P-185 Turtling

Posted By: My-Precision-185.Com
Date: 2/25/05 12:02p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Re: Turtling P-185- everyone should email this fellow (Tim Marks-Seaward Fox-Mystic, CT)

I am sure that you are all well intentioned in trying to dismiss this mishap as a simple lack of sailor experience. And just to be clear, my-precision-185.com is not designed to bad-mouth the P-185, but rather simply to advise prospective buyers what the boat is and isn't, and what they should be wary of. I've sailed the waters of Long Island's north shore for 14 years in winds up to 22 knots. I was taught on Sunfish and Albacores and raced Lasers, which is certainly unforgiving of any small error in a fresh breeze. Would you be surprised to learn that Precision BoatWorks was shocked that their hot new P-185 would capsize on a mooring, board up or down? They were. Did you read the full account? We are not blaming the manufacturer that the boat capsized. Small boats and dinghies capsize. Any sailor in a centerboard boat weighing 800 lbs is aware of that risk. What makes the Precision 185 dangerous, in our opinion, is the rapidity in which it turtles (under 5 seconds-not nearly enough time to climb over the hull and stop the centerboard from disappearing, as was suggested), the failure of a centerboard stop to prevent the centerboard from completely recessing into the centerboard trunk, and the cutout in the transom that combined with the turtling, can trap an occupant beneath without an air pocket. The suggestion of adding a pull to the bottom of the centerboard is a good one, in hindsight. Unfortunately, it is now after the fact, and since Precision has yet to issue a manual for this boat, much less make a recommendation that the owner perform that modification. TowBoat USA was unable to right the boat in the harbor, and had to drag it to shore. TowBoat USA stated that in the turtled position, it would be impossible for even four adults to right the boat. It fills with water too quickly, has no available centerboard, and the hull bottom is completely flat with no ability to be used as leverage. You may be interested to know that members of the Unites States Coast Guard, who were involved in the rescue, concurred with our assessment of the boat's design flaws. But, they added, there are many boats with profound safety issues that are nevertheless loved by their owners. If you want to purchase a P-185, you will find it to be lively and fun. But to dismiss one owner's admonitions about potential safety issues as somehow being misguided or worse, hurting the reputation of the boating community, are off the mark. Many people thought Ralph Nader was a pain in the ass too. But by his persisence in fostering an openness about automobile safety issues, he saved thousands of lives.