2003 Island Packet 485

The 2003 Island Packet 485 is a 51.5-foot fiberglass sailing yacht designed for extended blue water cruising. Built around Island Packet's proprietary full foil keel—a single-piece construction that integrates the hull and keel in hand-laminated fiberglass—the boat combines traditional long-keel stability with refined hydrodynamic performance. The keel's airfoil shape reduces leeway when sailing close-hauled, while a cut-away forefoot allows tight maneuvering despite the full-keel design. Encapsulated lead ballast and protective construction eliminate the structural vulnerabilities of modern fin-keeled designs, and the keel runs deep enough to shield the propeller and rudder from snagging offshore hazards.

The yacht accommodates three cabins and two heads across a layout built for comfort on passage. A 100-horsepower Yammer diesel engine provides reliable auxiliary power. Recent upgrades include a custom hard-top with drop curtain enclosure around the center cockpit, Raymarine navigation electronics and autopilot, a Spectra watermaker, washer and dryer, and a Starlink wifi system.

The 485's full-foil design delivers a sea-kindly motion that slices through waves rather than pounding them, significantly reducing pitching and rolling for crew comfort on long passages. The long underwater profile provides exceptional directional stability, holding course with minimal autopilot effort. A 15.33-foot beam provides comfortable working space on deck while supporting the stability that characterizes this design.