precision 16 sailboat review

PRECISION 16 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of PRECISION 16. Built by Precision Boat Works and designed by Stephen Seaton, the boat was first built in 1982. It has a hull type of Centerboard Dinghy and LOA is 4.95. Its sail area/displacement ratio 46.52. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

PRECISION 16 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about PRECISION 16 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, contributions, who designed the precision 16.

PRECISION 16 was designed by Stephen Seaton.

Who builds PRECISION 16?

PRECISION 16 is built by Precision Boat Works.

When was PRECISION 16 first built?

PRECISION 16 was first built in 1982.

How long is PRECISION 16?

PRECISION 16 is 4.27 m in length.

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Precision 16' or Holder 14' First Boat

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I'm looking at buying either a Precision 16' or a Holder 14' as a first boat to learn to sail on....... The boats I'm looking at are both comparable in condition and age. I may actually be able to get the Precision 16' cheaper than the Holder 14'. My question being is one going to be better than the other as a first boat for a new sailor ? It will be used mainly on inland reservoirs or lakes, maybe an occasional trip to Lake Michigan on a CALM day. Thanks for your help and input ! Fred  

Precision 15 perhaps? But my $$ is on the Precision. Better supported boats, generally slightly faster, and more sail controls. Better resale.  

I have a '81 Vagabond 14, same as the Holder 14. I bought it three seasons ago to teach myself to sail. It's a great little boat but does have some shortcomings. It trades some speed for stability, which is fine with me. It's really designed as a fun play boat - it's great to hit the lake and sail for a few hours but it's awkward to work out storage and use of an anchor, there's no reefing set up, and sail trim controls are limited. I've updated and added some things, but I feel like we're outgrowing the boat. I'm an hour from water so if I go I'd like to spend all day out on the lake, and the V14 isn't the best for that. Having said that it has taught us well and has been very forgiving of a beginner. There is a community of owners on a Facebook page and a yahoo group. Most parts are available or there are known substitutions. Sail plans are still on file should a sail need replaced. The Holder 14, Vagabond 14, and Hobie 1-14 were all the same design but equipment varied, so a fair number of boats come up for sale. It does seem like prices are trending upward slightly, but I grabbed mine with a trailer and original sails for $600. It needed some rigging and such, but don't they all.  

Here are a couple of considerations: Comfort and Convenience - you want a boat that is easy for you to go from your car to sails up, and once sailing, you want to be comfortable. The more pleasant the experience = the more often you will make the effort to enjoy it. In learning how to sail, just like any other worthwhile skill, the more you practices, the better your skills get, and better your skills = more enjoyment. Owners' Association - I've been amazed at how valuable an active owners' has been to me. Check out the groups for both boats. What kind of boats are being sailed near you? I'd choose a boat that has an active fleet nearby, if possible. Even if there are just a few of one kind of boat, that might be your journey easier and more fun.  

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Precision 16

• Thread starter Scuppers
• Start date Sep 19, 2023
• Forums for All Owners
• Trailer Sailors

Hi All: I am looking for some input to help me improve my sailing situation. I currently have a Tanzer 16 which I day sail singlehanded at a few local reservoirs. The boat is stable and fast enough to be fun but difficult to rig due to the long/heavy mast that does not have a hinged plate at the bottom ... and no relatively easy way to convert to a hinged plate. It has a forked bracket on the bottom that has to be manhandled over the keelson at the front of the cockpit ... PITA. The Tanzer is also an older single hulled boat without a self bailing cockpit. I have been looking for an easier to rig boat to replace the T16 and have found a mid 80's Precision 16. From my research there were less than 100 built and they are from a different designer than the current similar sized P15 ... so looks like a totally different boat. Not very much info that I can find on the P16. Does anyone have any first-hand experience with the P16? Especially as a comparison to either the Tanzer 16 or the Precision 15 (which I can find much more info about and sounds like a good potential fit for me). One other data point ... I previously had a 1999 Hunter 170 that was a great boat ... rig was more manageable than the Tanzer and it sailed like a rocket! But I got sick of having to do crack repairs as a winter project every year ... the cracks were easy enough to fix, but I moved and no longer have a shop to do the fairing out the repairs and painting in winter weather. Budget rules out the new version (Hunter 18) ... I need to be sub $2k for the boat and trailer. Happy to hear about other options if you have suggestions ... I have considered Buccaneer/Mutineer, Catalina 14.2/16.5, etc ... but nothing available in my area right now (near Portland Oregon). I am looking at the Precision 16 this weekend so input on that boat is most pressing. Thanks!!  

