Island Packet 349

The Island Packet 349 is a 38-foot bluewater cruising sloop built by Island Packet Yachts of Largo, Florida and debuted at the Annapolis Sailboat Show in fall 2018. Designed by Bob Johnson and the Island Packet design team, it targets couples or small crews seeking a genuine offshore passagemaker in a manageable package, priced at under $300,000 fully equipped.

The 349 earned multiple 2019 Cruising World Boat of the Year awards, including Overall Boat of the Year and Midsize Cruiser, validating its strong combination of safety-oriented design, build quality, and practical cruising features.

Island Packet built the 349 around a one-piece integral hull-and-keel structure, hand-laminated from solid fiberglass using a proprietary pressure-fed infusion process. The keel is a full-foil type with fully encapsulated lead ballast and an attached rudder, delivering a 38 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio and a shallow 4-foot draft that suits both blue water passages and shoal-draft coastal harbors.

The deck is vacuum-bagged with Divinycell foam core, while the single-spreader aluminum rig carries stainless steel standing rigging and Harken hardware. Island Packet repositioned the mast slightly aft, creating room for two rig options: the standard Solent configuration with a self-tacking headsail and code zero, or an optional traditional cutter setup with a bowsprit. Interior joinery employs solid teak and teak-and-holly sole throughout, consistent with the brand's long-standing fit-and-finish standards.

The 349's full-foil keel and moderate displacement (displacement-to-length ratio of 288) reflect a cruising-oriented rather than racing-oriented design. In light-air testing with 5–9 knots of breeze the boat moved comfortably at 3.5–4 knots, and the Solent rig's self-tacking jib proved effective for short-handed sailing. The hull speed on the 31-foot waterline works out to roughly 7.5 knots.

Under power, the 45 hp Yanmar Common Rail diesel pushes the boat to 5 knots at 1,500 rpm and 6 knots at 2,000 rpm. At a steady 6-knot motoring pace the engine burns approximately half a gallon of diesel per hour, giving a comfortable 500-plus-mile motoring range from the 55-gallon tank. A bow thruster was fitted on the test boat to assist close-quarters maneuvering.

The semi-custom build process allows buyers to configure the layout to their preferences, but the standard arrangement provides three cabins and berths for six or seven. The forward stateroom features an offset double berth, and an aft quarterberth offers substantial storage alongside the sleeping space. A spacious head with separate shower stall is notable for a boat of this length.

The main saloon includes an L-shaped settee and a chart table that folds away when not in use. The galley, positioned to starboard, is fitted with a Force 10 stove and Vitrifrigo refrigeration on the test boat. Cedar veneer joinery, LED lighting throughout, and Dorade ventilators with integral cages round out the offshore-capable interior.