Precision 280
- Thread starter Oriondriver
- Start date
Looking at Precision's website and a web search, I don't see any evidence of a 280. Are you sure it isn't a 28?
The Precision 28 is the same as a Precision 27 with the addition of a swim step. The Precision line was designed by Jim Taylor.
Taylor has a reputation for designing fast comfortable sailboats. These are not flat out racers, just comfortable fast boats for their intended purpose. He designed the Colgate 26 for the Colgate sailing schools.
I have a Taylor designed boat and I am very pleased with its sailing characteristics. It is fast and well mannered. Taylor designed several Sabre models and I've never heard any one complain about the sailing characteristics. I would expect the Precision 28 to be the same, a well mannered fast comfortable sailboat.
Precision Boatworks had a good reputation for building solid well made boats.
Taylor has a reputation for designing fast comfortable sailboats. These are not flat out racers, just comfortable fast boats for their intended purpose. He designed the Colgate 26 for the Colgate sailing schools.
I have a Taylor designed boat and I am very pleased with its sailing characteristics. It is fast and well mannered. Taylor designed several Sabre models and I've never heard any one complain about the sailing characteristics. I would expect the Precision 28 to be the same, a well mannered fast comfortable sailboat.
Precision Boatworks had a good reputation for building solid well made boats.
The hull is nearly identical to the Starwind 27 (1984 made by Wellcraft) that I used to own (Jim Taylor designed). Starwinds (early 80's) preceded the boats he designed for Precision and it is remarkable how similar the hull designs are. The Precision 27 hull design is basically identical to the Starwind 27 that I had. The interiors were modernized and the largest difference, in my view, was the Starwind was a masthead rig and the Precisions are fractional rig. I think the change to fractional rig was in keeping with the movement for performance-oriented boats.
I found my Starwind to have a comfortable cockpit, a very comfortable & roomy interior (for a 27' boat) and very good sailing characteristics. The hull is beamier than the average boat in its class, which makes the side decks comfortable. The swim deck is a magnificent bonus relative to my boat. I thought the shear line and coach roof height was a good compromise to keep the boat looking sleek (reduced windage) and provide adequate headroom. I'm 6' and I had to watch my head down below but my wife, at 5'7", was perfectly comfortable. Obviously, you will need to experience the headroom on the boat you are looking at.
In short, I was very pleased with my Starwind 27 and I think the Precision 28 would be a very nice upgrade with all of the characteristics that I loved about my boat, only with improvements to make it better. I found that the boat heeled quite easily with the breeze but settled into a very comfortable stiffness as the lead keel stabilized the boat even in stiff breezes. I sailed that boat quite comfortably in 20+ knots with the appropriate reefs in both the bay and in the Atlantic with following seas. Bashing into Atlantic Ocean waves upwind was not comfortable, considering it is a light displacement boat for coastal waters.
I found this: Review of Precision 28 - www.yachtdatabase.com
I found my Starwind to have a comfortable cockpit, a very comfortable & roomy interior (for a 27' boat) and very good sailing characteristics. The hull is beamier than the average boat in its class, which makes the side decks comfortable. The swim deck is a magnificent bonus relative to my boat. I thought the shear line and coach roof height was a good compromise to keep the boat looking sleek (reduced windage) and provide adequate headroom. I'm 6' and I had to watch my head down below but my wife, at 5'7", was perfectly comfortable. Obviously, you will need to experience the headroom on the boat you are looking at.
In short, I was very pleased with my Starwind 27 and I think the Precision 28 would be a very nice upgrade with all of the characteristics that I loved about my boat, only with improvements to make it better. I found that the boat heeled quite easily with the breeze but settled into a very comfortable stiffness as the lead keel stabilized the boat even in stiff breezes. I sailed that boat quite comfortably in 20+ knots with the appropriate reefs in both the bay and in the Atlantic with following seas. Bashing into Atlantic Ocean waves upwind was not comfortable, considering it is a light displacement boat for coastal waters.
I found this: Review of Precision 28 - www.yachtdatabase.com
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The Starwind 19 that I owned was incredibly similar to the Precision 18. Fun little boat with a fantastic interior for its size. I wish I still owned it
As a former dealer for Precision, they built a quality 28 footer It depends how it was maintained through the years of ownership. I would recommend have it surveyed if you are serious about it. The production of it ceased in the early 2000’s Precision no longer is in production but the last I heard parts are still available. I sold their 23 footer mostly and the only issue I had was taped water line was not installed properly which was resolved quickly