BoatsIsland Packet 439

Island Packet 439

Cutter · Long Keel w/rudder On Skeg · First built 2021

A modern 2021-launched cutter with a heavy-displacement hull and a 1.52-meter draft for stable, deep-water cruising

Designed by Robert K. Johnson.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel w/rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Island Packet 439, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Practical Sailor

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 35 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 35
CoastalBluewater

1.81 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.81
LightHeavy

259 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 259
EasygoingPowered-up

18.0 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 18.0
TenderStiff

38% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 38%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Heavier than ~80% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~76% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~93% of boats her size on file

Compared with 239 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Island Packet 439, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Island PACKET 439 is a 14.3-meter (47-foot) cutter-rigged, long-keel bluewater cruiser designed by Robert K. Johnson and built by Island Packet Yachts since 2021.13:00 It features a rudder on a skeg, a 4.4-meter beam, a 1.5-meter draft, and displaces 14,514 kg, prioritizing heavy-displacement stability and live-aboard comfort. The hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline, and the rig provides over 1,100 square feet of sail area. Aboard *Practical Sailor*, the boat's 38% ballast ratio and 5-foot draft are noted as suitable for shallow anchorages and the Intracoastal Waterway.8:51 The interior offers 6-foot-4-inch to 6-foot-5-inch headroom, a U-shaped settee, and a galley with double sinks and large refrigeration.3:28 It carries 160 gallons of fuel and 220 gallons of water.5:11 While its displacement-to-length ratio of 259 limits top-end speed, the design emphasizes predictable motion and ease of handling in offshore conditions. *Lady K Sailing* compared the Island PACKET 439 to the Beneteau Oceanis 47, highlighting the Island Packet's specialized, conservative build for shorthanded offshore cruising against the Beneteau's lighter displacement and modern performance.6:09

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Island Packet 439 on video

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen for sale
US$600,000Median asking
US$200,000–US$1,000,000Asking range

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
37.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.0
Displacement / length
258.7
Comfort ratio
35.0
Capsize screening
1.81
Hull speed
8.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1950
Hull
Hull type
Long keel w/rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 2021
Designer
Robert K. Johnson
Builder
Island Packet

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Island Packet 44013.94 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 44-foot blue-water cruiser featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a 1.52-metre draft for versatile coastal exploration
[OFF MARKET] Island Packet 440 (JESSICA MEI) - Yacht for Sale - Berthon Int.from Berthon International
Hans Christian 4312.99 mSame hull family1.3 m shorterA 12.99-metre staysail ketch with a long keel and high comfort ratio, built from 1974 to 1992 for steady offshore work
This Bluewater Legend Might Be the Wrong Boat – Hans Christian 43Tfrom Lady K Sailing
Island Packet 4513.79 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA 45-foot cutter with a 1.47-metre draft, balancing substantial displacement with shoal-water accessibility
RIDICULOUS PRICE Island Packet 45 WOW! World Cruising Sailboat for Under $200k - Ep 317from Lady K Sailing
Island Packet 4413.41 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA 13.4-meter blue-water cutter with a 1.47-meter draft, balancing heavy-displacement stability with shoal-water access
No One Wants This ISLAND PACKET 44! Ep 367 - Lady K Sailing0:52from Lady K Sailing
Dolphin 47 (Alden)14.30 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA heavy-displacement staysail ketch from the board of John G. Alden, built for comfortable, stable blue-water cruising
Are Windows Really a Good Idea in Hulls?3:58from Lucky Pete Sailing AQUALIBRA
Explorer 45 (Huntingford)13.79 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA long-keeled staysail ketch designed by Stan Huntingford for stable, comfortable blue-water passage making
Boat Life: Overhauling our Bilges | Preparing to Sail the World | Cruising Meraki Ep 14from Cruising Meraki • Sailing Family

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Island Packet 440A 44-foot blue-water cruiser featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a 1.52-metre draft for versatile coastal explorationIsland Packet 349A Robert K. Johnson-designed cruiser featuring a shoal-draft long keel and a versatile Solent rigIsland Packet 460/490An aft-cockpit cutter designed for offshore stability, featuring a 1.52-metre draft and a robust long-keel hullIsland Packet 420A 13.59-metre blue-water cutter with a 1.52-metre draft and a heavy-displacement hull for offshore stabilityIsland Packet 44A 13.4-meter blue-water cutter with a 1.47-meter draft, balancing heavy-displacement stability with shoal-water access

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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