Island Packet Yachts

Island Packet was founded in 1979 by Bob Johnston, an MIT graduate in Naval Architecture. After graduating as a mechanical engineer, he went to work for McDonnel Douglas developing missiles. His passion was sailing, and he pursued it by working at Endeavor and Irwin.

Bob realized there was no boat being produced with the traditional characteristics of a full keel vessel. He had watched sailboats develop into fin keel or modified keel designs, and realized there was a niche he wanted to develop.

Bob Johnston borrowed money to buy molds to build a 26 foot boat with a 10 beam! These are proportions more commonly found in Cat boats, but it is a successful formula that has been carried through over the decades.

The yard is located in Largo, Florida, and has it’s own woodshop and lake. Since 1979 they have built over 2500 boats in 26 different models.