Island Packet: the right boat for remote voyaging?

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

I'd love to hear from Island packet owners, particularly what your thoughts are on the suitability of these boats for my purposes (inc. any particular models) and also just general comments about your experiences living aboard and long distance cruising on an island packet.

I am not an IP owner but will nonetheless break with Cruisers Forum tradition and try to answer the question you asked rather than some other question.


As you may be aware, IP has made a business out of designing and building boats specifically for people who have the same goals that you do: people who don't necessarily care much about sailing but want a platform for gunkholing.


If you're not familiar with the term, gunkholing is the practice of cruising to remote, often shallow, bays and sounds and spending nights there at anchor.


The IP design brief is to design a boat that: maximizes interior and cockpit space for a given length, maximizes tankage, minimizes draft, simplifies handling, and exhibits a high quality interior fit and finish. These goals are achieved at the expense of sailing performance, particularly upwind performance.


A look at the PHRF handicaps bears this out: PHRF New England - Handicapping - Base Handicaps - The IP 38 has a handicap of 168 while most other 38' cruising boats (Catalina, Hunter, Beneteau, Tartan) have handicaps in the 110-120 range. That's an enormous difference, nearly one minute per mile on a circular course. In practice the performance will be relatively similar downwind or on a reach with a much larger difference in upwind performance.


If your attitude towards that is, "so what, I'll start the motor or wait until the wind changes" then an Island Packet could be right for you.


At $125k the newer IPs will be out of your budget as they are a) sought after on the used market and b) expensive when new. A 35' boat is probably too small for what you want to do so you would be looking at older IP38s and may have difficulty finding one in good shape.


Best wishes for a successful search.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Jammer

I am not an IP owner but will nonetheless break with Cruisers Forum tradition and try to answer the question you asked rather than some other question.

This has to be one of the funniest things I have read in ages. Ha ha ha.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by smj

Can’t imagine much in 15-20.
But to simplify, which boat has more stress in the rig and the parts holding the rig up, the one with 300 sq ft of sail up or the one with 1000 sq ft?

Depends.. was it a 50-60kts 12hrs before mid Biscay.. or Aussie Bight.. wind direction.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by MJH

I didn't see anybody recommend a boat with a centerboard;

I literally did right before your post

[smj]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Depends.. was it a 50-60kts 12hrs before mid Biscay.. or Aussie Bight.. wind direction.

Was it blowing offshore as we sail 40’ from the shoreline…………

[boatman61]

The OP is talking S Pacific which involves sometimes being 2000nm from land, or near very low lying atolls, not day sailing port to port.
Remote sailing involves molly coddling one's boat as much as possible.. at least it does for me, even if it's only a Transat where help and facilities are more easily available.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The OP is talking S Pacific which involves sometimes being 2000nm from land, or near very low lying atolls, not day sailing port to port.
Remote sailing involves molly coddling one's boat as much as possible.. at least it does for me, even if it's only a Transat where help and facilities are more easily available.

In that environment you won't want to sail any boat up to its limits. And when the seas get rough, you need to know when to slow down and/or adjust course to avoid beating the boat to pieces. But until the sea state gets really nasty, the faster boat will typically still be going faster if both are being sailed at a similar portion of their abilities.

The faster boat also has the advantage of being able to cover more ground in a day, which means that when you get notice of approaching weather, you can move further in 24 or 48 hours before it hits, giving you a better chance to avoid the worst weather. Of course, the boat still needs to be sturdy enough to handle the stuff you can't avoid.

[smj]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The OP is talking S Pacific which involves sometimes being 2000nm from land, or near very low lying atolls, not day sailing port to port.
Remote sailing involves molly coddling one's boat as much as possible.. at least it does for me, even if it's only a Transat where help and facilities are more easily available.

[emoji1303]glad we agree

[boatman61]

Now this is where the 'Run before' crowd and I differ..
The run before crowd will be in the bad weather beating up the boat for much longer than me hove to getting rested while letting it blow past me at 15 to 25kts, depending on the type of front..

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Now this is where the 'Run before' crowd and I differ..
The run before crowd will be in the bad weather beating up the boat for much longer than me hove to getting rested while letting it blow past me at 15 to 25kts, depending on the type of front..

That's a decision to make based on the specific weather in question, the boat, crew, etc. With any situation where you have the ability to vary course / speed significantly in weather, you have to choose whether you'll be better off running with it for easier conditions, but be in the weather long vs blasting through it (or heaving to) to be done in a shorter time, but possibly with more abuse taken in that time.

[Amazing Grace]

I own an IP370. I sold an IP 32 a couple of years ago because the the 370 was much more comfortable for 3 or 4 to cruise aboard. The 370 draws 4.3 ft so can get in pretty shallow water, doesn't have the chain plate and tankage issues (which may be an issue for boats earlier than 2002-I don't recall exactly) They aren't the fastest boats to sail, however they are solidly constructed and I wouldn't be afraid to take them across the Pacific. You might be able to find older IP's that have replaced tanks and chain plates. I did that work on my 32 before buying the new boat. Good luck.

[Leighpilot]

Get a boat sized to yourself and your partner. Those other friends aren’t coming. They just aren’t. In 99% of the time I’ll be right. So 35 ft will be adequate.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Now this is where the 'Run before' crowd and I differ..
The run before crowd will be in the bad weather beating up the boat for much longer than me hove to getting rested while letting it blow past me at 15 to 25kts, depending on the type of front..

Sorry.. That should have read 15 to 25mph...

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

That's a decision to make based on the specific weather in question, the boat, crew, etc. With any situation where you have the ability to vary course / speed significantly in weather, you have to choose whether you'll be better off running with it for easier conditions, but be in the weather long vs blasting through it (or heaving to) to be done in a shorter time, but possibly with more abuse taken in that time.

Never taken damage hove to yet from 22ft to 64ft and winds upto 60+kts and big seas in the Biscay and Atlantic.
Nor laid ahull come to that..

[jaysawyer]

I have an Island Packet 40 for 3 years now. I think they are a good choice for your plans. They will hold their value in case your plans change! Also they are a good safe boat for you while you gain experience.

The Caliber is another very similar boat to consider. I would avoid fin keels if you are intending to live on the boat and travel the ocean.

You will want to spend as long as possible sailing the boat locally and some overnight sails to gain experience and discover all the repairs needed. This could take a year or three. Check the mast height with your fixed bridges in your home area. You will need to discover if you can accept the stress of ocean sailing, the tiring and uncomfortable wave action, the difficulty of docking, the storms, anchoring, the constant list of repairs and replacements, and if the occaisional beautiful sail that can make it all worth it.

I am in my third year of this discovery and it has been eventful! Time now to take most everything off the boat to prepare for hurricaine season.