Island Packet 27 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Island Packet 27 means looking at a Bob Johnson-designed pocket cruiser built as a blue-water-capable vessel, with the model becoming the IP 27 in 1984 and production ceasing in 1992 after the IP 29 took its place, with 249 produced. These are heavy, solid boats—8,000 pounds with 3,000 pounds of lead—so the used buyer is weighing structural integrity and owner care more than speed, which owners rate poor in light air. The practical questions are which layout and equipment a given example carries, and what the known structural watch-points are.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most used 27s present the standard accommodation of a forward V-berth, a saloon with settees that convert to berths, a practical galley, and an enclosed head, finished in teak with durable joinery. Some versions carried a keel-mounted rudder, others a skeg-protected one. Tankage varies by configuration: many boats hold 19–31 gallons of diesel and around 31 gallons of water. The standard Yanmar 2GMF20 with three-bladed prop is common, giving reliable auxiliary propulsion for a boat whose sail area/displacement ratio of 16.7 favors steadiness over sprint.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
In the used fleet, a dodger, bimini, and chartplotter are commonly fitted, and an autopilot is often seen. A short-handed sail-handling setup and radar appear as less common owner upgrades. For the buyer, the meaningful clusters are canvas and helm protection (dodger and bimini for cockpit livability), navigation (chartplotter and sometimes radar extending offshore capability), and self-steering (autopilot reducing crew workload). A buyer should verify the autopilot and radar are functional rather than assume them on every listing.
What to Inspect
The dominant survey focus is the chainplate and rigging area, where owner forums and owner-association notes most commonly cite concern, and Island Packet models of this vintage often have through-bolted or glassed-in chainplate arrangements anchor; several owners have reported re-bedding chainplates to stop leaks. Pre-purchase surveys regularly reveal deck-core moisture and aging systems such as old rigging, tired seacocks, and dated wiring. More structurally, cracking in the hull laminate can occur when a boat is point-loaded on a jackstand or reef, and early boats showed deck gelcoat crazing. Blistering is less widely reported than on some builders, but a survey should still check. Budget for replacing 304 stainless chainplates or adding external ones, upgrading standing rigging, and refreshing electrical and electronics if found wanting.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States, United Kingdom, Panama, and France. For a shopper, the takeaway is a short checklist: confirm chainplate condition and re-bedding history; survey deck core and hull for point-load cracks; verify rudder version and structural grid soundness; check autopilot and navigation gear tier; and budget for rig and electrical refresh. The Island Packet 27 rewards the careful inspector with a stout, sea-kindly pocket cruiser.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Island Packet 27. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 18 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $36,000 | — |
| Mar 25 | 3 | $38,900 | +8.1% |
| Apr 25 | 1 | $34,844 | -10.4% |
| May 25 | 1 | $28,900 | -17.1% |
| Jun 25 | 5 | $29,900 | +3.5% |
| Jul 25 | 2 | $24,500 | -18.1% |
| Aug 25 | 6 | $29,900 | +22.0% |
| Sep 25 | 3 | $35,000 | +17.1% |
| Oct 25 | 4 | $29,700 | -15.1% |
| Nov 25 | 3 | $29,000 | -2.4% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $29,500 | +1.7% |
| Jan 26 | 5 | $29,900 | +1.4% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $26,900 | -10.0% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $40,000 | +48.7% |
| May 26 | 4 | $38,000 | -5.0% |
| Jun 26 | 5 | $24,900 | -34.5% |
| Jul 26 | 4 | $30,950 | +24.3% |
| Aug 26 | 6 | $30,700 | -0.8% |
Where they're listed
Island Packet 27 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 38 (97.4%), followed by United Kingdom.
Country view
39 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $29,500 | 38 | 16 | 97.4% |
| United Kingdom | $20,019 | 1 | 0 | 2.6% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 27You are here | — | $ 29,500 | 40 | 16 |
| Island Packet 31 | 34.33' | $ 39,900 | 35 | 7 |
| Moody 27 | 27.67' | $ 14,957 | 28 | 9 |
| Com-Pac 27/2 | 29.58' | $ 24,000 | 27 | 7 |
| Island Packet 29 | 32' | $ 56,500 | 26 | 10 |