Island Packet 40
Built 1994–2000 by Island Packet Yachts (Largo, Florida)
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About the Island Packet 40
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1994–2000
- Builder
- Island Packet Yachts (Largo, Florida)
- Designer
- Robert K. (Bob) Johnson
- Length
- 39.33 ft
- Waterline
- 34 ft
- Beam
- 12.92 ft
- Draft
- 4.67 ft
- Displacement
- 22,800 lb
- Ballast
- 10,000 lb
- Hull / keel
- full keel
- Rig
- cutter
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 90 gal
- Water
- 170 gal
- Holding
- 30 gal
- Number built
- 139
- Bow thruster
- often added later
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- rack and pinion · Edson
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 90 gal
“90 US gal” — owners' association (1993-2000), iphomeport.com · “90 (gals)” — owners' association (1993-2000), 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.
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Water 170 gal
“170 US gal” — owners' association (1993-2000), iphomeport.com · “170 (gals)” — owners' association (1993-2000), iphomeport.com
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Holding 30 gal
“30 US gal” — owners' association (1993-2000), iphomeport.com · “30 (gals)” — owners' association (1993-2000), iphomeport.com
-
Water heater unknown
“capacity to heat our 5 gallon water heater with the same unit” — search excerpt, cruisersforum.com · “Kuuma 6-gallon Water Heater New in 2020” — broker listing (1996), sailboatlistings.com · “Atwood 10.5-gallon water heater (replaced, 2015)” — broker listing (1995), northstaryachtsales.comOnly an owners' forum post (5 gal) and two listings with replacement heaters (6 gal Kuuma, 10.5 gal Atwood) give sizes, so the factory size isn't established. The builder manuals for the sister Island Packet 35 and 38 show a 115 V/engine heater.
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
The builder brochure has no equipment or option list. One 1998 Island Packet 40 broker listing advertises a bow thruster, a single boat and not enough to call it often added later or a factory option.
-
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
“Direct Steering System: Island Packet's geared rack and pinion steering system provides positive feel and superior relia” — brochure, cdn.yachtbroker.org · “the Edson steering gives good feedback to the helmsman” — review, cruisingworld.comThe type comes from the builder's Island Packet 40 brochure. The Edson brand rests on one magazine review (Cruising World), so treat the brand as single-source.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Hull length (LOD) 39.33 ft; 41.5 ft overall including bowsprit (sailboatdata lists both). Lead ballast.
Engines fitted
-
Yanmar 4JH2E — 50 hp, diesel, single
standard
Early boats: a 1994 IP40 is listed with its (apparently original) freshwater-cooled 50 hp 4JH2E; a broker post also describes an IP40 with a 50 hp 4JH2E.Sources: sailboat-cruising.com · facebook.com
-
Yanmar 4JH3BE — 50 hp, diesel, single
standard
Sailboatdata lists the 4JH3BE (50 hp); the 4JH3 series replaced the 4JH2 in the late 1990s, so this likely applies to later hulls.Sources: sailboatdata.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 40; the Cruising World owner review doesn't mention one.
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 (1994-1996 hulls 304, 1997-98 304L, 316 from 1999 model year).island-packet-ancestry.com · forums.ybw.com
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Aluminum holding (and some fuel) tanks corrode plumbing
Owners report aluminum holding tanks installed under the cabin sole corroding and needing to be cut out for replacement; later boats moved to fiberglass tanks.forums.ybw.com
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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
Engines & parts
Yanmar 4JH series (4JH, 4JH2/3/4, -E, -TE, -HTE) parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Yanmar 4JH2E”
Widely used and fully supported by Yanmar dealers and distributors; the mixing elbow is treated as a consumable part.
Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), Yanmar USA genuine parts
Common problems (1)
-
Mixing elbow failure exhaust
The exhaust mixing elbow on 4JH engines pits and fails, sometimes within a few hundred hours; owners treat roughly 1000 hours as a practical life and inspect the elbow-to-manifold joint for salt weeping.cruisersforum.com · jeanneau.proboards.com · facebook.com
Maker’s service schedule (18)
| Engine oil & filter change 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 150 hrs | “4.3.3 Inspection Every 150 hours. Replace the engine oil and the clutch lube oil. After the second oil change, the engin” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Replace engine oil filter 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 300 hrs | “4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (4) Replacing the Engine Oil and Lube Oil Filter (See 4.3.1(1))” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Transmission fluid change 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 150 hrs | “4.3.3 Inspection Every 150 hours. Replace the engine oil and the clutch lube oil.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Fuel filters & water separator 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 300 hrs | “4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. (1) Replacing the Fuel Filter” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Drain fuel filter (water/dirt) 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 50 hrs or 1 mo | “4.3.2 Inspection Every 50 Hours (or Monthly) (1) Draining the Fuel Filter” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Raw-water pump impeller 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 1,000 hrs | “Note: The impeller must be replaced periodically (every 1000 hrs.).” