How an Island Packet and Seaward Yacht Sailboat is Built
If you’ve been reading this blog, then you know that we sailed across the Pacific Ocean to French Polynesia (The Marquesas, The Tuamotu’s & the Society Islands) then Hawaii, and back to San Diego, CA in our 1996, Island Packet 37 cutter rig sailboat.
When we returned home, we sold our sailboat and purchased an RV. After traveling across the United States, Canada, and Alaska, we wanted to find out more about our Island Packet Yacht and decided to travel to the factory in Largo, Florida. We initially purchased our sailboat from Suncoast Yachts in San Diego, CA and we were impressed and thankful we decided on the safety of an Island Packet.
This mini-documentary How an Island Packet and Seaward Yacht Sailboat is Built explains our experiences at the factory which includes interviews with employees from engineering, gelcoat, parts, and metal fabrication, the plant manager, and the Island Packet Yachts owner, Darrell Allen. During the tour, there were several yachts being constructed including a Seaward 26RK, the Island Packet 349 and others were on deck.
First, we experienced the gelcoat application followed by the fiberglass layers. We also met the metal fabrication expert and lead engineer. Many employees have worked at Island Packet for 10 to 35 years and some even worked with their own family members for 3 generations.
The steps to build an Island Packet Yacht include:
Design and Engineering
Tooling/Molds
Gel Coat
Laminating
Ballast
Tankage and Chainplates
Rudder installation
Structural floor grid
Wood mill and materials
Interior assembly
Deck assembly
Decking Detail and
Quality control
Ready for transport
The TOP TEN Safety Features of an Island Packet Yacht:
1. Full Foil Keel/ Integrated hull and keel (one piece)
2. Protected propeller and rudder
3. Hand steering in the seat in case of emergency
4. Hole in engine compartment for fire suppression
5. Rudder with hole for emergency lines to pull rudder back and forth
6. Cockpit size enables safety underway
7. All lines and halyards got to the cockpit
8. easy to reef mainsail due to in mast furling system
9. Anchor windless can be controlled from the helm or forward
10. Hand pump at helm for the bilge
More: Resistance to capsize
Direct Steering system: geared rack and pinion steering
Cream color gelcoat for ease on the eyes
Sturdy hand holds throughout
Immediate anchor access; tangle free ground tackle storage
Two anchor bow rollers
Made in America
Salpeda wood is standard with Cherry and Teak options
Customization
Comments welcome! Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/theadventuretravelers
The following is a list of the safety features we review in this video:
Rack and pinion steering
Emergency tiller steering
Safe, tight cockpit
Continuous cockpit seating/lounging
Stainless steel, safety “D” rings in the cockpit and galley
Locking hatch boards Sea Safe® anchor rollers
Foot controlled windlass at the bow
Cockpit controlled windlass
Glassed in, stainless steel chain plates
Up to 14 stays on the mast, including twin back stays
Emergency rudder steering
Full Foil Keel ® with skeg rudder
Triaxial knitted laminate integration
All controls leading to the cockpit
Stainless steel, in-house fabricated hand rails throughout (interior and exterior)
Slip resistant, diamond shaped deck floor
Safety glass
Fuel and water tanks at mid ship
Easy access to the engine
Oxygen deprivation hole to the engine
Bronze flange sea cocks that are thru bolted, double clamped and labeled
Made in America
High stanchions and lifelines
Low center of gravity
High quality ports and hatches
Oversized mast and boom
Closed in transom with molded in swim step
Abundant storage to safely put away gear and provisions
Solid wood grooved cabin sole for grip
Exterior lighting at gates and cockpit
Fiddles on countertops in galley and head
Island Packet ivory deck color, which is easiest on the eyes when at sea.
Check out our the beginning of our sailing journey to Baja, Mexico.
Looking to purchase an Island Packet Yacht?
Check out Island Packet Yachts in the 20 Bluewater Cruising Sailboats Under $100,000 reviews from our friends at #BoatLife
2 thoughts on “How an Island Packet and Seaward Yacht Sailboat is Built”
Thanks! We really appreciate it. This video and blog post was a lot of fun to make.
Great content! Super high-quality! Keep it up! 🙂