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Precision 18 - Sail La Vie

Sail La Vie is a one of a kind.  She is a 1989 Precision 18 hull number 280.  She has been outfitted to go comfortably cruising in a small trailer-able sailboat, plain and simple. 

 

She makes all of her own electricity with 300 watts of solar and an outboard equipped alternator. 

 

She keeps food cold or frozen with her 12v refrigerator/freezer.  Her sail plan includes a 150 Genoa on a roller fuller, 2 reef points on the main with single line reefing on both points, an adjustable backstay, and all sheets and halyards leading aft to the cockpit. 

 

She is equipped with an auto tiller for long days of cruising, a Rudder Craft kick up rudder with match crutch for ease of beaching and trailering, and a full cockpit bimini for protection from the sun on those hot sunny days.

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Sail La Vie has been my cruising companion on extended trips of the Florida 120 in Pensacola bay, the Main Island Trail, and the Chesapeake bay.  She is also great just to go for an evening sunset sail in her home waters on the Susquehanna River.

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My goal has been to make her as safe, comfortable, and easy to single hand sail and trailer as I could.

Specifications

Hull Type:  Keel with Centerboard

Rigging Type:  Fractional Sloop

LOA:  17.42 ft/ 5.31 m

LWL:  15.42 ft / 4.7 m

Beam:  7.42 ft/ 2.26 m

Sail Area:  145 ft2 /  13.47 m2

Draft Max (Centerboard Down):  4.25 ft / 1.3 m

Draft Min (Centerboard Up):  1.5 ft / .46 m

Displacement:  1,100 lb / 499 kg

Ballast:  350 lb / 159 kg

Construction:  Fiberglass

Ballast Type:  Lead

First Built:  1984

# Built:  500

Builder:  Precision Boat Works (USA)

Designer:  Jim Taylor

Calculations

Sail Area / Displacement:  21.81

Ballast / Displacement:  31.82

Displacement / Length:  133.93

Comfort Ratio:  7.35

Capsize Screening Formula:  2.88

S#:  4.10

Links

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/precision-18

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http://precisionboatworks.com/

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http://www.precisionboatworks.com/boats/p18/index.php

Projects

BOAT

  • Replaced battery with 100amp Hour Battle Born LiOn battery with quick connects

  • Installed removable wind vane on masthead

  • Installed Clinometer - LevoGuage

  • Installed baby stroller organizer bags on life lines for cup holders

  • Replaced main halyard

  • Installed a mast base organizer

  • Installed main halyard block at foot of mast

  • Installed line organizers for main halyard, reef 1, reef 2, and rolling fuller lines

  • Rerouted head sail rolling fuller line to cockpit and installed a cam cleat

  • Installed a line clutch for the main halyard and winch for ease of raising

  • Hired to have a second deep reef point sewn into the main sail

  • Installed single line reefing system for the 1st and second reefs

  • Installed a new boom outhaul system

  • Installed a downhaul

  • Installed a boom vang

  • Replaced the existing 2 stroke 4hp short shaft outboard with a long shaft 5hp Honda with internal fuel tank

  • Installed the 6amp Honda outboard alternator kit and wired into the boats electrical system

  • Replaced the spring adustable motor mount bracket with a gas piston motor mount bracket (much easier to use and stays in position)

  • Designed and Installed a gear shift extension handle for the Honda 5hp outboard to make putting the engine into forward, neutral, and refers much easier

  • Replaced the existing rudder with a Rudder Craft swing up rudder complete with new tiller and mast crutch system

  • Added foot pads to the boarding ladders metal steps for comfort when using the ladder

  • Installed an adjustable back stay system and relocated the main sheet anchor location to the stern rail

  • Replaced all of the light bulbs on the boat with LED (Bow, Stern, Cabin, Mid Mast, Mast Head)

  • Replaced the existing external gas can and purchased additional 1 gal gas can in such a way that it all fits in the external fuel locker

  • Installed a Wifi sonar system that links with Navionics

  • Installed a bimini for the cockpit

  • Installed a raised composite deck in the cockpit floor

  • Installed a new cam cleat for the swing keel line

  • Installed latches and a foam sealing system for the starboard cockpit locker lid

  • Installed (2) 50 watt solar pv panels on the stern rails that are adjustable and remove easily for trailering

  • Installed (2) 100 watt flex solar panels on the bimini each with their own charge controller (Port and Starboard side)

  • Installed an electric externally mounted horn with button

  • Installed a mast raising system that makes use of the main sheet

  • Installed a mast cover to prevent the sail slugs from coming out

  • Replaced the anchor system with a new larger dansforth anchor 20ft of chain and 200ft of rode

  • Installed a Gulper manual bilge pump system

  • Installed a Dominic 12v refrigerator/freezer

  • Installed an additional electrical distribution panel complete with a Victron battery monitory, display unit, 12v outlets and 3.0 USB outlets

  • Had the cabin cushions reupholstered

  • Installed a cabin roof vent

  • Had the a new uv sun cover sewn on the head sail

  • Had a new tiller cover made

  • Installed a Raymarine ST1000 auto tiller

  • Sanded, cleaned, and oiled the teak wood

  • Installed handheld VHF radio charger

  • Built custom mast support for bow rail when trailering

  • Installed new bottom paint

  • Installed new port and starboard cabin windows

 

TRAILER

  • Rewired the trailer with new LED lights, 7 wire plug, and a charging cord to go to the boat

  • Installed PVC guides with lights at the top

  • Installed new larger wheels and tires

  • Installed new bunk boards and carpet

  • Installed new rollers

  • Installed tongue extension

  • Installed Trailer Valet trailer jack

  • Installed foot step pads

  • Install spare tire bracket and new larger spare tire

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