Design and Construction
The 37’s hull is a solid fiberglass laminate with no core, reinforced by a fiberglass structural grid and plywood bulkheads that are all tabbed in place solid fiberglass laminate with no core. Island Packet’s decks use a fiberglass composite with PolyCore, a proprietary resin microsphere mix that is impervious to rot, very strong in compression, and less prone to delamination than some other core materials. The deck and hull meet at an inward flange with adhesive sealant plus mechanical fasteners, and those fasteners remain accessible for service without tearing out liners or joiner work. Deck hardware is held by stainless steel fasteners and aluminum backing plates for load distribution. The builder backed this solid construction with a ten-year warranty that covered deck delamination and transferred to later owners.
Rig, Keel, and Handling
A full keel gives the 37 good tracking and reduced leeway for its draft, while also making the boat easy to haul in remote areas lacking modern facilities full keel assures good tracking. The trade-off is substantial wetted surface that raises frictional resistance, the primary drag on speed. Owners report good sailing performance in all but very light air. Island Packet literature specifies a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.3, though a reviewing editor’s own calc using the maker’s rig dimensions put it at 15.2. The builder claims a positive righting moment past 140 degrees, with maximum stability between 75 and 80 degrees; the editor’s rough math suggested that achieving this requires the boat’s vertical center of gravity at or below the waterline.
Accommodations and Deck Layout
Below, the 37 lays out a forward V-berth cabin, an aft quarter berth cabin, and an amidships main saloon. Writing in a used-boat review, the tester called the galley one of the best seen on a boat this size, but noted the boat falls a little short on secure and comfortable sea berths. On deck, the surfaces are unobstructed with a secure diamond-pattern non-skid, double lifelines on securely fastened stanchions, and a continuous cabin-top handrail. The eight-foot cockpit has full-length side seats, a centerline helm seat aft of the pedestal, and a drop-leaf table forward, with a large starboard seat locker and a stern rail boarding ladder.
Power and Systems
Every 37 carries a 38 hp fresh-water-cooled Yanmar diesel in an engine box below the companionway steps. Access for inspection and repair is quite good, and the engine has sufficient power for the 18,500 lb displacement. The specified displacement pairs with 8,200 lbs of ballast, and Island Packet offered standard and shoal drafts of 4’6” and 3’8” with no stated difference in ballast or displacement between them.
The Verdict
The Island Packet 37 is a thoughtfully built cruiser whose core virtues are structural honesty and a safe, sociable deck plan. The solid hull, rot-proof deck core, and transferable warranty reflect a builder confident in the product, while the full keel and modest sail plan suit offshore-minded owners more than racers. The weak sea berths and light-air lethargy are the prices paid for that security.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull with tabbed grid and bulkheads
- PolyCore deck resists rot and delamination; warranty covered it
- Full keel tracks well and eases remote haulouts
- Accessible fasteners and good engine access simplify upkeep
Cons
- Substantial wetted surface hurts light-air speed
- Sea berths described as less than secure and comfortable
- Published and calculated SA/D figures diverge
