The Island Packet 445 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Island Packet 445, a long-keeled cutter, was designed by Bob Johnson and built in the USA by Island Packet Yachts.

An Island Packet 445, a high-volume, centre-cockpit cruising yacht designed by Bob Johnson.

Many thanks to Jim Shanahan for this great pic of his Island Packet 445 'Watermark III'

Published Specification for the Island Packet 445

Underwater Profile: Long Keel

Hull Material: GRP (fiberglass)

Length Overall: 45'9" (13.94m)

Waterline Length: 38'1" (11.61m)

Beam: 14'4" (4.37m)

Draft: 5'0" (1.52m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 34,500lb (15,649kg)

Designer: Bob Johnson

Builder: Island Packet Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 2004

Published Design Ratios for the Island Packet 445

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.3

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 34.8

Displacement/Length Ratio: 279

Comfort Ratio: 38.1

Capsize Screening Formula: 1.8

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Island Packet 445

eBook: How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Sailboat

Download this eBook to make sure you buy wisely!

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.3 suggests that the Island Packet 445 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 34.8 means that the Island Packet 445 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and may need to be reefed early to keep her sailing comfortably upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 279, tells us the Island Packet 445 is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 38.1 suggests that crew comfort of an Island Packet 445 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 445 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 445...

The Island Packet 445 combines traditional styling with modern features and innovations. It has a long waterline, a full keel with a protected rudder, a high-aspect ratio cutter rig with in-mast furling, and a spacious cockpit with twin wheels. It also has a large and bright interior with two or three cabins, two heads, a generous galley and a dedicated navigation station. The boat is well-equipped for long-distance cruising, with ample storage space, water and fuel capacity, and safety features.

IP445 Layout Plan

The Island Packet 445 is not a racing boat, but it is a capable performer in various wind and sea conditions. It is easy to handle by a small crew or even single-handed, thanks to its self-tacking staysail and electric winches. It is also stable and comfortable at sea, thanks to its moderate displacement, high ballast ratio and hull shape. The boat has a good reputation among owners and reviewers for its quality, durability and reliability.

Accommodation
The Island Packet 445 has a spacious and bright interior that can accommodate up to seven people. The boat has two versions: the standard version has two cabins and two heads, while the optional version has three cabins and two heads. Both versions have the same layout in the main saloon, which features a large U-shaped settee with a folding table on the starboard side, and two chairs with a small table on the port side. The saloon also has several opening ports and hatches for ventilation and light.

The galley is located on the starboard side of the companionway, and it is well-equipped for cooking at sea or at anchor. It has a three-burner stove with oven, a double sink, a large refrigerator and freezer, a microwave oven, and plenty of counter space and storage cabinets. The galley also has a flip-up counter extension that can serve as a breakfast bar or additional work surface.

The navigation station is located on the port side of the companionway, opposite the galley. It has a large chart table with an adjustable seat, an instrument panel with a chart plotter, VHF radio, autopilot control and other electronics, and several drawers and shelves for charts, books and tools.

The owner's cabin is located forward of the saloon, and it is accessed through a private door on the starboard side. It has a large island berth with an inner-spring mattress, two hanging lockers, several drawers and cabinets, and an en-suite head with shower. The owner's cabin also has two opening ports and two hatches for ventilation and light.

The guest cabin is located aft of the saloon, on the port side. It has a double berth that can be converted into two single berths if needed, a hanging locker, several drawers and cabinets, and access to the second head with shower. The guest cabin also has an opening port and hatch for ventilation and light.

The optional third cabin is located aft of the saloon, on the starboard side. It has two single berths that can be used as seats or storage space when not in use, a hanging locker, several drawers and cabinets, and access to the second head with shower. The third cabin also has an opening port and hatch for ventilation and light.

Hull and Deck
The Island Packet 445 has a solid fiberglass hull that is built using Island Packet's exclusive PolyClad3 gelcoat system, which provides superior protection against osmosis, blistering and UV degradation. The hull also has an integral molded rub rail with stainless steel striker for extra durability.

The deck is made of fiberglass sandwich construction with end-grain balsa core for stiffness and insulation. The deck also has molded nonskid surfaces for safety and comfort.

The cockpit is one of the most attractive features of the Island Packet 445. It is large enough to accommodate several people comfortably, and it has twin wheels that provide excellent visibility and steering control from either side. The cockpit also has long seats with cushions, a folding cockpit table with drink holders, a dodger and bimini for shade and protection, and a large lazarette for storage.

The deck has wide side decks that allow easy access to the bow and stern. The deck also has a double anchor roller with electric windlass, a bow sprit with anchor locker, a stern platform with ladder and shower, and a sugar scoop transom with davits for a dinghy.

Mast and Rigging
The Island Packet 445 has a high-aspect ratio cutter rig that provides excellent performance and versatility in various wind and sea conditions.

The rig has a deck-stepped mast with double spreaders and in-mast furling for the mainsail. The mast also has an internal conduit for wiring and an anodized finish for corrosion resistance.

The rig has a self-tacking staysail that can be used alone or in combination with the genoa for upwind sailing or heavy weather. The staysail also has a Hoyt boom that improves its shape and efficiency. The genoa is roller-furled on a Harken unit, and it has a sun cover for protection.

The rig has stainless steel wire standing rigging with swaged terminals and Norseman mechanical fittings. The rig also has low-stretch running rigging with color-coded lines that lead to the cockpit through rope clutches and organizers. The boat has four electric winches: two primary winches for the genoa sheets, and two secondary winches for the mainsail and staysail sheets.

Keel and Rudder
The Island Packet 445 has a full keel with a cutaway forefoot that provide excellent directional stability and tracking ability.

The keel also has a lead ballast that is encapsulated in the fiberglass keel molding for extra strength and safety.

The rudder has a protective skeg that prevents damage from grounding or debris. A strut between the base of the rudder and the end of the keel creates an apperture for the prop, protecting it from floating ropes and other flotsam.

The steering system is a rack-and-pinion system with dual cables and chain that connect the twin wheels to the rudder. The steering system also has an emergency tiller that can be fitted in case of steering failure.

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.