Island Packet 38
Description
The Island Packet 38 is a 38-foot (approximately 11.6 meters) bluewater cruising monohull sailboat designed by Bob Johnson, founder and naval architect of Island Packet Yachts, and built in Largo, Florida, USA, from 1986 to 1993. With 188 units produced, it exemplifies the brand's signature "Full Foil Keel" philosophy, combining a long, encapsulated lead keel for stability and directional control with a cutter rig for versatility in heavy weather. Targeted at liveaboard couples or families seeking safe, comfortable offshore passages, coastal cruising, or extended voyages (e.g., to the Bahamas, Caribbean, or circumnavigations), the IP 38 prioritizes seaworthiness, voluminous accommodations, and ease of handling over speed. Its distinctive beige (ivory) gelcoat hull, high freeboard, and practical layout have earned it a loyal following, with strong resale value—used models in 2025 typically list for $120,000-$160,000, reflecting minimal depreciation from its original $128,000 base price. 21500 lbs. Disp. 10000 lbs. Ballast 38' LOD 33' LWL 12'8" Beam 5' Draft 51' mast height above DWL
Construction Details
| Designer | Robert K. Johnson |
|---|---|
| Length | 41.500 ft |
| LOA | 38.000 ft |
| LWL | 33.000 ft |
| Beam | 12.670 ft |
| Displacement | 21500 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 46.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 17.83 ft |
| p | 40 ft |
| e | 16 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46.50 ft | 17.83 ft | 40 ft | 16 ft | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 40 ft - (12192 mm) |
| Foot | * 16 ft - (4877 mm) |
| Leech | * 42.28 ft - (12887 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 42.56 ft - (12972 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 328.6 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 39.84 ft - (12143 mm) |
| Foot | * 24.44 ft - (7449 mm) |
| Leech | * 33.53 ft - (10220 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 114.97 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.5 ft - (6248 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.01 ° |
| Area | * 408.36 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 47.31 ft - (14420 mm) |
| Foot | * 24.23 ft - (7385 mm) |
| Leech | * 43.94 ft - (13393 mm) |
| Percentage LP | 125 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 22.31 ft - (6800 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 1.99 ° |
| Area | * 527.72 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 47.31 ft - (14420 mm) |
| Foot | * 29.42 ft - (8967 mm) |
| Leech | * 43.53 ft - (13268 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 1044 ft² |
| Sail Type | STORMJIB |
|---|---|
| Luff | 23 ft - (7010 mm) |
| Foot | 12 ft - (3658 mm) |
| Leech | 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 52.16 % |
| Length Perp | * 9.3 ft - (2835 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 18.24 ° |
| Area | * 106.92 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.