Islander 32 Buyer's Guide
The Islander 32 Mk I — also marketed as the Iona 32 — is an early-sixties Joe H. McGlasson design built by Wayfarer Yacht Corp. For a shopper scanning the used market, she represents a first-generation fiberglass cruiser with a lead fin keel, a masthead rig, and an accommodative four-berth interior that still reads as a period family boat.
Layouts on the Used Market
Used Islander 32 examples follow McGlasson’s original plan: four berths, a galley, and a toilet facility within a 32.5-foot monohull of 10-foot beam. The 9,700-pound displacement and 4,600-pound lead ballast give a ballast ratio of 47 percent, and the 24.83-foot waterline keeps the cabin proportionate to a coastal cruiser rather than a voluminous modern 32-footer. Draft runs about 4.5 feet dependent on load, suiting shallow harbor approaches.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The defining factory auxiliary is the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline inboard at 30 horsepower, a period powerplant a buyer should budget to service or replace. Beyond that core item, the masthead rig with 454 square feet of sail area and a 135 percent genoa option is the boat’s principal upgrade path; rigging dimensions are period-standard, with 85-foot halyards and a 1/2-inch mainsheet around 81 feet. A used-boat buyer should verify the actual sail inventory and any added canvas rather than assume a specific modern suite.
What to Inspect
Verify the fiberglass hull and lead keel bond, check the Atomic 4 gasoline installation for fuel-system condition, and confirm the masthead rigging matches the boat’s specified halyard and sheet lengths masthead rig.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Shoppers should treat the Islander 32 as a scattered early-production fiberglass cruiser found through general brokerage channels rather than a concentrated local fleet.
- Confirm keel-hull joint and solid fiberglass hull condition
- Survey the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine and fuel lines
- Verify rigging against 85-foot halyards and 1/2-inch sheets
- Check four-berth layout, galley, and head for period upgrades
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 32 | 35' | $ 64,900 | 34 | 3 |
| Morgan 32 | 31.92' | $ 27,200 | 6 | 1 |