The Island Packet 40 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Island Packet 40, a long-keeled cutter, was designed by Robert K. Johnson and built in the USA by Island Packet Yachts.

An Island Packet 40 sailboat making good progress under full sail

An Island Packet 40 making good progress on a broad reach

Published Specification for the Island Packet 40

Underwater Configuration: Long keel

Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)

Length Overall: 41′ 6″ (12.68m)

Waterline Length: 34′ 0″ (10.36m)

Beam: 12′ 11″ (3.94m)

Draft: 4′ 8″ (1.42m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 22,280 lb

Designer: Robert K. Johnson

Builder: Island Packet Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1994

Year Last Built: 2000

Number Built: 139

Published Design Ratios for the Island Packet 40

Sail Area/Displacement: 18.1

Ballast/Displacement: 43.9

Displacement/Length: 259

Comfort Ratio: 32.6

Capsize Screening Formula: 1.8

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Island Packet 40

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 18.1 suggests that the Island Packet 40 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 43.9 means that the Island Packet 40 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 259, tells us the Island Packet 40 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 32.6 suggests that crew comfort of an Island Packet 40 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.8 tells us that an Island Packet 40 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

More about the Island Packet 40...

The Island Packet 40 is a solid and sturdy sailboat that combines traditional lines with modern features. It has a long waterline, a moderate beam, a full keel with a cutaway forefoot, and a skeg-hung rudder. It has a generous sail area that is easy to handle with the self-tacking staysail and in-mast or in-boom furling mainsail.

IP40 Sailplan & Accommodation Layout

Accommodation
The Island Packet 40 offers a comfortable and spacious accommodation for up to seven people in three cabins. The layout is as follows:

Forward cabin: This is the owner's cabin that features a Pullman berth with drawers and lockers underneath, two hanging lockers, two cabinets, four opening ports, two overhead hatches, and an ensuite head with shower;

Main saloon: This is the main living area that features a U-shaped dinette to starboard that converts to a double berth, a settee to port that can be used as a single berth, a fold-down table that can be stowed against the bulkhead, two cabinets, four opening ports, two overhead hatches, and numerous storage compartments;

Galley: This is the kitchen area that features ample storage and counter space, a three-burner stove with oven, a double sink with hot and cold water, a refrigerator/freezer, a microwave oven (optional), four opening ports, and an overhead hatch;

Navigation station: This is the navigation area that features a chart table with drawers and lockers underneath, an instrument panel with various electronics and instruments, an electrical panel with circuit breakers, an opening port, and an overhead hatch;

Aft cabin: This is the guest cabin that features a double berth with drawers underneath, a hanging locker, two cabinets, two opening ports, an overhead hatch, and access to the second head with shower;

Aft head: This is the second head that features a manual toilet, a sink with hot and cold water, a shower with curtain, a mirror cabinet, an opening port, and an overhead hatch.

Hull and Deck
The Island Packet 40 has a robust and elegant hull and deck that are built to the highest standards of quality and durability. The hull is made of fiberglass with a knitted triaxial roving that provides superior impact and puncture resistance compared to conventional woven rovings or cored construction.

The hull is also coated with a patented PolyClad2 gelcoat system that offers excellent protection against osmosis and blistering. The hull has a long waterline, a moderate beam, a full keel with a cutaway forefoot, and a skeg-hung rudder. The hull has lead ballast that is encapsulated in the fiberglass keel structure.

The deck is also made of fiberglass with a Divinycell foam core that reduces weight and increases stiffness. The deck is also resin-infused for optimal strength and quality. The deck has a recessed foredeck with bulwarks, a center cockpit with a single wheel, a wide aft deck with a swim platform, and a transom ladder. The deck has various features and fittings that enhance safety and convenience, such as full-length cabin top handrails, double lifelines with welded front and rear rails, an electric windlass, a bow thruster, a dodger, a bimini, a davit system etc. The deck has a slip-resistant surface of a contrasting low-glare gelcoat.

Mast and Rigging
The Island Packet 40 has a cutter-rigged sloop configuration that offers versatility and performance in various wind and sea conditions. It has a self-tacking staysail that can be used in heavy weather or as an alternative to the genoa. It has an in-mast or in-boom furling mainsail that can be easily reefed or stowed from the cockpit. It has a roller-furling genoa that can be adjusted for different points of sail.

Keel and Rudder
The Island Packet 40 has a full keel with a cutaway forefoot that provides stability, directional control, and protection for the propeller and rudder. It has a lead ballast that is encapsulated in the fiberglass keel structure. It has a draft of 4' 8" (1.42m) that allows access to shallow waters.

The Island Packet 40 has a skeg-hung rudder that is attached to the keel by a stainless steel rudder post. It has a balanced design that reduces the helm pressure and improves the steering response.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.