Island Packet Yachts

Island Packet Yachts (1979–2016, Largo, Florida) is universally regarded as the most uncompromising production builder of full-keel, heavy-displacement bluewater cruising sailboats ever to come out of the United States. Founded by naval architect Bob Johnson, every single model—from the original IP 26 through the flagship IP 485 and short-lived Blue Jacket 40 performance series—shares the same DNA that has created an almost cult-like owner loyalty and resale values unmatched in the industry:

Signature “Full Foil Keel”: long, cutaway full keel with encapsulated lead ballast, ultra-shoal draft (typically 3′6″–4′10″), and legendary tracking/protection
Extremely heavy displacement (D/L 280–360) and high ballast ratios (40–45 %) for ultimate stiffness and positive stability well beyond 120°
Moderate cutter or solent rigs (SA/D 14–17) with all control lines led aft and boom heights optimized for short-handed sailing
Solid hand-laid fiberglass hulls using vinylester/isophthalic resins, no core below the waterline, massive 360°-tabbed bulkheads, bronze seacocks, and chainplates bolted directly to the hull
Teak-drenched interiors with exquisite joinery, tank-tested sea berths, huge tankage, and ventilation/light that make long passages livable
Overbuilt everything: spars, rigging, deck hardware, and systems designed for decades of world cruising rather than weekend racing