Island Packet 360: Sister Ship

A lot of folks agree with that premise. To date, the company has sold more than 2,300 boats, and according to its records, more than a quarter of those owners sail aboard their second, third, or even fourth Island Packet. Hundreds—including, no doubt, the hearty couple that had just waved at us—make the annual migration south to the islands.

Down below, the 360 has been well thought out to accommodate living aboard. The V-berths in the forward and aft cabins have inserts to create comfortable double bunks, but there’s room to dress in either cabin with the insert in place and the door closed. The head can be accessed from the main saloon or the forward cabin and features a push-button electric-flush toilet, a wraparound vanity with solid acrylic countertops, and a shower compartment with a wide seat. While a bit cramped, the U-shaped galley packs in two spacious fridge/freezer compartments; deep, stainless-steel inboard sinks; solid acrylic countertops with integral fiddles; a water-purifier tap; and a microwave oven. Eleven opening ports, two dorades, and five hatches provide exceptional ventilation.

The saloon functions effectively as living room, dining room, or, with the settee pulled out into a double berth, a third bedroom. However, the reclining chairs come at the expense of a usable navigation station/computer desk and a sea berth on the starboard side of the boat. Replacing the chairs with a starboard settee is an option, one that will appeal to those who plan to make several long passages a year.

The interior finish combines practicality with luxury. At the base of the companionway, a teak grate surrounded by fiberglass extends into the galley, giving wet crew a space to towel off before moving forward onto the solid, varnished tongue-and-groove sole of sapele and oak. The 360 also boasts raised-panel doors and cedar-lined lockers, features previously reserved for the largest boats in the fleet.

On deck, this is a boat designed to keep you safe and sound. As we made our way out into Chesapeake Bay, the wind picked up into the mid-20s and the chop increased to 3 feet. The boat’s heavy displacement dampened the motion, and I felt secure moving forward down the wide side decks flanked by the high bulwarks and lifelines on one side and the tall coachroof with stainless-steel handgrips along its entire length on the other.

The cutter-rigged sail plan consists of an in-mast furling mainsail with vertical battens, a roller-furling staysail, and a roller-furling 110-percent jib. The Hoyt jib boom makes tacking with the staysail a matter of turning the helm, but it also makes it difficult to get into the anchor locker, creates a tripping hazard going onto the bowsprit, and precludes stowing a dinghy on the foredeck, leaving davits as the only option.

The 360 isn’t designed to be an upwind machine, and it didn’t come into its own until we cracked off to a close reach. Then we did an acceptable 5 knots on the 31-foot waterline with a reefed mainsail and the 110-percent jib. The standard winches on the boat were undersized for the conditions, but larger winches are an option, and the winch pads are sized to accommodate them.

The solid Island Packet construction makes these long-lived boats that hold their value well. The company stands behind its boats with impressive warranties: three-year stem to stern and 10-year hull and deck. Those who consider the Island Packet designs anachronistic will prefer the performance advantage of more modern designs. But for the many who believe in the traditional virtues, the IP 360 will fill the bill.

As we made our way back toward Annapolis, Bill Bolin squinted into the rain. “Is that one of ours?” he asked. A moment later, I made out the characteristic beige hull, cutter rig, and wide bowsprit. Yes, another Island Packet heading south.

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LOA    36’ 5”    (11.10 m.)
LWL    31’ 6”    (9.58 m.)
Beam    12’ 4”    (3.76 m.)
Draft    4’ 0”    (1.22 m.)
Sail Area (100%)    831 sq. ft.    (77.2 sq. m.)
Ballast    7,500 lb.    (3,402 kg.)
Displacement    19,300 lb.    (8,754 kg.)
Ballast/D    .39
D/L    276
SA/D    18.5
Water    110 gal.    (416 l.)
Fuel    55 gal.    (208 l.)
Holding    30 gal.    (113 l.)   
Mast Height    54’ 0”    (16.46 m.)
Engine    40-hp. Yanmar
Designer    Bob Johnson, N.A.
Price    $349,950
Island Packet Yachts
(727) 535-6431
www.IPY.com

Two-time circumnavigator Beth A. Leonard served on the judging panel for the 2012 Boat of the Year awards.