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First Boat Advice: MacGregor Venture 17

  • Thread starter beber
  • Start date Aug 1, 2006
  • Forums for All Owners
  • Ask All Sailors

I am looking to purchase my first sailboat and recently found a 1972 MacGregor venture 17 for sale in my area. I would greatly apreciate the coments and opinions of anyone familar with this boat.  

The smallest Venture... my first boat with "sleeping space" was a Venture 17. It's cheap, easy to rig, a trailable behind the smallest vehicles. It's a light weight and not a very well sailing boat. Somewhere I have a photo of two of us sailing my Venture, and it is so low in the stern from our combined weight in the cockpit, that it is laughable. It was advertised as with cruising room for 4, but 2 is more practical down below. It's lightly built and not well finished. Wouldn't want to take it very far from shore. OK as a starter, but you'll soon be disappointed in its handling. I think I had mine about 2 years before frustration set in.  

thank you thanks for the info, most of the responses I get seem to be negative on this boat. I think I will hold out for something better.  

Why look at such old boats? It won't be hard to find a much newer, and better boats for very reasonable prices. Make a visit to Sunset Sails on Lake Hopatcong or the sailboat shop that is on Hwy 31 just north of Spruce Run in Glen Gardner and get a better idea of what is around. Both locations are local to you in Flanders. There are plenty of Catalina 22's around for sure (for next to nothing). If you are thinking about a 17' to 18' boat for lake sailing (Lake Hopatcong, Spruce Run or Round Valley Res) why not consider a new boat? They are not prohibitively high priced in that size(in fact, I think they are downright cheap, compared to powerboats) and you can easily get something with much nicer equipment and performance than you will find in an older boat. I bet it could make the difference between being lukewarm to sailing and really enjoying it. There are some great Hunters, Catalinas, Precisions and others at either of those two local shops.  

first sail to learn how to sail you'd be better off with something much smaller. Get a Lazer or a Vanguard, Lido or something similar and keep it for one season, THEN get a Catalina 22. You'll be a better sailor for it.  

Not so fast Some of my best sailing memories were with my young children on our '74 V17. Sure it was small and light and simple, but it was easy to trailer, easy to setup single-handed (15 minutes or less) and it fit in my standard-size garage. It was so convienient that I took it out on Lake Pontchartrain almost every day even though I lived 15 miles away. It could take the worst Pontchartrain (and I) could throw at it; often sailing with a rail in the water. What a work-out. After 2 years I decided to "upgrade" to a little larger (and heavier) boat. What a mistake! The bigger boat took 2 to launch and rig and was never as much fun. It wouldn't fit in the garage. I couldn't keep it "ready to go" while parked in my yard so I hardly ever used it. If you're going to go bigger then go all the way up to a MacGregor 26. The early ones are light (water ballast) but good sailers and the later ones are amazing hybids (fast under power). Happy sails *_/), MArk  

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Review of Venture 17

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season. And outside the sailing season, just bottom cleaning and perhaps anti-fouling painting once a year - a few hours of work, that's all.

The boat equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a genaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.

CentreBoard

The Venture 17 is equipped with a centreboard keel. A centreboard keel is a pivoting lifting keel, allowing to sail both coastal and inland waters.

The boat can enter even shallow marinas as the draft is just about 0.43 - 0.53 meter (1.41 - 1.71 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Venture 17 is 2.73, indicating that this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 5.2 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Venture 17 is about 59 kg/cm, alternatively 330 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 59 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 330 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 11m 2 (118 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

UsageLengthDiameter
Mainsail halyard 15.4 m(50.5 feet)6 mm(1/4 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard15.4 m(50.5 feet)6 mm(1/4 inch)
Spinnaker halyard15.4 m(50.5 feet)6 mm(1/4 inch)
Jib sheet 5.3 m(17.3 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Genoa sheet5.3 m(17.3 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Mainsheet 13.2 m(43.3 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Spinnaker sheet11.6 m(38.1 feet)8 mm(5/16 inch)
Cunningham2.7 m(8.8 feet)6 mm(1/4 inch)
Kickingstrap5.3 m(17.5 feet)6 mm(1/4 inch)
Clew-outhaul5.3 m(17.5 feet)6 mm(1/4 inch)

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Venture 17 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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  • Sailboat Guide

Venture 17 is a 17 ′ 3 ″ / 5.3 m monohull sailboat designed by Roger MacGregor and built by Macgregor Yacht Corp between 1968 and 1974.

Drawing of Venture 17

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

  • SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
  • D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
  • LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
  • LOA: Length overall in feet
  • Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Thanks to ‘sea_scooter’ for providing updated information.

