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Islander 24
Designer: J. H. Mcglasson  ·  Builder: Glas Laminates/Mcglasson Marine/Islander Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1961
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About the Islander 24

Built during the 1960s sailing boom, this compact cruiser emerged from the drawing board of J. H. McGlasson as a pocket-sized offshore capable yacht. The Islander 24's modified full keel design provides excellent tracking and seakeeping abilities, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and weekend adventures where comfort and stability matter more than pure speed. With a substantial displacement of 3,300 pounds and generous ballast ratio, this masthead sloop offers reassuring stability in varied conditions. The traditional full keel configuration, while limiting maneuverability in tight quarters, rewards sailors with predictable handling and the ability to track straight on longer passages. Her moderate sail area keeps the boat manageable for small crews while still providing respectable performance. McGlasson's design philosophy emphasized seaworthiness over racing potential, evident in the boat's conservative proportions and robust construction. The fiberglass hull, built by various manufacturers including Glas Laminates and Islander Yachts, has proven durable over the decades. While production ended in 1967, these boats maintain a loyal following among sailors who appreciate traditional design values and proven offshore capability in a trailerable package. The Islander 24 represents classic 1960s yacht design, prioritizing comfort and safety for serious coastal cruising.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$5,000 – $5,000
typical asking price
Median $5,000  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$5,000 – $5,000 1
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 7.83 ft / 2.39 m
Max Draft 3.42 ft / 1.04 m
Displacement 3,300.00 lb / 1,497 kg
Ballast 1,700.00 lb / 771 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 294.00 ft² / 27.31 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Modified Full Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer J. H. McGlasson
Builder Glas Laminates/McGlasson Marine/Islander Yachts (USA)
First Built 1961
Last Built 1967
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
237
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
21.28
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
51.52
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
184.15
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
15.51
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
2.11
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.99 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
3.2
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 559.55 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 19.49
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 28.80 ft / 8.78 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.40 ft / 2.56 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 25.80 ft / 7.86 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
SA Fore 120.96 ft² / 11.24 m²
SA Main 148.35 ft² / 13.78 m²
SA Total (100%) 269.31 ft² / 25.02 m²
Est. Forestay Length 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Type Outboard well
Water Capacity 25 gals / 95 L
How It Compares

vs. Cal 2 24, Lark 24 Pearson, San Juan 24

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Islander 24 ★
24.0 ft
Cal 2 24
24.0 ft
Lark 24 Pearson
24.0 ft
San Juan 24
24.0 ft
LWL
Islander 24 ★
20.0 ft
Cal 2 24
19.2 ft
Lark 24 Pearson
18.5 ft
San Juan 24
19.5 ft
Beam
Islander 24 ★
7.8 ft
Cal 2 24
7.8 ft
Lark 24 Pearson
8.0 ft
San Juan 24
8.0 ft
Displacement
Islander 24 ★
3 lbs
Cal 2 24
3 lbs
Lark 24 Pearson
4 lbs
San Juan 24
3 lbs
Ballast
Islander 24 ★
1 lbs
Cal 2 24
1 lbs
Lark 24 Pearson
1 lbs
San Juan 24
1 lbs
Sail Area
Islander 24 ★
294 sq ft
Cal 2 24
271 sq ft
Lark 24 Pearson
283 sq ft
San Juan 24
246 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Islander 24 ★
237 s/nm
Cal 2 24
Lark 24 Pearson
San Juan 24
222 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Islander 24 ★
21.3
Cal 2 24
18.2
Lark 24 Pearson
17.2
San Juan 24
18.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Islander 24 ★
51.5 %
Cal 2 24
37.8 %
Lark 24 Pearson
41.9 %
San Juan 24
51.6 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Islander 24 ★
15.5
Cal 2 24
18.1
Lark 24 Pearson
20.7
San Juan 24
14.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Islander 24 ★
2.11
Cal 2 24
2.01
Lark 24 Pearson
1.97
San Juan 24
2.17
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Islander 24 ★
184
Cal 2 24
234
Lark 24 Pearson
303
San Juan 24
192
Hull Speed
Islander 24 ★
6.0 kts
Cal 2 24
5.9 kts
Lark 24 Pearson
5.8 kts
San Juan 24
5.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Islander 24 ★
3.2
Cal 2 24
2.4
Lark 24 Pearson
1.7
San Juan 24
2.9
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