What sets the design apart is its unapologetic heft. At 8,000 pounds displacement, it weighs roughly 1,500 pounds more than the average 1980-era competitor and as much as 3,000 pounds more than some rival auxiliaries of the same length. It carries that weight with a long-keel attitude and a conservative cutter sailplan that favors seaworthiness over sparkling performance.
Design and Construction
Johnson’s blend of traditional and modern thinking is evident in the hull. Its solid laminate consists of a mat layer and knitted cloth. At the keel’s forward edge, the layup increases to almost an inch of solid glass to absorb impact, as described in Practical Sailor’s review.
Inside, precisely engineered structural grids of plywood floor timbers run athwartships and are glassed to the hull. A fiberglass pan caps the grid and forms the cabin sole. The deck uses a factory-developed core material and meets the hull at a solid lip on an inward-turning flange. The joint is bonded with 3M 5200 sealant and fastened with stainless bolts on 6-inch centers; no leaks from this joint have been reported.
Aluminum plates back the deck hardware, while solid deck sections beneath load points prevent the core from being crushed. The boat carries 3,000 pounds of lead ballast—250 pounds more than the original boat—for a ballast/displacement ratio of 38 per cent. Its sail area/displacement ratio of 16.7 points to sailing that is less than sizzling.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The cutter-style rig helps define the boat’s character, and many examples sailed as cutter-rigged sloops. With the wind on the beam, the optional cutter’s staysail can increase boatspeed by 10 to 20 per cent.
Owners gave the boat a composite rating of “poor” for light-air sailing, consistent with its heavy-displacement, modest-sailplan philosophy. In a steady breeze, however, owners typically report comfortable passage speeds in the 5–6 knot range. The theoretical hull speed is about 6.6 knots.
When the wind dies, the standard Yanmar 2GMF20 diesel and a three-bladed prop provide a pretty good substitute for sail power.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the Island Packet 27 typically has a forward V-berth, a spacious saloon with settees that convert to berths, a practical galley, and an enclosed head. Teak trim and durable joinery finish the interior.
A beam in the neighborhood of 10½ feet and an LWL close to 24.25 ft give the cabin a roomy feel for a boat of this length. Depending on configuration, many examples carry 19–31 gallons of fuel and around 31 gallons of fresh water—enough for extended coastal or short offshore passages in a pocket cruiser.
Practical Sailor noted that the boat displaces as much as 3,000 pounds more than rival auxiliaries of its size.
Known Issues
Chainplates and the surrounding rigging areas are the concerns most often cited in owner forums and owner-association notes. Several owners have reported needing to re-bed the chainplates to stop leaks. Island Packet models of this vintage often use through-bolted or glassed-in chainplate arrangements.
Pre-purchase surveys regularly uncover moisture in the deck core and the usual age-related problems: old standing and running rigging, tired seacocks, dated wiring and electronics, and worn cushions.
A more serious issue was a tendency for the hull laminate to crack when boats were point-loaded, as on a jackstand or a reef. Crazing in the deck gelcoat also annoyed owners of the first boats.
Blistering doesn’t seem to have been a major problem. Of more than 30 owners questioned, none had encountered osmotic pox, and the issue is less widely reported than it is for some contemporary builders.
Refits and Ownership
Common recommended improvements for which buyers budget include replacing older 304 stainless chainplates or adding external chainplates, upgrading the standing rigging, refreshing the electrical panel and navigation electronics, and repairing any localized deck-core or bedding problems found during survey.
Diesel inboards are common on many examples, simplifying reliance on auxiliary power.
The Verdict
The Island Packet 27 is a stout, conservative pocket cruiser for sailors who value ballast, structure, and sea-kindly motion over outright speed. Its heavy displacement and long keel make it a steadying companion offshore, while the cutter rig adds flexibility. A buyer’s due diligence should focus on the chainplates, deck core, and point-loading cracks that can appear while the boat is on the hard.
Pros
- Heavy 8,000 lb displacement and 38% ballast ratio for blue-water poise
- Robust, hand-laid solid hull with an impact-built keel leading edge
- Deck-to-hull joint with no reported leaks, plus aluminum-backed hardware
- Roomy interior with a convertible saloon and enclosed head
Cons
- Poor light-air sailing rating from owners
- Hull-laminate cracking under point loads
- Reported chainplate leaks and a need for rigorous inspection
- Deck-gelcoat crazing on early boats