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Just got a 1972 MacGregor Venture 17'

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I just picked up a 1972 Macgregor Venture 17' This is my 1st sailboat. I have a 1981 Searay 22' cuddy inboard V8. I have sailed a couple sailboats before but they were all rigged. I will be lurking around to see what I can learn. Thanks in advance to everyone that has contributed. Tons of knowledge here. Time to go disconnect the trailer and clean the snow off Chuck  

macgregor venture 17 sailboat review

Congrats on getting your boat. Where will your sailing grounds be? Welcome to Sailnet.  

Chain of Lakes, far NW suburbs of chicago once I learn a little ...... lake michigan, I hope a couple years  

macgregor venture 17 sailboat review

One of the most fun boats I ever owned. Moved up to the 23' and spent many nights and weekends on her. Wet at times, tough for having the girls aboard, but a lot of fun none the less. Great way to learn to sail, just wait until you get the keel wire singing!!! enjoy  

Thanks for the encouragement. I have a few questions, anyone know the answers? I am wondering what size motor the Venture 17' can handle. I have a mercury 9.9 long shaft and 2, johnson 20 hp reg shaft hanging in my attic (hoping the 9.9 is just right). The cabin in this 17' is as big as in my 1981 srv 225 (22.5' Cuddy) not as much head room. Can I put some pop up vents in the cabin to get some ventilation? I can see it getting hot in there. Thanks in advance for any info  

VentureThis17 said: Thanks for the encouragement. I have a few questions, anyone know the answers? I am wondering what size motor the Venture 17' can handle. I have a mercury 9.9 long shaft and 2, johnson 20 hp reg shaft hanging in my attic (hoping the 9.9 is just right). The cabin in this 17' is as big as in my 1981 srv 225 (22.5' Cuddy) not as much head room. Can I put some pop up vents in the cabin to get some ventilation? I can see it getting hot in there. Thanks in advance for any info Click to expand...
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Boat Name Venture 17
Manufacturer MacGregor
Hull Type Pocket Cruiser
LOA 17'4"  (5.28m)
Beam 6'4"  (1.93m)
Weight 800  (363.6kg)
Ballast   (kg)
Keel Type swing keel
Berths 4
Draft Up 1'5"  (0.43m)
Draft Down 4'6"  (1.37m)
Year Start
Year End
Number Made
Country
MIC
Shortypen ID 86
Clone
2012-01-16 by:
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Venture 21 Used-boat Review

The vintage macgregor is a good example of a budget-friendly boat..

macgregor venture 17 sailboat review

Maybe this has happened to you: You’re on a country road, driving to a wedding (or family vacation or business conference), and you pass a sailboat on a trailer with a “For Sale” sign. It’s not a big boat. It’s not a small boat. But it’s just about right for launching a small adventure with your young family, or maybe you’re looking to downsize. You can’t resist stopping for a closer look. Incredibly, the sign reads “$600,” including a nearly new trailer and an old 4-horsepower, two-stroke outboard that “runs like a top.” You write down the number and drive away, thinking: “Somebody is giving away a perfectly good boat.”

Chances are that “steal of a deal” is a Roger MacGregor-designed Venture 21, and if not, it’s probably one of the many copycats riding the trailer-sailer boom that MacGregor’s little boat ignited. The Catalina 22, the Santana 21, and the San Juan 21 are just some of the boats that followed closely in the wake of the Venture 21’s introduction.

The concept for the Venture 21 came out of MacGregor’s master’s thesis in the Stanford University MBA program. The first hull was introduced in 1965, but full-fledged production didn’t begin until 1967. Several thousand hulls later, the last MacGregor 21 (the boat was renamed in 1980) rolled off the line in 1986 at the MacGregor factory in Costa Mesa, Calif. Today, with some 36,000 sailboat hulls behind it, the company builds just one boat, the hybrid sailboat/powerboat MacGregor 26x.

Although MacGregor sold fewer Venture 21s than its successor—the Venture 22, which later became the pop-top Venture 22-2—the 21’s easy trailerability and affordable price helped it maintain its popularity throughout the 1970s. Capitalizing on the fiberglass revolution in boatbuilding, MacGregor’s business-school project sparked a pivotal marketing shift that helped bring recreational sailing to mainstream America.

While the trailer-sailer boom is far behind us, the Venture 21 and its many look-alikes have renewed relevance today. With their discretionary spending sharply cut, younger sailors are taking the Craigslist-route into sailing, scouring the classified ads for boats that don’t require dock space but still have room for a family sail. Meanwhile, many owners of 30-plus-footers are considering downsizing to a boat that doesn’t require mooring fees and a hefty maintenance bill each spring. For better or for worse, in the dim light of a recession, a back-to-basics giveaway boat on the roadside begins to look awfully enticing. For these and other reasons, PS decided to take a closer look at the Venture 21, which, in many ways, is the epitome of “the boat with a price I couldn’t refuse.”

Venture 21

The Venture 21 was designed to be affordable, easy to trailer and launch, and fun to sail, with enough room below for storing gear, napping, or even spending a night at anchor. It was principally aimed at new sailors, but it also appealed to those who wanted to step up from an open daysailer. Its size, sail area, and hull design were tailored for lakes and bays with fickle breezes of less than 15 knots.