Jim Taylor designed the 15 and a bunch of other boats for Precision. He has a reputation for designing good sailing boats that are fast and comfortable to sail. That is certainly true for my boat which he also designed. Based on his reputation I would opt for the 15 over the 16. Precision: Small, Fast, and Fun by Jim Taylor Yacht Designs  

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Precision: Small, Fast, and Fun

Small, fast, and fun.

Cruisers | Daysailors | Crossover | Frequently Asked Questions

We have designed our share of large yachts, but our enthusiasm for small boats remains undiminished. Small-boat sailors derive every bit as much satisfaction from their modest craft as jet-setters do from their big ones, and we approach our smaller designs as no less significant, only less big. We take great pride in applying the same standards to all our work.

We are also proud of our long term association with Precision Boatworks, www.precisionboatworks.com which began in 1984 with the Precision 18 and continued until they ceased new boat production 35 years later. Precision shared our commitment to, and pride in, doing small boats well. Their tooling was exquisite, and it produced attractive, stylish, high quality molded parts throughout their model line, from the Precision 15 to the Precision 23. They built to an equally high standard, with materials that are chosen and used carefully, and with quality rigging and hardware that is appropriate for the intended use. Their boats were carefully built to their designed weights, and they are rugged, reliable, and long lasting. Stylish looks, lively performance, and fun sailing are all top priorities for both designer and builder on all Precision sailboats.

The essential ‘Precision DNA’ that is central to the performance, style, modest draft and easy trailering of each Precision model is common to them all, but there are differences that give them their individual appeal.

The Precision cruisers all feature a keel/centerboard underbody that combines modest draft when with the board is up, with excellent windward performance when the board is down. The ballast is secured deep in the fixed keel cavity to maximize stability. The board itself is only heavy enough to drop on its own, so that it can be raised and lowered with one hand, and so that stability is not reduced significantly when it is up.

Precision 18

The Precision 18 was designed to be the smallest boat that could be practically cruised, and still be easily trailered by a relatively small car. She has a remarkably loyal following, and is still in active production after nearly 30 years.

Precision 21

Not too big, not too small, and for some, just right. Designed to fit right between the Precision 18 and Precision 23, the Precision 21 was intended to appeal to sailors requiring neither the minimum cost of a mini-, nor the extra space of a maxi-trailerable. I recently encountered a Marblehead family of four going out for an evening sail, and they could hardly have been happier or more complementary about their boat. They said that their Precision 21 suits them perfectly.

Precision 23

Targeted to be the biggest cruiser that could be practically trailored behind a family car, the Precision 23 is an enduring benchmark for her size and type. She has successfully completed some surprisingly long passages, and has earned an impressive number of rewarding wins in club level racing.

Precision 27-28

The P-27 became the P-28 with the addition of a swim step in an extended transom.  These were only boats in the Precision line that featured an inboard diesel auxiliary and optional wheel steering.  This step up in specification proved to be a challenge for their dealer network at the time, so not a lot were produced, but the boats are comfortable and sailed well, and are quite popular with their owners.

The Precisions daysailors have especially large cockpits, and no cuddy cabins. They are both built in two versions, one as a crew ballasted pure centerboarder for ready trailering, and another that is a bit heavier with a fixed lead keel for added stability.

Precision 15 and Precision 15K

The Precision 15 was intended as an entry level family boat, with pricing and practicality to suit. Precision 15’s are easy to rig, easy to handle, and rewarding to sail. They achieve a nice balance between rewarding performance and reliable seakeeping, which they combine with ample stability. In addition to facilitating family fun, Precision 15’s are in wide use as trainers in community sailing programs.

Precision 185 and Precision 185K

The Precision 185 expands on the broad appeal of her smaller sister by adding an extra dose of acceleration and speed to her performance profile. She was recognized by Sailing World magazine as a Boat of the Year for her “combination of good sailing characteristics, substantial construction, and reasonable cost.” Her swim platform at the transom contributes to the fun by getting swimmers back aboard more easily and allowing youngsters to trail their toes in water. This ‘back porch’ can also contribute to safety by facilitating boarding from a dinghy, and recovering from an accidental ‘man overboard’ incident more easily and quickly. For some sailors, the Precision 185K keel version may be better suited for deeper, less sheltered waters.

Transit 380

The T_380 design ( www.transit380.com ) is intended to suit young sailors who are making the transition from the single-handed Optimist pram to high performance double-handed dinghies. Most kids ‘size out’ of the Opti at about 115 pounds, and between the ages of 11 to 14. After years of sailing alone in prams, many are also looking forward to sailing together with friends. Many do not yet have the sailing skills and experience required to handle a Club 420, however, and expecting them to do so is a bit like handing a new driver the keys to a Porsche. For decades, the Blue Jay and Widgeon (among others) have filled this gap, but time and technology have long since passed these boats by. The Transit_380 brings modern materials and carefully ‘kid centered’ design detailing to a contemporary version of this transitional mid boat.

