Island Packet 38 Known Issues

Name: Island Packet 38
Brand: Island Packet Yachts (Usa)
Availability: InStock

Common problems, survey red flags, and what to inspect before buying a Island Packet 38.

These are the most commonly reported problems on the Island Packet 38, compiled from surveys, owner reports, and marine forums. Use this list as a pre-purchase inspection checklist — especially the high-severity items.

Known Issues

3 High 4 Medium 1 Low

Accommodations

Low

The IP38 settee and berth bases are built on the inner liner and use plywood components that are vulnerable to water intrusion from portlight leaks and condensation. Delamination and rot in these structural-cosmetic components is commonly found on surveyed examples.

Electrical

High

Island Packet wiring from the late 1980s production run used non-tinned copper wire in some harness sections. On boats kept in humid or saltwater environments, corrosion within wire bundles hidden behind the liner can cause intermittent failures and potential fire risk.

1986–1989 models

Engine

Medium

Many IP38s were fitted with the Perkins 4-108 diesel. This engine is known for raw water pump impeller failures that go unnoticed and lead to overheating and head gasket damage. The heat exchanger end caps on aging examples are also prone to corrosion and failure.

Hull/Deck

Medium

Island Packet used a full inner liner bonded to the hull shell on the IP38. Over time, the bond between the liner and hull can fail, allowing water to become trapped and causing delamination that is difficult to detect without moisture metering or destructive inspection.

Medium

The integral anchor locker on the IP38 is a known area for water intrusion into the foredeck laminate. The drain fitting and the locker-to-deck joint should be carefully inspected for cracks and moisture ingress, as repairs are labor-intensive.

High

Teak toerail and deck hardware bedding on early IP38s used sealants that have a limited service life. Water intrusion through hardware fasteners into the balsa-cored deck sections is a recurring problem on boats of this vintage, often leading to core saturation around chainplates and stanchion bases.

1986–1990 models

Keel

Medium

The IP38 uses a full-length encapsulated lead keel. Although encapsulation is generally robust, the keel-to-hull joint on these boats is known to develop hairline cracks that allow water intrusion into the encapsulation cavity, potentially causing expansion damage over freeze-thaw cycles in northern climates.

Rigging

High

The IP38 carries a relatively large fractional or masthead rig with chainplates glassed into the hull liner. The chainplate knees and backing structures should be inspected for stress cracking or weeping, as the liner bonding in this area can work loose under repeated rig loads.

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