Island Packet 31
Built 1983–1989 by Island Packet Yachts (Largo, Florida)
About the Island Packet 31
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1983–1989
- Builder
- Island Packet Yachts (Largo, Florida)
- Designer
- Robert K. (Bob) Johnson
- Waterline
- 27.75 ft
- Beam
- 11.5 ft
- Draft
- 4 ft
- Displacement
- 11,000 lb
- Ballast
- 4,500 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- full keel
- Rig
- cutter
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 25 gal
- Water
- 70 gal
- Holding
- 14 gal
- Number built
- 262
- Bow thruster
- often added later
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- rack and pinion · Edson
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 25 gal
“25 US gal” — owners' association (1983-1989), iphomeport.com · “25 (gals)” — owners' association (1983-1989), iphomeport.comThe Island Packet owners' site (IP Home Port) spec page and its all-model comparison table agree; the site calls its figures representative, as Island Packet specs changed during production.
-
Water 70 gal
“70 US gal” — owners' association (1983-1989), iphomeport.com · “70 (gals)” — owners' association (1983-1989), iphomeport.com
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Holding 14 gal
“14 US gal” — owners' association (1983-1989), iphomeport.com · “14 (gals)” — owners' association (1983-1989), iphomeport.com
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Water heater unknown
Island Packet's model page lists no water heater, and the Practical Sailor and SpinSheet used-boat reviews don't mention one.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster often added later
No builder list, review or listing was found showing a bow thruster on an Island Packet 31. Our earlier figure rests only on an unsourced general remark about Island Packet owners.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Nothing was found either way; our earlier figure of none appears to be an assumption.
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Steering rack and pinion · Edson
“STEERING COMPONENTS: 1 FIG. 343-1S AFT MOUNT RACK & PINION STEERER ... ISLAND PACKET 27, 31 & 38 (S-1252)” — spec database, edsonmarine.com · “Direct Steering System: Island Packet's geared rack and pinion steering system provides positive feel and superior relia” — brochure (c1994-1995), cdn.yachtbroker.orgOur earlier figure (a geared pedestal) contradicted its own note, which cited Practical Sailor for Edson rack-and-pinion. Edson's data sheet S-1252 for the Island Packet 27, 31 and 38 specifies an aft-mount rack-and-pinion steerer, and the builder calls rack-and-pinion its standard system; Edson is confirmed as the brand.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on length — left blank rather than guessed.
Offered as cutter or sloop, fixed keel (4.0 ft, iron ballast in concrete) or centerboard (3.0 ft board up). Early boats had a 22 hp Yanmar, later 27 hp. Interior is a molded liner tabbed to the hull. Replaced by the IP32. Ballast 4,500 lb, fuel 25 gal and water 70 gal per sailboatdata.
Engines fitted
-
Yanmar 22 hp diesel (early boats) — 22 hp, diesel, single
standard
Early boats; model not named in the source.Sources: listingsport.com
-
Yanmar 3GM30F — 27 hp, diesel, single
standard
Later boats; sailboatdata lists 27 hp diesel, and a 1987 hull for sale lists a Yanmar 3GM30F (27 hp).Sources: listingsport.com · sailboatdata.com · yachtworld.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
No builder, owners' association or review source mentions a generator for the Island Packet 31.
Known problems for this model
-
Encapsulated stainless chainplates (crevice/stress corrosion) rigging
Chainplates are glassed into the hull/caprail area where corrosion cannot be seen; boats before the 1996 model year used 304 stainless, which the former factory staffer running IP Ancestry says lasts roughly 20-25 years. A specialist yard reported most IP chainplates it replaced were failed or near failure, so plan on inspection or replacement (pre-1996 boats).island-packet-ancestry.com · forums.ybw.com
-
Full keel with prop in aperture - poor control astern hull
Owners and reviewers note the full-keel boats back up unpredictably; many owners add a bow thruster.practical-sailor.com · forums.ybw.com
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PolyCore (resin/microballoon) cored deck deck
Deck is cored with a resin-microballoon mix instead of balsa; Practical Sailor had no reader reports of deck delamination or blisters.practical-sailor.com
Engines & parts
Yanmar 3GM / 3GM30F parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Yanmar 3GM30F”
Very popular (used 3GM30Fs sell for $3,000+) and supported by a strong parts network. Cylinder head overhauls (valve seals, lapping, injector service) are a common, parts-supported repair.
Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), HDI Marine (stainless exhaust elbows), Parts4Engines
Common problems (2)
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Overheating at cruise rpm cooling
The 3GM30F has a known overheating tendency linked to its heat exchanger; owners also trace it to coked elbows, worn impellers, scaled heat exchangers or air in the raw water circuit. Some heat exchangers were replaced under warranty.forums.sailboatowners.com
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Mixing elbow corrosion exhaust
OEM elbows corrode internally and should be inspected or replaced with stainless versions before they let water into the engine.practical-sailor.com · facebook.com
Maker’s service schedule (2)
| Fuel filters & water separator | 250 hrs | “The normal replacement interval for the element is 250 hours ... Filter cleaning First time 50 hours Filter element repl” — manufacturer, c320.org |
| Air filter / intake silencer | 250 hrs | “Washing period Every 250 hours” — manufacturer, c320.org |
Service part numbers (10)
| Oil filter | Yanmar 119305-35170 Replaces 119305-35151, 119660-35150 |
“3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 119305-35170 1 FILTER ASSY, D68XL65” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “Maintenance kit Yanmar 2GMF, 2GM20F, 3GMF, 3GM30F ... Yanmar 119305-35170 Oil Filter” — dealer, marinedustrie.com |
| Fuel filter | Yanmar 104500-55710 | “Fuel Filter Element 1 104500-55710 / Fuel Filter O-Ring 1 24341-000440” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 104500-55710 1 ELEMENT, FUEL FILTER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Japan-built 3GM / 3GM30(F) (serial not starting with E) |
Yanmar 124223-42092 | “Impeller 1 124223-42092 / Impeller Gasket 1 124223-42110” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 124223-42092 1 IMPELLER, PUMP” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller European-built GM-YEU (serial starting with E) |
Yanmar 128990-42570 Replaces 128990-42200 |
“(Supersedes part number: 128990-42200) ... 3GM30-YEU, 3GM30C-YEU 3GM30F-YEU, 3GM30FC-YEU” — dealer, palmerpower.com · “It fits Yanmar 2GM20F, 2YM15, 3GM30F, 3GM30FC, 3TN30F, 3YM20, 3YM30, 3YM30AE engines. Cross Reference: 128990-42200” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 25132-003700 | “Alternator Belt 1 25132-003700” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 25132-003700 1 V-BELT, A37” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 104511-78780 | “S/W Pump Belt 1 104511-78780” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 104511-78780 1 V-BELT, M/19” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Air filter | Yanmar 128270-12540 | “Air Filter Element 1 128270-12540” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 128270-12540 1 ELEMENT, AIR CLEANER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Zinc / anode raw-water 3GM / 3GM30; also sold for the F (heat-exchanger) versions |
Yanmar 27210-200300 | “27210-200300 Yanmar Engine Zinc Anode For 2GM(D), 3GM(D), 2GM20, 3GM30” — dealer, zincsforboats.com · “It fits Yanmar 2GM, 2GM20F, 2GM15, 2GM20, 3GM30F, 3GMF, 3HMF, 3GM30H engines.” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Thermostat 3GM30F / 3GMF (fresh-water cooled) |
Yanmar 121750-49800 | “Thermostat 1 121750-49800 / Thermostat Gasket 1 129350-49541” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Thermostat for Yanmar 2GMF, 3GMF, 3HMF, 2GM20F, 3GM30F, 3HM35F / REC121750-49800” — dealer, marineparts.eu |
| Thermostat 3GM / 3GM30 (raw-water cooled) |
Yanmar 105582-49200 | “Replaces Yanmar Marine 105582-49200 ... 1GM, 2GM, 3GM, 1GM10, 2GM20, 3GM30” — dealer, repowermarine.com · “1GM10, 2GM20 & 3GM30 Thermostat to fit raw water cooled engine versions ... equivalent to 105582-49200” — dealer, parts4engines.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Steering
Edson — Pedestal chain-and-wire steering parts: good
Edson (New Bedford, MA) still sells service parts: chain-and-wire kits, sprockets, idlers, pull-pull conduit steering and internal pedestal parts, and keeps steering data sheets by boat model, many decades old.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (service parts)
Common problems (3)
-
Old or slack steering wire steering
Edson advises replacing steering wire about every five years, checking tension with the wheel locked, and inspecting under load annually; owners often find decades-old stiff wire.usna.edu · youtube.com
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Lubrication and fastener checks steering
Chain, wire, sheaves and pedestal bearings need regular oiling or greasing, and clevis/cotter pins and bolts should be checked monthly to avoid failures.usna.edu
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Replacing engine control cables in the pedestal steering
Swapping throttle/shift cables inside an Edson pedestal is a common owner job requiring removal of the wheel shaft sprocket pin.forums.sailboatowners.com
Edson — Traditional geared steerers (worm / rack-and-pinion) parts: good
Edson says its traditional wheels and geared steerers are still available, now built with modern materials; rack-and-pinion steerers are offered for transom-hung and inboard rudders.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (traditional steerers)
Model sources (9)
practical-sailor.com · island-packet-ancestry.com · sailboatdata.com · listingsport.com · yachtworld.com · iphomeport.com · iphomeport.com · edsonmarine.com · cdn.yachtbroker.org
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Other Island Packet models
- Island Packet 27 1984–1992
- Island Packet 32 1990–1996
- Island Packet 35 1988–1994
- Island Packet 350 1997–2004
- Island Packet 38 1986–1993
- Island Packet 40 1994–2000
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.