Island Packet 29 Sailboats for Sale

The 29 is a heavy boat for her length — that displacement figure is that of a vessel that was designed to carry cruising stores and push through a seaway, not to sprint between marina berths. The designer himself noted that an Island Packet 29 completed a North Atlantic passage from North America to Ireland under bare poles, making over 150 nautical miles per day — a telling credential for a sub-thirty-foot cruiser. What this means practically for a buyer is that the boat rewards patience and offshore ambition rather than coastal day-sailing priorities. If your use case skews toward protected waters and quick tacks, look elsewhere. If you want a compact, genuinely capable blue-water boat that will not be intimidated by a gale, the 29 is worth serious consideration.

Layouts on the Used Market

All Island Packet 29s share the same basic accommodation arrangement, which is quite spacious for a boat under thirty feet. The layout puts a forward V-berth cabin in the bow, with the enclosed head and shower positioned just aft of it. The main saloon runs amidships with settees that convert to berths and a fold-down table. The U-shaped galley is located to starboard at the base of the companionway, fitted from the factory with a gimballed two-burner LPG stove and pressurized hot and cold water. A large quarter berth sits aft opposite the galley. Interior joinery is teak and holly throughout, which remains a hallmark of Island Packet's approach to quality construction.

The meaningful layout variable to look for is the keel configuration. The standard boat carries a fixed long keel drawing around four feet and three inches; an optional centerboard version was also offered, and with the board raised that hull drafts just over three and a half feet, dropping to more than seven feet when the board is extended. The centerboard version opens up shoal-water cruising grounds but introduces an additional mechanical system to inspect. Both configurations were in production throughout the model's run, so both appear on the used market.

The rig choice is the other variable worth confirming before viewing a boat. The standard offering is a cutter with bowsprit, mainsail, 125-percent genoa, and staysail; an optional masthead sloop rig with a larger genoa was also available. Most boats were delivered as cutters, and the cutter setup is generally preferred by offshore-minded buyers for its flexibility in strong winds, but sloop-rigged examples exist and both are functional packages.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Given that the youngest Island Packet 29s are now approaching thirty years old, the equipment picture on any given used example reflects decades of owner investment and cruising use. Chartplotters, autopilots, and AIS receivers are commonly fitted across the fleet — these are considered baseline equipment by most active cruisers and the 29's electrical systems have typically been updated to support them. Bimini tops and dodger enclosures are almost universally present, reflecting how these boats tend to be used: extended passages and liveaboard-style cruising where cockpit protection matters.

Air conditioning units appear frequently on boats that have spent time in warm-water cruising grounds, and pressurized hot-water systems — while standard from the factory in some form — are often found upgraded or replaced. Heating systems appear on boats owned in northern latitudes or kept in northern European waters.

Solar panels are a frequent owner addition, often paired with upgraded battery banks to support the electronics and comfort systems that have accumulated over the boat's life. Dinghy davits are commonly seen and speak to the offshore cruising character of the typical 29 owner. The short-handed setup — meaning single-line reefing, roller furling on the jib, and deck hardware arranged for two-person or solo operation — was part of the original Island Packet philosophy and tends to be present or has been reinforced by subsequent owners.

What to Inspect

The most consistent area of concern on Island Packet 29s and on Island Packet boats generally is the chainplates. Reviews and sailing references note chainplates as a common problem area on this model, and on a boat of this vintage the question is not whether they should be inspected but how recently they were last inspected or replaced. The twin backstay arrangement and cutter rig put meaningful loads on the chainplate attachments, and any evidence of staining, weeping, or deck softness around those deck penetrations warrants close professional attention before purchase.

The centerboard trunk on the optional centerboard version deserves specific scrutiny. The trunk and the pendant system that raises and lowers the board can develop wear or leaks over decades of use, and a survey should confirm the board operates correctly and the trunk shows no signs of delamination or water intrusion.

The long keel design provides inherent stability and tracking ability, but the keel-to-hull joint on fiberglass boats of this era should be examined for any evidence of separation, stress cracking, or weeping — a common inspection point on any heavily built cruiser approaching this age.

The inboard diesel should have documented service records or at minimum show evidence of regular maintenance. With a modest fuel tank, range under power is limited, and a well-maintained engine is essential. Inspect the raw-water cooling system carefully, as this is a common failure point on older marine diesels that have sat between cruising seasons.

The Harken roller-furling system for the jib and the automatic winch reefing for the mainsail were well-regarded components, but on older boats these systems should be inspected for wear, corrosion, and proper function. The internal halyards, run through the aluminum mast, can be difficult to inspect without pulling the mast — worth budgeting for if the standing rigging is also due for replacement.

Ventilation was thoughtfully designed from the factory, with nine opening ports, five deck hatches, and two Dorade vents. Inspect all port seals and hatch gaskets, as these are common sources of leaks on older boats and inexpensive to address if caught early.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Island Packet 29 appears most regularly in the United States market, where Island Packet has its strongest following, and in the United Kingdom and northern European markets where the brand has found a loyal audience among offshore-minded sailors. Canadian examples surface periodically as well. Given that only sixty-four boats were built, availability is meaningfully constrained — buyers should be prepared to wait for the right example and to travel to inspect it rather than expecting to find one in their home port.

This scarcity cuts both ways: the pool of comparable boats to negotiate against is small, but the boats that do appear tend to be owned by experienced sailors who have maintained them seriously. Island Packet's reputation for quality construction means that a well-maintained 29 has typically aged better than a comparable-era production cruiser of lesser pedigree.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Confirm keel configuration (fixed long keel vs. centerboard) and inspect trunk condition on centerboard versions
• Confirm rig configuration (cutter vs. sloop) and inspect all standing rigging and chainplates closely
• Survey chainplates for corrosion, deck softness, or water intrusion — treat this as a priority inspection item
• Inspect diesel engine for service history, raw-water cooling condition, and fuel system integrity
• Test roller furling and mainsail reefing systems for smooth operation
• Examine all port seals, hatch gaskets, and Dorade vents for leaks
• Review keel-to-hull joint for stress cracking or separation
• Verify condition of electronics, battery banks, and any solar installations
• Confirm autopilot function and chartplotter integration
• Budget for standing rigging replacement if no documentation of prior service exists