Johnson, the company’s founder and chief designer, gave the Estero a maximum draft of just 4 feet. That opens up Carolina backwaters and Florida canals where owners of other Island Packet models may have to play the tides.
Design and Construction
The Estero 36 has a solid fiberglass-reinforced plastic hull and a balsa-free deck, a construction approach intended for longevity. All through-hulls are bronze and through-bolted to flanged seacocks. A long shoe runs from the keel to the skeg, shielding the propeller and rudder skeg.
Fiberglass freshwater and holding tanks sit below the cabin sole, while the 60-gallon fuel tank is made from heavy-gauge marine-grade aluminum. Total water capacity is 120 gallons.
With 7,300 pounds of ballast and an 18,800-pound displacement, the Estero has a conservative 40-percent ballast-displacement ratio. Its length-to-beam ratio of 2.95 is in keeping with Johnson’s earlier work. A motion-comfort ratio of 31 puts it close to the larger Island Packet 370, while a capsize screening figure of 1.86 reflects a stable, offshore-minded profile.
Rig and Sail Handling
Both the jib and mainsail are self-tacking, making a trip to windward as simple as turning the wheel. An in-mast Sparcraft furler and a self-tacking Hoyt boom allow the crew to set, reef, and furl both sails from the cockpit. The mainsail and jib halyards lead to dedicated Lewmar Ocean Series 16C two-speed winches on the mast.
In Practical Sailor’s trial, the Estero averaged about 5.5 knots on a beam reach in 9 knots apparent wind. It sustained 6.3 knots with apparent wind near 10 knots at 110 degrees and tacked through 100 degrees, including leeway.
Under Power
A Yanmar 40-horsepower diesel turns a 17-inch three-bladed propeller. During the trial, the boat made 6.6 knots at 2,400 rpm and 7.3 knots at wide-open throttle.
At the lower cruising setting, sound levels measured 79 decibels in the saloon and a quiet 74 decibels in the cockpit, with the companionway open.
Cockpit and Steering
The cockpit’s 7-foot-long seats provide plenty of room to stretch out. Twin 2-inch cockpit drains and a high bridgedeck are intended to handle boarding waves.
The solid Edson CD-I geared rack-and-pinion steering is well suited to a belowdecks autopilot. The emergency tiller has a dedicated location in the starboard locker.
Accommodations
The Estero’s most radical departure is its main social area, which sits forward of the mast. This forward saloon also doubles as a sleeping cabin.
Just aft of the mast and to port, a U-shaped galley sits near the boat’s fore-and-aft center. Its forward-facing configuration includes sinks only 6 inches deep, an unusually shallow arrangement for an Island Packet.
The owner’s stateroom is aft and to port, where it offers 6-foot-4-inch standing headroom. Opposite, the navigation station includes a fold-down chart table and a roomy pilot berth. Overall headroom below is also 6 feet 4 inches.
Trade-Offs and Known Issues
Practical Sailor’s survey identified the galley sinks as a genuine weak point. At only 6 inches deep, they’re unusually shallow for the brand and limit practical dishwashing and cleanup in the forward-facing configuration.
The forward saloon is innovative, but it also places the main living space in the bow, where the boat’s motion is greatest. That’s a layout trade-off made in exchange for the private aft stateroom, rather than a defect in construction or materials.
Refits and Ownership
The in-mast furling and self-tacking systems reduce rigging wear caused by crew handling, though buyers should budget for routine furler service.
With 120 gallons of water and 60 gallons of diesel, the Estero can support extended cruising without immediate tank upgrades.
The Verdict
The Estero 36 is a thoughtfully unconventional Island Packet. It trades some traditional layout wisdom for shoal-draft freedom and easy short-handed sail handling. Johnson’s influence is clear in its ballast ratios and comfort figures, while details such as bronze seacocks, an aluminum fuel tank, and protected running gear reflect the marque’s emphasis on durability.
Pros
- Four-foot draft opens shallow cruising grounds unavailable to deeper sisterships
- Self-tacking jib and mainsail, with cockpit furling, simplify windward work
- Solid FRP hull, balsa-free deck, and bronze through-hulls throughout
- Quiet diesel operation at cruising speed: 74 dB in the cockpit
Cons
- Shallow 6-inch galley sinks limit practical cleanup
- Forward main saloon places the primary living space in the bow’s liveliest area
