2017-10-23 by DR
Dear Shorty,

I enjoyed your remarks about the Venture 17. I bought one about 15 years ago, had quite a bit of work done on it, but never sailed it until last year. I like its stability with the heavy 4.5 foot swing keel. The cabin is pretty cramped, but it's great for storage, and since I sail alone pretty much and don't cook or sleep over night, that's no big problem. My first time out, I had the jib set upside down. Didn't sail to windward very well. Fortunately I had an anchor available,and once I got that out and reset the jib, I did OK. To be on the safe side,I've left all the styrofoam batting in place. With that much flotation, I could probably hole the thing and not sink. All in all, it is a fun boat and I look forward to more good times in the future. I do have some trouble floating it off the trailer. Even with the centerboard up as tight as I can get it, the boat sits high enough on the trailer that the gradual slant on the public landing makes it tough to float off. I have make a pusher out of a length of steel staging support and trailer ball and receiver cup to give me another six feet. Also I've got to figure a better way to raise the mast myself. The mast is a bit of a problem. It got bent somewhat one winter when it slipped off its supports, and the weight of a winters worth of snow put a yank in it. I can still run the main sail up, but it looks sort of strange if you look at it straight on. It also sails a little better to port than a starboard tack, but we don't worry about those little niceties.

Keep sailing. DR

Date Posted: 2017-10-23
Comment ID: 1258
Posted By: DR
Sailboat ID: 86
Sailboat: Venture 17 Sailboat by MacGregor