Island Packet 485/525 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Island Packet 485 means looking at a 51-foot center-cockpit sloop conceived by Bob Johnson as a long-range liveaboard. These are heavy, shoal-draft boats with a 5-foot-3-inch draft and a full foil keel, and the used fleet reflects that original voyaging intent rather than any racer’s resume. Ex-charter examples are common, and the ownership history often shows boats equipped for extended passages rather than weekend coastal use.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available. The standard arrangement places a spacious office just forward of the mast to starboard, with optional upper and lower bunk berths in that space and a dedicated area for an optional washer/dryer. The aft cabin carries an athwartship island berth and a separate shower head, while the fantail is left open for a dinghy up to 10 feet 6 inches and connects via a small door to the large lazarette. Ex-charter boats may show more wear in the saloon and galley but retain the same core volume: fore-and-aft galley to starboard with twin deep sinks, a drop-down saloon table, and a navigation station with a full-size chart table.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, autopilot, chartplotter, watermaker, electric winches, washing machine, bimini, dinghy davits, and radar are commonly fitted. Often-seen additions include heating, solar, bow thruster, furling main, dodger, AIS, air conditioning, inverter, cockpit shower, and Starlink. Less common owner upgrades range into lithium batteries, wind generator, hot water, swim platform, freezer, hardtop, and documented circumnavigation prep. The factory already supplied three electronic winches and in-mast roller furling, so many listings concentrate upgrade budgets on climate and power systems rather than core sail handling.
What to Inspect
Documented known issues are limited but specific. The boat reviewed by Cruising World had a loop in the propane-locker drain line, an oversight later corrected by the builder—verify that the drain runs clear without a trap. Early hulls registered relatively high engine noise in the aft cabin during Boat of the Year tests; confirm that subsequent insulation, vibration reduction, and sound barrier beneath the cabin sole are present. The lazarette’s two gasketed hatches with overboard drains and the dedicated propane-tank hatch should be checked for seal integrity, since these are the boat’s primary below-deck flooding paths on either side of the compartment.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Island Packet 485 include the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, and Guatemala. For a shopper, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Prefer an owner three-cabin layout unless a charter history suits your budget
- Confirm propane drain correction and aft-cabin sound insulation on early hulls
- Inspect lazarette gasketed hatches and overboard drains for sealed function
- Expect commonly fitted voyaging gear; treat lithium and hardtop as rarer upgrades
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Island Packet 485/525. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $359,900 | — |
| Jun 25 | 2 | $339,000 | -5.8% |
| Jul 25 | 1 | $429,000 | +26.5% |
| Aug 25 | 3 | $388,000 | -9.6% |
| Sep 25 | 5 | $425,000 | +9.5% |
| Dec 25 | 3 | $345,000 | -18.8% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $444,012 | +28.7% |
| Apr 26 | 6 | $387,000 | -12.8% |
| May 26 | 5 | $429,000 | +10.9% |
| Jun 26 | 4 | $380,000 | -11.4% |
| Aug 26 | 3 | $429,000 | +12.9% |
Where they're listed
Island Packet 485/525 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 21 (70.0%), followed by Spain and United Kingdom.
Country view
30 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $398,000 | 21 | 5 | 70.0% |
| Spain | $535,574 | 4 | 1 | 13.3% |
| United Kingdom | $356,887 | 4 | 1 | 13.3% |
| Guatemala | $450,000 | 1 | 0 | 3.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 485/525You are here | — | $ 416,421 | 30 | 7 |
| Catalina 425 | 43.5' | $ 373,000 | 27 | 4 |
| Island Packet 420 | 44.58' | $ 270,970 | 26 | 1 |
| Island Packet 44 | 44' | $ 169,000 | 20 | 5 |
| Oyster 485 | 48.5' | $ 295,000 | 18 | 3 |
| Island Packet 465/495 | 48.75' | $ 325,000 | 17 | 5 |
| Island Packet 45 | 45.25' | $ 135,000 | 16 | 6 |
| Island Packet 445 | 45.75' | $ 359,000 | 15 | 0 |
| Nauticat 525 | 52.17' | $ 672,526 | 4 | 3 |
| Valiant 50 | 50.67' | $ 374,500 | 1 | 0 |