Precision 165

Precision 165 combines the low trailer weight and reasonable cost of a daysailor with the ‘get out of the weather’ cuddy cabin and on-board toilet facilities of a small cruiser. She is offered with a fixed lead keel only, and performs very nicely with just a 21 inch deep draft. The term ‘crossover’ may be overused these days, but it does describe the appeal of the Precision 165 especially well.

The C-26 ( www.colgate26.com ) was built under contract by Precision Boatworks , and marketed by Steve Colgate. The boat was originally designed as a trainer for Steve’s well known Offshore Sailing School, and is very much a collaboration between Steve and Doris (basic concept and specifications), Jim Taylor (design detailing), and Precision (tooling and construction). The C-26 was so well received that she was soon marketed directly to the public, and she was recognized by Sailing World magazine as a Boat of the Year . SW judge Bill Lee wrote, “Not only did I find the Colgate 26 to be a good trainer but also I found myself applauding her for being an excellent sailboat in her own right. (She) appears (ruggedly built) relative to most modern sport boats and I found … excellent glasswork and construction quality with good attention to detail…She represents tremendous value on today’s market.” The C-26 was chosen by the US Coast Guard, US Navy, and Maine Maritime Academies for both instruction and intercollegiate competition, and she is in active production (now by Waterline Systems) with nearly 400 boats built to date.

FAQ’s ABOUT SIMILAR TAYLOR DESIGNS

Before our association with Precision Boatworks, we designed several other small cruisers that were produced by various builders, none of which currently provide support or parts to current owners. We are often asked about them, and offer the following background:

Spectrum 22

Chronologically the first of these small trailerable designs, she was commissioned by Spectrum Yacht Corp, which had a modestly successful production run. (See Spindrift 22, below)

Starwind 19

Wellcraft commissioned the Starwind 19 in the early ’80’s, and did a nice job building a lot of them (400?) before they realized that they could make much more money per square foot of factory space building powerboats. They built good quality boats to our Starwind 19 and Starwind 27 designs, before they went back to all power. The Starwind 223 was not our design.

Spindrift/Starwind

Rebel Industries bought the molds for the Starwind 19 and Spectrum 22, and built a handful of boats, not always wisely or well. They marketed the Starwind 19 variously as the Starwind 19, Starwind 190, and Spindrift 19, but left the boat essentially unchanged from the orginal Wellcraft version. They retooled the Spectrum 22 without our permission or input, as the Spindrift 22.

Review of Precision 16

Basic specs..

The Precision 16 is equipped with a centerboard keel. A centerboard keel is a pivoting lifting keel, allowing to sail both coastal and inland waters.

The boat can sail close to the beach as the draft is just 0.20 - 0.30 meter (0.66 - 0.96 ft) dependent of the load. See immersion rate below.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Precision 16 is about 58 kg/cm, alternatively 325 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 58 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 325 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

Maintenance

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Precision 16 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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» » Link to the P-165 Parts List page » » Link to the P-165 Photo Gallery » » Link to the P-165 Tech. Specs.

Standard Equipment

Hull & Deck

• Hand laminated fiberglass construction
• ISO/NPG Gelcoat Finish
• Vinylester Resin Skin Coat
• Bonded & through bolted hull/deck joint
• Lead ballast
• Opening forward hatch
• Fiberglass companionway hatch
• 4 six inch cleats
• SS bow rail
• Boarding ladder
• SS Bow eye2 opening ports
• 6' 2"self bailing cockpit
• Ventilated fuel tank locker
• Kick-up rudder
• Structural grid interior liner
• Fabric covered cushions
• 2 6' 8" berths
• Backrest cushions w/shelves
• 12 V electrical system
• Fused switch panel
• Interior and navigation lights
• Battery box

Spars, & Rigging

• Anodized mast and boom
• Hinged mast step
• Dacron running rigging
• Swaged SS standing rigging
• 4:1 harken mainsheet system
• Harken boom vang
• Topping lift
• Jiffy reefing main sail

Notice: All pricing subject to change without notice, FOB Palmetto, Florida. Prices do not include transportation to the dealer, state & local taxes, dealer preparation (commissioning) bottom paint, ground tackle or safety gear. Please consult with your authorized Precision dealer to select and budget for these additional items.

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• Sailboat Guide

Precision 16

• Description

Seller's Description

Nice clean complete sailboat with galvanized trailer. txt 48o-27o-2443 - email here is not functional.

Equipment: Boat, sails, trailer.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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