Design and Construction
The 320 is built around a one-piece, hand-laid, solid fiberglass hull with an encapsulated full keel that reaches just 4 feet, 3 inches below the waterline. The full, foil-keel underbody has evolved over the years and shows fewer hull line distortions than earlier models, while bow sections are slightly finer than previous Packets to improve windward work. A stern step extends the sailing waterline for better speed and doubles as a boarding platform. Island Packet's PolyClad gelcoat protection system and the trademarked Durashield finish help the hull retain gloss and resist fading, and the builder backed the laminate with a limited 10-year warranty against osmotic blisters and the deck core with a 10-year warranty against rot and delamination.
The deck is cored with Poly-core, a microsphere and resin matrix, and is married to the hull on an internal flange that is part of the bulwark. That joint is both through-bolted—incorporating the caprail and genoa track—and chemically bonded with a urethane adhesive sealer. A molded interior grid supports the cabin sole, which is laid in varnished teak and holly.
Rig and Handling
The cutter rig carries a keel-stepped main spar and Sobstad Sails, with a 130-percent roller-furling genoa, double-reef main, and a Garry Hoyt-inspired self-vanging, self-tacking staysail boom that simplifies short-handed sailing. A self-furling main was available as a factory-direct option. Standard running gear includes a boom vang, a dual single-line main reefing system led aft through Lewmar stoppers, and a mainsheet traveler with midboom sheeting. Deck hardware is serious: self-tailing Lewmar 40 sheet winches, a Harken jib furling system, oversized 10-inch cleats, meaty chocks, and stainless chafe guards. A well-supported integral bowsprit carries two stainless anchor rollers with chocks and hinged deck pipes to the forepeak.
Helm control comes from console-mounted, rack-and-pinion steering—an Island Packet trademark and the heart of the cockpit—using a Whitlock system. Tested by John Kretschmer, the 320 gamboled across the bay on a close reach, touching 7 knots a few times, a respectable showing for a heavy cutter. Under power, the standard Yanmar 27-horsepower 3GM30 three-cylinder diesel and 45 gallons of welded aluminum fuel tank give a realistic range of at least 300 miles.
Accommodations
Below, the 320 offers two legitimate staterooms, each with a Pullman-style double bunk. The forward owner's cabin places the bunk to port with a cedar-lined hanging locker and storage bins to starboard. The aft stateroom tucks an athwartships bunk under the cockpit sole, with a hanging locker, good storage, and the navigation table; flipping and pinning the nav table vertical and closing a bifold door converts the space into a private cabin.
The U-shaped seagoing galley has a double sink, two-burner propane stove with oven, and a good-sized icebox, supplemented by a roll-away trash bin, fiddled edges, and a fold-up counter extension. The main saloon has a bulkhead table that drops into place when needed and settees to port and starboard with adequate storage behind. Ventilation is excellent with nine opening portlights and six overhead hatches, under 6-foot, 4-inch headroom.
The cockpit is engineered for safety and service: a sleek line locker hidden in the coaming, a built-in cooler, a shower reaching the stern step, molded seats on the stern rail, dedicated pad eyes for harnesses, pin-locking drop boards, good-sized scuppers, and a stout bridgedeck.
Known Issues
The builder's own 10-year warranties against osmotic blisters in the hull and rot or delamination in the Poly-core deck suggest confidence in the materials rather than a history of failures.
The Verdict
The Island Packet 320 refines the Packet formula into a manageable, well-built cruiser that trades outright light-air speed for seakeeping, simplicity, and livability. Its encapsulated keel, bonded deck joint, and self-tacking staysail make it a sensible choice for a cruising couple prioritizing safety and ease of handling over racing performance.
Pros
- Finer bow sections and evolved foil-keel underbody improve windward work and reduce hull distortions
- Self-vanging, self-tacking staysail boom and rack-and-pinion steering ease shorthanded handling
- Two Pullman staterooms, convertible aft nav cabin, and excellent ventilation in a 33-foot hull
- Encapsulated full keel and Poly-core deck backed by 10-year builder warranties
Cons
- Heavy-displacement cutter is not a light-air performer
- Realistic under-power range of at least 300 miles limits long motoring legs
