Vessel Guide

Models › Island Packet

Island Packet 350

Built 1997–2004 by Island Packet Yachts (Largo, Florida)

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About the Island Packet 350

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Island Packet 350
Illustration, not a photo of this model. AI-generated illustration of a typical full-keel offshore cutter.
Built
1997–2004
Builder
Island Packet Yachts (Largo, Florida)
Designer
Robert K. (Bob) Johnson
Length
34.67 ft
Waterline
29.33 ft
Beam
12 ft
Draft
4.25 ft
Displacement
16,000 lb
Ballast
7,500 lb
Hull / keel
full keel
Rig
cutter
Propulsion
inboard
Fuel
50 gal
Water
100 gal
Holding
30 gal
Water heater
AC + engine
Bow thruster
often added later
Stern thruster
not fitted
Steering
rack and pinion · Whitlock
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
  • Fuel 50 gal
    “50 US gal” — owners' association (1997-2004), iphomeport.com · “50 (gals)” — owners' association (1997-2004), iphomeport.com
    The Island Packet owners' site (IP Home Port) spec page and its all-model comparison table agree; the site calls its figures representative, as Island Packet specs changed during production.
  • Water 100 gal
    “100 US gal” — owners' association (1997-2004), iphomeport.com · “100 (gals)” — owners' association (1997-2004), iphomeport.com
  • Holding 30 gal
    “30 US gal” — owners' association (1997-2004), iphomeport.com · “30 (gals)” — owners' association (1997-2004), iphomeport.com
  • Water heater AC + engine
    “6 gallon Raritan, 110v AC/engine heated hot water heater (2018)” — broker listing, buy-a-boat.com
    One broker listing shows a 6 gal 110 V/engine heater dated 2018, a replacement. No builder, owners' association or review figure was found; the Practical Sailor and Cruising World reviews don't mention the heater.

Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.

Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
  • Bow thruster often added later
    The builder's 2003 Island Packet 350 specification and option list shows no thruster as standard, and its partial option list (it refers buyers to the dealer for the full list) has none either. No sign of them being added later was found, so our earlier figure has no source. Our earlier notes also mention a UK 350 with no thruster.
  • Stern thruster not fitted
    The 2003 builder list shows none as standard, but its option list is partial, so our earlier figure of none isn't proven.
  • Steering rack and pinion · Whitlock
    “Wheel steering - console mounted Whitlock "Premier XL" rack & pinion direct system w/"Monarch" style hood ... wheel brak” — builder (2003), cdn.yachtbroker.org
    From the builder's 2003 specification and price list (on Largo letterhead). An aggregator review says the Whitlock Premier XL system came in from March 1997; boats built before then may have a different rack-and-pinion unit, so that's worth confirming on your boat.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

Hull length (LOD) 34.67 ft; 36.83 ft overall including bowsprit (sailboatdata lists both). A UK owner reported their 350 had no bow thruster.

Engines fitted

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

No builder, owners' association or review source mentions a generator for the Island Packet 350.

Known problems for this model

Steering

Whitlock (later Lewmar) — Cobra / Mk2 rack-and-pinion pedestal steering parts: scarce

Whitlock steering passed to Lewmar, whose representatives could not find schematics for older pedestals. Owners rebuild with generic engineering parts (rod ends, seals, bearings, bevel boxes, pillow blocks) and specialist suppliers such as Yacht Steering Services; PYI was formerly the US Whitlock distributor. Some replace the whole system with an Edson unit.

Parts sources: Lewmar (steering spares)

Common problems (2)
  • Play in the wheel from worn gears and bearings steering
    The helm bevel gears drift apart and wear, and bearings fail, producing slack; owners re-shim, replace bearings, or refurbish housings. A failing top bearing can let the rack slip on the pinion under load.
    cruisersforum.com · morganscloud.com · youtube.com
  • Worn rod ends and seized housings steering
    Rod ends lose their Teflon liners, input shaft seals disintegrate, and aluminum housings can seize to the pedestal.
    morganscloud.com · cruisersforum.com
Model sources (12)

sailboatdata.com · island-packet-ancestry.com · forums.ybw.com · boattrader.com · denisonyachtsales.com · yachtworld.com · dhysales.com · bruntons-australia.com · iphomeport.com · iphomeport.com · buy-a-boat.com · cdn.yachtbroker.org

Other Island Packet models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.