Island Packet 350 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 350 was produced with a consistent interior concept throughout its run: two separate staterooms fore and aft, a full head with double-door access, a large saloon with opposing settees, and an integrated nav station that shares the port settee. The forward stateroom carries fore-and-aft double berths; the aft stateroom uses angled Pullman doubles that Island Packet claimed as a creative use of what is essentially a 35-foot hull. Owner three-cabin configurations — treating the saloon settees as supplemental berths — are the more common arrangement encountered on the used market, though examples configured for cruising couples with the full aft stateroom emphasis are also widely available. The galley is tucked to starboard, U-shaped, and notably large for the length. The single centerline head is generous and well-organized. Headroom throughout the saloon runs to a full 6 feet 4 inches, which is among the most livable of any production cruiser in this size range.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used 350s typically arrive on the market well equipped relative to what left the factory. A chartplotter, radar, autopilot, and VHF are essentially universal fits by now — buyers should expect to find them aboard any reasonably maintained example. Biminis and dodgers are nearly ubiquitous, having been added early in most boats' lives given how suited the 350 is to passagemaking and anchoring-out lifestyles. Air conditioning is commonly fitted, a reflection of the boat's strong American coastal market presence. The factory swim platform came standard, and a furling mainsail is a frequent retrofit seen across the fleet.

Among gear that appears regularly without being universal: dinghy davits, cockpit showers, AIS receivers, hot water systems, and DC inverters. These are the upgrades that owners tend to layer in during the first few years of extended use, and most examples that have lived aboard for any length of time will carry several of them.

Owner-driven upgrades worth noting include solar charging arrays — a frequent addition as cruising electronics loads have grown — and, on a smaller number of boats, lithium battery banks replacing the original lead-acid house systems. Spinnaker gear, both symmetrical and asymmetrical, appears on a portion of the fleet; the 350 was offered from the factory with an optional spinnaker package, so some of this kit is original equipment. Heating systems suited to higher-latitude sailing appear on a minority of examples.

What to Inspect

The 350's construction is robust, but a handful of specific areas warrant careful attention on any pre-purchase survey.

The rudder deserves close scrutiny. Practical Sailor documented that some examples developed voids and deformation in the foam core inside the fiberglass rudder skins, leading in some cases to delamination. The builder acknowledged the issue and adjusted production practice — specifically improving seam sealing and dimensional control — but the defect appeared on early production boats and should be on every surveyor's checklist. Tap testing the rudder faces and checking for any softness or distortion is essential.

The icebox insulation is a known weakness. Practical Sailor noted owner complaints about inadequate insulation and, on some units, air voids developing in the urethane foam fill between the inner box and outer support structure. If refrigeration has been upgraded or supplemented, this is worth examining; if the original box is still in service, assess its effectiveness honestly.

Tanks are welded aluminum and are installed below the cabin sole, captured by the interior structure in a way that makes removal essentially impossible without serious disassembly. This is not a defect in itself, but it is a design reality that any buyer must accept. There is no practical way to replace a failed tank without a significant interior rebuild. Inspect for any evidence of weeping at seams or fittings, and have the tanks pressure-tested if there is any doubt.

The chainplate assembly on the 350 is unusually well engineered — stainless steel angles welded to the underdeck flange and tied to the hull with a broad fan of fiberglass taping extending nearly to the turn of the bilge — but the hardware still deserves examination for corrosion at the penetration points and for any sign of movement or weeping under the deck fittings.

The Yanmar diesel under the companionway steps is accessible for routine service, but the engine space is tight. Confirm that the stuffing box, impeller, and heat exchanger have been maintained; a log of service intervals matters here. The engine mounts — carried by a fiberglass grid reinforced with substantial steel bars — are worth checking for deterioration.

Deck hardware sits on raised molded platforms backed by integral aluminum plates, which reduces the likelihood of fastener pull-through, but older examples may show surface crazing around highly loaded fittings. Check the furling systems for forestay and staysail carefully; the self-tending Jib Boom staysail arrangement is a distinctive Island Packet feature and the boom furler mechanism should be exercised through its full range.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 350 circulates most actively in the United States market, particularly along the East Coast, Gulf Coast, and in Caribbean-adjacent staging areas. It has a meaningful presence across the broader Atlantic cruising circuit, and examples appear in European waters less frequently but not rarely. The tight owner community and the model's reputation for seaworthiness mean that well-maintained boats tend to sell without difficulty; buyers who wait for a specific specification or refit level may find the search takes patience.

The Island Packet 350 rewards a buyer who wants a go-anywhere hull without the anxiety of a high-performance fin-keeler in offshore conditions. Its motion at sea, its payload capacity, its volume below, and its cutter rig flexibility are genuine strengths. Its weaknesses — modest light-air performance, close-winded sailing, and the permanence of its aluminum tanks — are known quantities and not surprises. A thoroughly surveyed example with a healthy rig, a sound rudder, and a recent engine service record is one of the more reassuring ways to enter bluewater cruising at this size.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Tap-test the rudder for foam voids or delamination; check seam integrity
• Inspect aluminum tanks for weeping at seams and fittings; request pressure test if uncertain
• Survey chainplate penetrations for corrosion and any sign of deck movement
• Confirm engine service history: impeller, heat exchanger, mounts, stuffing box
• Exercise forestay furler, staysail furler, and Jib Boom mechanism through full range
• Check icebox insulation effectiveness; assess any refrigeration upgrades
• Verify autopilot and nav electronics are functional and interfaced properly
• Inspect cockpit lockers for structural integrity and confirm escape latches operate