Re-listed – 2006-launched Island Packet 485

Grabau International is delighted to announce the re-listing of the 2006-launched Island Packet 485 ‘KARMA’.

Fantastic high spec example of this bomb-proof ocean cruiser. With just two owners since new and EU VAT paid, she is just the ticket for any planned big adventure or simply enjoying life living aboard.

FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:

Launched in 2006, this high spec Island Packet is in just her second ownership. Purchased by her current European owner in San Diego, she has been used for trans-Atlantic cruises, often single-handed thanks to her ocean-minded specification and such features as radar guard zone, AIS and a powerful and reliable mamba-drive autopilot. 150Nm 24hrs passages are easily possible in normal conditions. Further blue water specification highlights include her 8kw generator, watermaker, wind generator, solar panels and large keel-cooled fridge & freezer capacities, electric winch package, CE Certified as Cat A and VAT-paid in the Azores, she is good to go.

KARMA is now offered for sale as her owner is now planning new adventures involving a sailing a multi-hull from Australasia back to Europe.

As with all Island Packets, there are many unique features in her construction which contribute to their reputation as solid and dependable mile-munchers. These features include:-

• CE Certified: All models meet or exceed the highest available independent rating – Category “A” – Ocean.
• Exclusive Full Foil Keel® for unrivalled combination of performance, seakeeping, safety, control and comfort.
• Hull and keel design minimizes fouling and impact damage to keel, rudder and prop.
• One piece, hand laminated, solid fiberglass hull and keel resulting in the strongest possible construction.
• Triaxial knitted laminate integration for superior strength and impact resistance.
• Moderate draft allowing for access to wider range of cruising grounds.
• Low, generous tank storage makes for added interior stowage and enhanced stability.
• Full roller furling sail systems with controls leading to cockpit. Hoyt® boom provides improved performance and control.
• Recessed foredeck for on-deck security.
• Patented Sea Safe® anchor rollers and integral bow platform: fully captive, low chafe chain/rode guides, quick anchor deployment and secure stowage.
• PolyClad®3 gelcoat system for superior gloss retention/crack resistance and protection against osmotic blisters — 10 year limited warranty from build.
• PolyCore® deck coring material is decay proof and has strength and rigidity — 10 year limited warranty from build.

MANUFACTURER’S HISTORY:

Bob Johnson’s passion for sailing bloomed at an early age. He was only eight when he bought his own subscription to Yachting magazine, and fourteen when he wrote a term paper on his future career as a naval architect. That same year, he lofted his first sailboat on the living room floor, then sailed it down Lake Worth, with his brother holding a garden umbrella for a spinnaker. He was hooked for life.

Even though he became a mechanical engineer, ending up at McDonnell Douglas designing missiles, his heart was still with sailboats. With a master’s degree from MIT in naval architecture, he went to Florida and worked with Irwin Yachts and Endeavor, gradually becoming general manager. But he had a well engineered dream. He started Island Packet modestly in the mid-seventies by borrowing money to buy the molds for a 26 footer with a beam of more than 10 feet — a catboat proportion. He was everything at the company — engineer, purchasing agent, production manager and sales staff. Island Packet grew to a peak of two hundred employees in an immaculate, family-owned facility and has developed over the decades one of the most enthusiastic and loyal followings in cruising boat history.

As a dedicated observer, Johnson had seen boats go from full-keel, wineglass-shaped hull forms to the Cal 40 type with a fin-keeled, U-shaped underbody. He was struck by the fact that there had been no thoughtful, logical transition from one extreme to another. He felt that something sensible, seaworthy, and very manageable was missing. He wanted to utilize the best of both extremes by taking a modern U-shaped hull for performance and create a long keel for seaworthiness, not only by stretching the fin keel and making it shallower, but by making it an air foil shape. Instead of the big barn door rudder hung on the aft end of the keel, which generated huge turning radiuses, he separated the two and connected the bottom of the keel to the bottom of what was now a counterbalanced spade rudder. In this way, he maintained the stability and seakeeping quality of a long keel and gained a good shallow draft. Even in case of grounding, his internally ballasted hull would suffer little damage compared to the major repairs necessary for bent keel bolts or tornout bottoms, which some deep finkeelers might endure.

2006-launched Island Packet 485 – Karma – Now asking Euro 299,000 VAT paid – full details here

Do you have a yacht like this to sell? Grabau International are always looking for new high-quality yacht listings both in the UK and internationally. For further information about our tailored brokerage services, please look here or feel free to contact us.