Precision 23

{{Infobox sailboat specifications

|name = Precision 23

|insignia =

|insignia size =

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|insignia caption =

|line drawing =

|line size =

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|image boat = File:Precision 23 sailboat Layla Gray 1702.jpg

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|designer = Jim Taylor

|location = United States

|year = 1986

|no built = more than 500

|design =

|class =

|brand =

|builder = Precision Boat Works

|role =

|boats =

|crew =

|trapeze =

|draft =

|air draft =

|displacement = {{convert|2450|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

|hulls =

|hull type = Monohull

|construction = Fiberglass

|loa = {{convert|23.42|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|loh =

|lwl = {{convert|20.00|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|beam = {{convert|8.50|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|hull draft = {{convert|5.33|ft|m|abbr=on}} with centerboard down

|hull weight =

|engine = Outboard motor

|appendages =

|keel type = stub keel with centerboard

|ballast = {{convert|850|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

|rudder type = transom-mounted rudder

|rigs = Fractional rigged sloop

|rig type =

|I = {{convert|26.25|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|J = {{convert|8.33|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|P = {{convert|26.25|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|E = {{convert|10.50|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|mast length =

|rig other =

|sails =

|sailplan =

|sailarea main = {{convert|137.81|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

|sailarea headsail = {{convert|109.33|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

|lp =

|sailarea spin =

|sailarea gen =

|sails other =

|sailarea upwind =

|sailarea downwind =

|sailarea total = {{convert|247.14|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

|rating =

|d-pn =

|rya-pn =

|phrf = 228

|status =

|previous =

|successor =

}}

The Precision 23 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Jim Taylor.{{cite web|url = http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=163 |title = Precision 23 sailboat specifications and details|access-date = 31 December 2017|last= Browning| first = Randy |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2017|archive-url= https://archive.today/20211102185352/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/precision-23|archive-date= 2 November 2021|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://sailboatdata.com/designer/taylor-jim|title= Jim Taylor|access-date = 2 November 2021|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20211102132538/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/taylor-jim|archive-date= 2 November 2021|url-status= live}}Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page 245. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-07-163652-0}}

Production

The boat was first built by Precision Boat Works in the United States in 1986 and remained in production until 2018. Over 500 examples were completed.{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/builder/precision-boat-works|title = Precision Boat Works|access-date = 2 November 2021|last= McArthur| first = Bruce |work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20200913193940/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/precision-boat-works|archive-date= 13 September 2020|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url = http://www.precisionboatworks.com/dealers/index.php|title = Precision Boats Information|accessdate = 2 November 2021|author= Precision Boat Works|work = precisionboatworks.com|year=2020|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200712233110/http://www.precisionboatworks.com/dealers/index.php|archivedate = 12 July 2020|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/manufacturers/precision-boat-works-ceases-production|title= Precision Boat Works ceases production|access-date= 2 November 2021|work= Trade Only Today|date= 3 August 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180803202044/https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/manufacturers/precision-boat-works-ceases-production|archive-date= 3 August 2018|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/cs_srgb/MTU3NDcwMDQ1ODIyMjY0OTk4/precisionboatworks.pdf|title= Precision Boat Works Is Moving|access-date= 2 November 2021|author= Precision Boat Works|work= Press Release|date= 2 August 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211102233253/https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/cs_srgb/MTU3NDcwMDQ1ODIyMjY0OTk4/precisionboatworks.pdf|archive-date= 2 November 2021|url-status= live}}

Design

File:Precision 23 sailboat Escape 0680.jpg

The Precision 23 is a small recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with teak wood trim. It has a fractional sloop rig, a transom-hung rudder and a fixed stub keel with a retractable centerboard that is raised and lowered by a Dacron line, plus a "kick-up" rudder. It displaces {{convert|2450|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and carries {{convert|850|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of lead ballast. The cockpit is {{convert|83|in|m|2|abbr=on}} long.{{cite web|url = http://www.precisionboatworks.com/boats/p23/index.php|title = Precision 23|access-date = 31 December 2017|author=Precision Boat Works, Inc.|work = www.precisionboatworks.com|date = 29 September 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190910153226/http://www.precisionboatworks.com/boats/p23/index.php|archive-date= 10 September 2019|url-status= live}}

The boat is constructed using a hand-laid fiberglassing method and sleeps four adults. The galley includes a stainless steel sink, an alcohol-fired stove and a self-contained fresh water system, with a manual pump. A {{convert|48|USqt|L|0|abbr=on}} Igloo Coolers ice chest with a teak wood step is also standard equipment.

The boat has a draft of {{convert|5.33|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the fiberglass centerboard extended and {{convert|1.93|ft|m|abbr=on}} with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.

The boat is normally fitted with a small {{convert|3|to|6|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.

The design has sleeping accommodation for five people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin, two straight settees in the main cabin and an aft quarter berth on the port side. The galley is located on the starboard side just behind the companionway ladder. The galley is equipped with a two-burner stove and a sink. The head is located under the bow cabin "V"-berth. Cabin headroom is {{convert|54|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}.

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 228 and a hull speed of {{convert|5.99|kn|km/h|2|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/sailboat_specs/view/150/precision-23|title = Sailboat Specifications for Precision 23 |access-date = 6 January 2018|work = Sailing Joy|author= InterVisionSoft LLC|year = 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180106231649/http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/sailboat_specs/view/150/precision-23|archive-date= 6 January 2018|url-status= live}}

Operational history

File:Precision 23 sailboat Oddly Enough 1749.jpg

In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "In 1994, former Precision sales manager, the late Larry Norris, gave me his own description of the traditional, shoal-draft Precision 23 when I was writing a review of the boat for Practical Sailor. He said that 'the 23 has never been anything it wasn't originally intended to be: a trailerable sailboat of better than average cruising performance, but never a racing machine. It is too full forward and cut away aft to achieve really staggering downwind performance. But on the other hand, the boat will stay balanced in a blow with just a couple of fingers on the tiller.' Our tests at the time bore out his assertions. Best features: Attractive traditional design, solid construction, adequately stable and weatherly, open and airy cabin with better-than-average space ... good and caring customer service, and a well-satisfied and loyal owner group. Worst features: Nothing significant to report."