Island Packet 350 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

At 34'8" on deck, with a 12-foot beam and 16,000-pound displacement, the 350 is a moderate-displacement monohull. A 7,500-pound lead ballast pocket contributes to its stiffness, while the shallow 4'3" draft trades some ultimate upwind bite for form stability and a sheltered cockpit.

Design and Construction

The hull is a solid triaxial fiberglass layup, hand-laminated with vinylester resin in the outer layers to resist water penetration and polyester behind. The glass-to-resin ratio is about 58:42, and the forward edge of the keel is built to more than an inch thick.

Island Packet stiffened the hull with an integrated molded structural grid. The deck has a core of rot-resistant PolyCore foam more than an inch thick and is joined to an inward-turning hull flange with 3M 5200 and quarter-inch stainless-steel bolts on six-inch centers.

The proprietary PolyClad gel system came with a 10-year blister warranty. For the chainplates, stainless steel is welded to an L-flange that interlocks with the hull flange. Unidirectional fiberglass fans down past the waterline, tying the rig loads into the monocoque structure.

Below the waterline, Johnson’s Full Foil Keel is a modified full keel with substantial forward cutaway and a sleek run aft to the attached rudder. Practical Sailor credited the boat’s stiffness to its 47% ballast-displacement ratio.

Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling

The versatile cutter rig provides several manageable sail-plan options. These include a pivoting, self-tending staysail boom based on Garry Hoyt’s pattern and an optional modern cruising-spinnaker package.

Despite the long keel’s additional wetted surface, testers found the 350 more weatherly than expected. They logged four to five knots upwind in an 8- to 10-knot breeze. The boat also reaches and runs with the best of them and has a minimal, predictable, comfortable motion.

Rack-and-pinion steering is an Island Packet staple. From March 1997, the 350 received an updated Whitlock Premier XL system to address sensitivity concerns. High coamings shelter the cockpit for ocean work, and factory-installed safety-harness pad eyes add security.

Accommodations

The main cabin has 6'4" headroom. To port, a longitudinal settee converts into a nav station; opposite is an L-shaped starboard dinette settee.

Both the forward and after staterooms have Pullman-style double berths tucked against the hull sides. The forward berth runs fore-and-aft. The after berth is athwartship, but it is large enough to be used fore-and-aft at sea.

The single head is forward to starboard, with separate doors from the saloon and forward stateroom. Its wraparound counter helps hold the occupant securely when seated, and a curtain encloses the shower.

The U-shaped galley is to starboard and includes double sinks and a large reefer. Molded-in LPG lockers beneath the deck hold two 10-pound tanks outboard.

Machinery and Systems

A 38-horsepower Yanmar 3JHE diesel sits beneath the companionway. Lifting the insulated stair box provides roughly two-thirds access from forward, while a removable panel in the after stateroom gives access from aft.

Thick-gauge welded-aluminum tanks hold 50 gallons of fuel, 100 gallons of water, and 30 gallons in the holding tank. All sit beneath the cabin sole, keeping their weight low. However, Boat of the Year judges worried that the tanks would be virtually impossible to remove without cutting apart the interior.

The hefty, flanged bronze thru-hulls are tagged and easy to locate. Integral aluminum backing plates reinforce the deck fittings.

The reverse-counter stern platform—a first for the Island Packet line—has pushpit seats at the hips. The boat also has a bowsprit dedicated to anchoring.

Refit and Ownership Considerations

The most significant factory change was the March 1997 steering upgrade to the Whitlock Premier XL. Buyers considering an early hull should verify whether it has the updated system.

Otherwise, the 350’s construction leaves relatively little to age poorly: the hull is solid fiberglass, the deck core is capped, and deck fittings sit over integral aluminum backing plates. Tank removal is the one ownership caveat. Because replacing the tanks could require damage to the interior, meticulous care of the fluid systems is especially important.

The Verdict

The Island Packet 350 is a thoughtfully engineered coastal and offshore cruiser. It gives up some upwind efficiency in return for tremendous stiffness, generous room, and a secure deck plan. Johnson’s Full Foil Keel and cutter rig make the boat predictable and easy to shorten down, while the interior provides a genuine two-cabin cruising layout with unusual headroom for its length.

Pros