Small by Choice, Able by Design, Page 4 |
PRECISION 18
Designed by Jim Taylor and built by Precision Boat Works, the Precision 18 was the smallest and lightest boat that we tested. Larry Norris, Precision owner, explains that was what the design concept called for, “a minimal trailer-sailer that could marginally sleep a small family, a big daysailer that the smallest of cars could pull.
Construction is good, with a fair hull and only a little hull and deck flexing. The deck, hull, and liner are joined with DuPont PL 5200 and pop rivets spaced 5 inches apart. In addition, the chain plates and stemhead are through-bolted. The only negatives were the loose rubrail insert, the
oversized and clunky looking rubrail fittings at the corners aft, and a poorly-fitted cabin hatch.
Safety is good with two 1 3/8-inch scuppers installed in the cockpit sole and passing through the transom after a 90 degree turn. Excellent attention has been given to the standard, rugged, 18-inch stanchions and life-lines with pelican hooks that attach to the 20-inch tall stern pulpit. Foam flotation is standard.
This is the only boat with a standard swim ladder and molded, draining anchor locker, although we found the locker too shallow for adequate rode and chain.
Topside features that need upgrading include the miniature running lights and a kick-up rudder that doesn’t have a pendant to lower it from its upright position.
The Precision was the quickest boat to rig solo, taking just 6.5 minutes, thanks to a permanently-attached mast pin that slipped easily into the tabernacle without the need for the
crew to go forward. Because of its light 1,100 pound displacement and 11/2-foot draft with the board up, launching was also quick.
The cockpit is 6 feet 2 inches long with comfortable seat backs—the best of the group. There is a vented, 3-gallon gas tank storage locker to port and a small locker to starboard with room for the battery and not much more. Neither locker has a hasp for security.
The cabin is remarkably spacious considering the boat’s size. This openness is achieved by keeping the entire cabin at the same level and replacing the compression post with two small, unobtrusive “semi” bulkheads forward. The overhead cabintop beneath the maststep is also reinforced. The resulting space permits unobstructed lounging or sleeping anywhere, especially after the two insert cushions are added. The finish is excellent with all through-deck fastenings covered with plastic caps.
Additional comfort comes from seat backs that extend from the sides of the hull. Behind the seat backs is a storage shelf that could be improved by extending the shelf fiddles aft into the quarterberths. Also, the 3/4-inch high fiddles on the V-berth shelves should be raised another 2 inches to make them more usable.
However, there is a price to pay for this one-level comfort: limited storage room and no place for a galley. The head is stored in a quarterberth. To use it, the port cushion is removed and the head is placed in the small, hinged opening where the cushion was. Headroom (no pun intended) is tight.
Lively Sailer
All standard sailhandling gear—mainsheet, yang, jib sheet cam cleats, and jib track cars—are by Harken and function flawlessly. The reefing lines and external halyards also worked well, but mast cleats could be larger.
The only problem we encountered with gear was where to position the jib sheets: inboard, outboard, or between the shrouds? Surprisingly, between the shrouds worked best but chafe could be a problem in any position.
In heavy air, the Precision was hard to control. Perhaps a second reef point and a reefable jib could handle those conditions more adequately. Otherwise, it is a fun boat to sail and lively (i.e., tender but predictable and well-mannered). And while it was the slowest of the group, its light weight gave it fine acceleration and a sense of speed.
Have we found the ideal boat? Not yet, but if we could come up with a hybrid hull and endow it with the Capri and Precision’s safety, the Capri’s cockpit and cabin storage space. the Precision’s open, comfortable cabin, and add the Hunter’s speed, performance, keel, and sails,
to be controlled by Precision’s sailhandling gear, we might come close.
