Island Packet 37 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Island Packet 37 means looking at a Bob Johnson cruiser produced from 1995 through 1999, a full-keel boat of 38’5” overall that cross-shops against the Pacific Seacraft 37 and Hallberg-Rassy 36. Most buyers will meet ex-charter examples and two interior plans, with the owner three-cabin version more common than the alternative.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements appear more often than the other layout, though both reach the market, and ex-charter boats are a common sight. Either way the accommodations center on a forward V-berth cabin, an aft quarter berth, and an amidships saloon, with the galley drawing consistent praise from period reviewers. One noted shortfall is the lack of truly secure sea berths, worth weighing if you plan offshore time. The cockpit is eight feet long with full side seats and a centerline helm seat, and the decks are unobstructed with secure non-skid and a continuous handrail.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used 37s commonly carry a chartplotter, solar, autopilot, dodger, and dinghy davits, which together cover navigation, power, and cockpit shelter for short-handed cruising. Often-seen additions include an inverter, hot water, bimini, radar, air conditioning, a furling main, and cockpit shower, speaking to comfort and easier harbor life. Less common owner upgrades run to a watermaker, wind generator, AIS, or lithium batteries — useful for extended independence but not standard. A 38 hp Yanmar diesel sits below the companionway with good access, so check the engine box rather than expecting hidden systems.
What to Inspect
The deck-and-hull joint uses an inward flange with adhesive and mechanical fasteners that remain accessible without destroying liners inward flange with adhesive sealant. Confirm those fasteners are sound and the sealant bead intact. Deck hardware is on aluminum backing plates with stainless fasteners, so look for corrosion staining at stanchions and winches. The PolyCore deck is rot-proof by design, but the transferable ten-year warranty against delamination is long expired, so a careful tap-test for soft spots still matters. The solid uncored hull avoids core rot, though any osmotic blister history should be disclosed.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a buyer, the practical checklist is: verify the flange fasteners and sealant, test the deck for delamination despite the rot-proof core, confirm the Yanmar’s service access, and decide whether the weaker sea berths suit your cruising plans. Choose the more common owner three-cabin layout unless you need the other, and treat solar, autopilot, and dodger as baseline rather than upgrades.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Island Packet 37. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 13 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 2 | $92,000 | — |
| May 25 | 1 | $119,000 | +29.3% |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $122,500 | +2.9% |
| Oct 25 | 3 | $122,500 | 0.0% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $124,500 | +1.6% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $152,500 | +22.5% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $99,900 | -34.5% |
| Mar 26 | 9 | $119,900 | +20.0% |
| Apr 26 | 11 | $122,500 | +2.2% |
| May 26 | 6 | $122,200 | -0.2% |
| Jun 26 | 4 | $105,000 | -14.1% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $122,500 | +16.7% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $114,500 | -6.5% |
Where they're listed
Island Packet 37 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 39.
Country view
39 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $119,900 | 39 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tayana 37 | 36.67' | $ 52,900 | 75 | 16 |
| Island Packet 35 | 35.33' | $ 74,900 | 71 | 31 |
| Island Packet 38 | 38' | $ 99,000 | 56 | 12 |
| Island Packet 370/379 | 37.83' | $ 199,000 | 55 | 12 |
| Pacific Seacraft 37 | 36.92' | $ 135,000 | 55 | 15 |
| Island Packet 40 | 40' | $ 150,000 | 53 | 21 |
| Island Packet 37You are here | — | $ 119,900 | 41 | 2 |
| Island Packet 29 | 32' | $ 53,950 | 28 | 9 |
| Hunter 37 | 37' | $ 19,900 | 20 | 4 |
| Gulfstar 37 | 37' | $ 21,000 | 10 | 2 |
| CSY 37 | 37.25' | $ 29,900 | 8 | 0 |