Islander 41 (Gurney) Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Islander 41 (Gurney)'s production began in 1972, emerging from the California-based Islander Yachts, a company with roots in Joseph McGlasson's early wooden boat designs that transitioned successfully into fiberglass production. During this era, Islander Yachts had cultivated a reputation for building robust, well-designed cruising yachts with solid construction and comfortable interiors, focusing on capable vessels suitable for both coastal and offshore voyaging.

The design itself was penned by Alan Gurney, a highly respected naval architect renowned for his work on high-performance ocean racers, including the legendary Windward Passage. Gurney honed his skills as an apprentice with notable British firms J. Francis Jones and Holman & Pye before establishing his own practice. His design philosophy typically translated into yachts that offered impressive speed without sacrificing seakindliness, a characteristic also evident in the popular Islander 36, which Gurney also designed. The Islander 41 (Gurney) thus reflects this lineage, suggesting a cruiser with a performance edge. Its limited production run of just six boats means it is a distinct model and should not be confused with other 41-foot vessels sometimes associated with the Islander name, such as the Yachtcraft 41 (a shortened version of the Lapworth-designed Islander/Lapworth 44), or the later Islander Freeport 41. Gurney notably ceased his yacht design work in the early 1970s to pursue interests in polar exploration and writing, making the Islander 41 one of his later designs.

Sailing Performance and Handling

With a displacement of 21,900 pounds and a fin keel drawing 6.5 feet, the Islander 41 (Gurney) is a moderate displacement sailboat designed for respectable performance. Her sail area to displacement ratio (SA/D) calculates to approximately 17.76, indicating a reasonably good performer that will likely excel in moderate to fresh breezes. The boat's ballast to displacement ratio (Bal/Disp) is a healthy 0.44, signifying a stiff and stable platform capable of standing up to more wind and offering a good righting capability. Her displacement to length ratio (Disp/LWL) of approximately 234.4 places her firmly in the moderate cruiser category, suggesting a balance between performance and comfortable motion. Overall, she is described as a moderate-weight sailboat that performs reasonably well and is notably stable and stiff, possessing good righting capabilities. The skeg-hung rudder further contributes to predictable handling and provides robust protection for the rudder foil.

Accommodations and Layout

While specific detailed interior layouts and finishes for the Islander 41 (Gurney) are scarce due to its extremely limited production, one can infer general characteristics typical of a performance cruiser of its size and era from Islander Yachts. Boats of this vintage from Islander were generally known for solid construction and comfortable interiors, featuring ample use of wood trim and robust fiberglass components. Given her 41-foot length and 13-foot beam, the interior would likely feature a traditional layout, typically including a V-berth forward, a main salon with settees that convert to berths, a galley, and a navigation station. A private head compartment would also be standard. Storage was generally a priority in Islander designs, and ventilation would typically rely on a combination of opening ports and overhead hatches. Precise headroom figures are not publicly available for this specific Gurney design, but Islander aimed for comfortable living spaces.