgiving platform.

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