The first offerings from PRECISION BOATWORKS nearly 20 years ago were open daysailors with a focus on good all around performance, and they have come full circle with their new PRECISION 185. In the interim, all but one of our eight previous PRECISION designs have featured enclosed interiors as part of their appeal. Only the PRECISION 15 (and PRECISION 15K) have been open boats, offering the joy of small boat sailing in its purest, simplest form. The P-15 design focused on stability, safety, lively performance and reliable handling, and she has been a huge success. The new PRECISION 185 expands on the broad appeal of her smaller sister by adding an extra dose of acceleration and speed to her performance profile.

The ‘big daysailor’ type is still probably best defined by the Lightning, Rhodes 19 and Flying Scott, all old favorites introduced nearly forty years ago. There has not been a great deal of innovation and development in this market for some time, and various new offerings have come and gone without making much of an impact. The PRECISION 185 will make her mark by using true state-of-the-art design and construction technology to combine vastly improved ergonomics and higher performance with low weight, low maintenance, and low cost. Comfortable seating, computer-shaped hull and fins, and precise tooling will all contribute to the appeal of this ‘new century’ competitor.

Like her smaller sister, the PRECISION 185 features a large, self-draining cockpit, a secure spot for a portable ice chest, practical under-deck storage, straightforward rigging, and high quality hardware. Her swim platform at the transom is an unusual feature usually reserved for large offshore cruisers. In addition to contributing to the fun by getting swimmers back aboard more easily and allowing youngsters to trail their toes in water, this ‘back porch’ can contribute to safety by facilitating boarding from a dinghy, and recovering from an accidental ‘man overboard’ incident more easily and quickly.

The performance parameters of the PRECISION 185 are not intended to put her in the realm of a ‘crash and burn’ Australian 18 skiff, but they will give her the kind of acceleration and speed that will turn heads and quicken the pulse when desired. She will offer speed, stability and control over a wide range of conditions that will be the envy of both her classic and contemporary competitors. She will sail beautifully under main alone when shorthanded or in heavy weather. Her broad deck beam and high-volume side decks will help keep her crew dry, and maximize her resistance to capsize. She shares the careful balance and dynamic stability that have earned the PRECISION 15, 165, 18, 21, 23 and 28 their well-earned reputations as lively, reliable performers in all conditions.

PRECISION BOAT WORKS continues to focus entirely on small boats, and their long experience and expertise in this market is second to none. They have built all of our PRECISION designs with meticulous care, and their commitment to high-quality construction is unwavering. We share their pride in everything they build, and we are confident that the new PRECISION 185 will quickly earn her place as a worthy addition to their well-respected line.

Jim Taylor