Design and Construction
The 370's hull and deck are hand-laid triaxial knitted fiberglass, and the deck is cored with PolyCore rather than organic materials. The hull is stiffened by an interior grid system, and the hull-to-deck joint is bolted and bonded with urethane sealant. Deck hardware is through-bolted with aluminum backing plates, a detail that speaks to the builder's intent for long-term structural integrity. A few years ago designer Bob Johnson replaced Island Packet's traditional transoms with scoop sterns that provide a large platform near water level, and the deck shows the familiar outstanding anti-skid pattern with excellent grab points where they are needed. A high toerail and all-fiberglass cockpit coamings reflect a low-maintenance ethos, reinforced by low-maintenance stainless steel grabrails inside and out and less teak than earlier models, with all exterior teak treated with Cetol.
Rig and Handling
The boat is rigged as a cutter with an in-mast roller-furling mainsail now standard. There is a significant loss of sail area with in-mast furling, as the leech must be straight, though total sail area including staysail is still 814 square feet. The easy-to-reach boom and line-tail bins to reduce spaghetti from lines led aft show a deck laid out for short-handed control, and Island Packet gets this right by leaving the jib and staysail halyards at the mast. The test boat carried the optional Hoyt Jib Boom and staysail along with a Muir anchor windlass. On the water, test sailors found the turning circle small, the boat stopped and reversed reliably, and there was no prop kick to either side. The boat tacked easily through about 90 degrees and reached at about the same speed as it sailed close-hauled, though the high bow may catch even light cross winds. Rack-and-pinion steering has long been an Island Packet reliability feature, and the latest Lewmar Cobra system on the test boat was a marked improvement.
Accommodations
Below, the 370's huge saloon is filled with handy stowage spots for charts, books, and cruising necessities, and the galley is efficient with lots of stowage and a double sink slightly off the centerline. Keel-cooled refrigeration is a simple, efficient, trouble-free system unique among few builders. The forward cabin has a large island double berth with good access from the sides, and the head has a shower stall and plenty of maneuvering space with doors to both saloon and forward cabin. The offset double in the aft cabin appears to be a suitable seaberth when fitted with a divider, and the nav station is integrated into the aft cabin with a pass-through to the saloon. The electrically powered adjustable nav seat and halogen lights on dimmers throughout add quiet comfort, while the nav station itself has no breaker panel — circuit breakers and meters sit behind a cabinet door. The cockpit seats are very comfortable with nicely angled backs, and the big seat lockers have interior catch releases so a trapped crewmember can get out.
Engine and Systems
The Yanmar diesel lives deep in the keel sump, and on the test boat ample power was available — 3,000 rpm yielded 7 knots of boatspeed. The engine placement low in the hull contributes to the boat's mass distribution but is not characterized in the record beyond its location. The electrical and refrigeration choices reflect a bias toward simplicity: keel cooling removes fan and sea-strainer dependencies from the fridge, and the breaker arrangement keeps the nav station face clean at the cost of remote access.
The Verdict
The Island Packet 370 is a purpose-built cruiser that distills the marque's heritage into a manageable 38-foot footprint. Its construction details, deck ergonomics, and belowdecks stowage are oriented entirely toward liveaboard passagemaking rather than performance racing, and the optional cutter additions extend its light-air and close-quarters flexibility.
Pros
- Hand-laid triaxial fiberglass hull with PolyCore-cored deck and bolted, bonded hull-to-deck joint
- Scoop stern, outstanding anti-skid, high toerail, and interior catch-release lockers for crew safety
- Keel-cooled refrigeration and in-mast furling standard; short-handed lead routing done well
- Reliable reversing and small turning circle with no prop kick; rack-and-pinion steering improved on test boat
Cons
- Significant sail-area loss with standard in-mast furling
- High bow catches light cross winds when maneuvering
- Nav station lacks a breaker panel at the station face
- Deep keel-sump engine placement complicates access
