Design and Construction
Precision Boat Works built the 185 in the tradition of hand-laminated fiberglass, with outside skins of vinylester for blister resistance and an improved moisture barrier, and E-glass reinforcements in polyester resin forming the rest of the laminate anchor. Closed-cell Klegecell PVC foam cores the deck panels and the spots where hull stiffening is called for. The hull and deck are two moldings joined by an overlap joint, and a plastic rub rail is set into that seam. A deck-stepped mast sits atop a substantial under-deck fiberglass box-beam, which conveniently permits a locker cutout directly beneath it, and inspection ports open onto the rudder gudgeons and the forward storage area under the mast.
Rig and Handling
The CB model carries a ballasted centerboard held down by steel ballast, yet the board pivots up automatically in an accidental grounding, a forgiving trait for shoal exploration anchor. A 3-to-1 tackle raises that board. Sailing hardware is simple and largely Harken: 2-to-1 purchase jib sheets run to swiveling jam cleats on athwartships with adjustable jib tracks, a 4-to-1 mainsheet with ratchet block and jam cleat, a 4-to-1 boom vang, and jib furling. The kick-up rudder is held down by a line led to a pressure-release Clamcleat beneath the tiller. In testing, the Jim Taylor design accelerated quickly in puffy air and responded well to crew weight shifted from leeward to weather; the mast bend and mainsail were well matched so the sail flattened when sheeted in the puffs and powered up when eased in the lulls anchor. The 181 square feet of sail area splits into about 116 of main and 65 of jib, with a 204-square-foot spinnaker available. Jib luff tension is set as the deck-stepped mast is raised, governed by aft-swept shrouds and Ronstan shroud adjusters.
Accommodations
This is a daysailer rather than a cruiser, but the cockpit stretches 100 inches long measured at the seat tops, and a 36-quart IGLOO cooler is fitted for provisions on the rail. The 27-foot 3-inch mast above the waterline and the fractional sloop layout keep handling manageable for short-handed sailing, and the roller-furling jib plus the ability to sail on main alone widen the envelope for comfortable singlehanding anchor.
Refits and Ownership
Trailering is central to ownership: the trailer weighs 300 pounds, couples to a 2-inch ball, and rides on 5.70 x 8 Load Range C tires with a 4-lug pattern. Shipped on its trailer the boat stands 57 inches high with the winch stand removed, or 35 inches as boat only, and 88 inches wide either way. Running rigging is fully specified by the builder, from a 52-foot main halyard to Spectra and Dacron centerboard lines, so a new owner can re-order exact lengths rather than guess.
The Verdict
The Precision 185 CB is a thoughtfully engineered small daysailer that trades a little ultimate stability for a draft that vanishes to 6 inches and a board that protects itself on the hard. Taylor's hull rewards active weight placement, and the matched mast-and-main behavior keeps her lively without being twitchy. Construction is serious for the size, with vinylester outer skins and foam-cored decks, and the trailering package makes her a practical ramp-and-go boat.
Pros
- Ballasted centerboard pivots up automatically in a grounding
- Vinylester outer skins and foam-cored decks for a small daysailer
- Well-matched mast bend and mainsail flatten and refill with the puffs
- 6-inch raised-draft and 300-pound trailer for easy ramping
Cons
- Centerboard relies on steel ballast; board mechanism adds inspection points
- Daysailer scope limits accommodations to cockpit and ice chest