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Air filter / intake silencer 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 300 hrs | “4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (5) Cleaning the Intake Silencer” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Exhaust mixing elbow inspection 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 300 hrs | “Every 300 hrs ... Clean the exhaust/water mixing elbow” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Drive belts inspect / replace 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 300 hrs | “4.3.4 Inspection Every 300 Hrs. ... (2) Adjusting the Tension of the Cooling Water Pump Driving Belt.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Valve clearance check / adjust 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 600 hrs | “4.3.5 Inspection Every 600 Hrs. ... (3) Inspection and Adjustment of Intake/Exhaust Valve Clearance.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Injector test / service 4JH3E / 4JH3(B)E / 4JH3(C)E | 600 hrs | “4.3.5 Inspection Every 600 Hrs. ... (4) Inspecting and Adjusting the Fuel Injection Spray Condition.” — manufacturer, catalina380.org |
| Fuel filters & water separator 4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE | 300 hrs | “Replace the element every 300 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, mason44.com |
| Replace engine oil filter 4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE | 300 hrs | “Oil filter replacement period ... Every 300 hours of engine operation” — manufacturer, mason44.com |
| Transmission fluid change 4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE | 150 hrs | “Change the oil after the first 50 hours of operation, and every 150 hours of operation thereafter.” — manufacturer, mason44.com |
| Air filter / intake silencer 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo) | 300 hrs | “Cleaning and Every 300 hours inspection of air filter” — manufacturer, mason44.com |
| Turbocharger inspection 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo) | 150 hrs | “Clean the blower: Everv 150 hours” — manufacturer, mason44.com |
| Turbocharger disassembly, cleaning and inspection 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE (turbo) | 6,000 hrs or 1 yr | “3 months or 6 months or 12 months or 1500 hours 3000 hours 6000 hours ... Disassembly, cleaning and inspection of entire” — manufacturer, mason44.com |
| Thermostat: inspect every 500 h; replace every year or 2000 h 4JH2E / 4JH2-TE / 4JH2-HTE / 4JH2-DTE | 2,000 hrs or 1 yr | “Replace the thermostat every year or 2000 hours of operation (whichever comes first).” — manufacturer, mason44.com |
Service part numbers (11)
| Oil filter | Yanmar 129150-35170 Replaces 129150-35153 |
“129150-35170 Oil Filter” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “Yanmar Oil Filter 129150-35170 Marine Diesel 4JH 4JHE 4JH3” — dealer, dieselitems.com |
| Fuel filter non-turbo E models (4JHE, 4JH2E, 4JH3E, 4JH4E) |
Yanmar 129470-55810 Replaces 129470-55703 |
“129470-55810 Fuel Filter” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “It fits Yanmar 3HM35F, 3JH2E, 4JH3, 4JH4-HTE, 4JH4E, 4JHE, 4TNE84T engines. Cross Reference: 129470-55703” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Fuel filter 4JH4-TE / 4JH4-HTE (2007 on) |
Yanmar 129574-55711 | “Fuel Filter Element 1 129574-55711” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “4JH4-TE/HTE Basic Service Kit ... Fuel filter 129574-55711” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller JH3 and JH4 generation (4JH3, 4JH4-E, -AE, -TE, -HTE) |
Yanmar 129670-42531 | “Impeller 1 129670-42531 / Impeller Gasket 1 119773-42570” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Impeller (129670-42531) & O-ring box kit, including face plate screws and lubricant.” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller earlier 4JH and 4JH2 generation |
Yanmar 129470-42532 | “Impeller 1 129470-42532 / Impeller Gasket 1 24341-000600” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Replaces: Impeller Numbers 129470-42530 , 129470-42531 , 129470-42532 ... Fits ... 4JHE , 4JH-TE , 4JH2E” — dealer, staycoolpumps.com |
| Drive belt 4JH2E, 4JH3E, 4JH4-AE; 4JH4-TE before July 2006 |
Yanmar 25132-004600 | “Alternator Belt 1 25132-004600” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “25132-004600 Belt” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Drive belt 4JH4-E |
Yanmar 25152-004300 | “Alternator Belt 1 25152-004300” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “25152-004300 Belt” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Drive belt 4JH4-TE from July 2006 to serial E15601 (also 4JH4-HTE per Sea Sierra) |
Yanmar 129671-42280 | “Alternator Belt V-Belt 1 129671-42280 July 2006 > / < E15601” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Alternator Belt for Yanmar 4JH4-TE and 4JH4-HTE (Replaces 129671-42280E, 129671-42280)” — dealer, seasierra.com |
| Drive belt 4JH4-TE / 4JH4-HTE from serial E15602 (120 A alternator) |
Yanmar 129671-77680 | “Alternator Belt Flat Belt 1 129671-77680 E15602 >” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “129671-77680 Serp Belt starting s/n # E15602” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Air filter all except 4JH4-E |
Yanmar 129470-12330 | “Air Filter Element 1 129470-12330” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “It fits Yanmar 4JH110, 4JH2-TE, 4JH4-HTE, 4JH4-TE, 4JH80, 4JHE engines.” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Thermostat | Yanmar 129470-49801 | “Thermostat 1 129470-49801 / Thermostat Gasket 1 129795-49551 / 129150-49811” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “compatible with ... 4JH2-E, 4JH2-HTE, 4JH2-TE, ... 4JH3-E, 4JH3-HTE, 4JH3-TE, 4JH4AE, 4JH4-E, 4JH4-TE, ... 4JH-E” — dealer, shop.marinedieselinc.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)
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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)
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Other Island Packet models
- Island Packet 27 1984–1992
- Island Packet 31 1983–1989
- Island Packet 32 1990–1996
- Island Packet 35 1988–1994
- Island Packet 350 1997–2004
- Island Packet 38 1986–1993
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.