1987 Island Packet 38

Step below and you’ll notice how much thought went into making this 38-footer feel like a much larger cruising home. The wide beam carries well aft, so the saloon and aft cabin have a surprising amount of elbow room without feeling cavernous underway. Island Packet’s trademark bulkhead tabbing and massive chainplates give a reassuring sense of overbuild when you open lockers or peer behind panels. Under sail, the cutter rig really comes into its own; you can balance the boat beautifully for long, easy stretches on the helm. At anchor, the high bow and generous sheer keep the foredeck dry, while the protected cockpit invites lingering after dark with good sightlines and secure coamings.

For this cruising area’s mix of open-water stretches, choppy inlets, and skinny anchorages, the Island Packet 38 is an especially capable partner. The long, encapsulated keel tracks securely in a seaway and behaves kindly when the breeze pipes up, yet the moderate draft still lets you poke into quieter coves that deeper fin-keel boats must pass by. The cutter rig is handy when squalls roll through, allowing you to shorten sail and stay comfortable without drama. Ample tankage, robust ventilation, and generous storage make extended time aboard practical, whether you’re hopping between nearby harbors or stretching out into longer seasonal passages.