Seaworthiness and performance were important considerations but pragmatism and aesthetic appeal were the driving force behind its design features.

Although the boat’s low headroom and Spartan interior would not qualify it as a weekender today, it was initially marketed as a “cruising” sailboat. A sleep-aboard sailboat that could be hauled around the country behind the family station wagon seemed perfectly in tune with the wanderlust of the 1960s.

While the Venture 21 is regarded as one of the first modern trailer-sailers, no single design element stands out as particularly revolutionary or unique. Instead, MacGregor incorporated proven features that would not only appeal to serious sailors, but also would remain consistent with the public perception of what a good boat should be and look like. In the yacht market, the Cruising Club of America boats were still the aesthetic model. Carl Alberg’s popular Ensign, launched by Pearson in 1962, is a good example of a small boat that clung to the CCA philosophy and aesthetic.

The Venture’s heritage is more closely aligned with two daysailers that were enjoying a surge of popularity on the East Coast in the early 1960s: the 17-foot Day Sailer, designed by George O’Day and Uffa Fox in 1958, and, to a lesser degree, the Phillip Rhodes-designed Rhodes 19, first offered by O’Day in 1959. Both were built by the nascent O’Day Group of Fall River, Mass. The similarities in the three boats are most apparent above the waterline. All have a relatively flat sheer line and spoon-like bow overhang (or spoonbow), elements that predate the modern yachting era.

While the Rhodes 19 still carries fairly deep V-sections well aft, making it a capable performer in the chop typical of its New England home waters, the Day Sailer flattens out, particularly at the stern, giving it fast, near-planing speeds off the wind. Fox and O’Day later refined this feature, earning Fox a reputation as the innovator of the planing dinghy. With a modest V-shape and a relatively fine bow, the Venture 21 lies somewhere between the two Rhodes 19 and the Day Sailer.

The Venture’s swing keel gives it 5 feet, 6 inches of draft—even more than its popular big brother, the Venture 25—and retracts to allow the boat to float in about 15 inches of water. (The brochure says 12 inches.)

Although the original design called for a fractional rig with a 22-foot mast, this was later changed to a masthead rig, giving it quite a bit of horsepower for its era. At the peak of its production in the late 1970s, the Venture 21 enjoyed popularity as a racing boat, with fleets springing up on the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast, as well as its home waters of Southern California. Although some owners have gone to the trouble of re-routing running rigging, fairing the keel, adding travelers and vangs, and replacing the pinned turnbuckles with threaded turnbuckles, we’d encourage someone inclined toward performance to look at a more modern hull with an active racing fleet.

One of the most notable features is the boat’s 7-foot cockpit, as big as that found in the much larger and heavier Catalina 22. However, unlike the Catalina 22, the San Juan 21, and the successively longer Ventures (V-22, V-23, V-25) that widened the cabintop to provide more interior space, the Venture 21 preserves enough sidedeck for crew to move forward . . . with care. Many V-21s, like the one we sailed, never had lifelines; others have had their lifelines removed. The standard single lifelines—low and poorly supported by widely spaced stanchions—offer a modicum of safety, but these are still less than ideal. In our view, lifelines are not a deal-breaker on a 21-foot daysailer, but if you have small children, a boat that is equipped with lifelines with a supporting pushpit and pulpit would be preferable.

The cockpit has a small lazarette, presumably to store fuel for the small bracket-mounted outboard, but this leads directly to the bilge, a bad idea that presents a potential fire risk. The original boats came equipped with top-grinding winches with short T-tracks for the jib. The boat we sailed had only a single fixed-point for the jib sheet. The end-of-boom mainsheet has a 4:1 purchase that spreads the load to each corner of the stern, a basic setup that limits trim options. Some owners modified the leads and added a mainsheet traveler, although this entails either raising the traveler over the tiller, or moving the sheet forward on the boom; both are compromise solutions.

A modest 18- by 18-inch fiberglass bow hatch allows ventilation down below, as well as a place for sails to be passed down. There is no anchor locker or chain pipe. The boat we sailed had an 8-inch diameter screw-on PVC deck plate that was apparently used as a chain pipe.

Overall, the deck has a functional layout, fine for its primary mission, which is to enjoy some time on the water with very little hassle.

Accommodations

The biggest drawback to the Venture 21’s emphasis on trailerability and a 1960s aesthetic is the lack of headroom below. By keeping the cabintop and topsides profile low, MacGregor produced a boat that, in our view, is better looking than the slab-sided models that followed. However, the end result is a very cramped interior. The VW-camper-inspired pop-top on the Venture 22-2, which came shortly after the Venture 21, offered a compromise that was adopted by a number of boats in this size range. Gradually, the intrinsic appeal of a low profile gave way to market demands. (MacGregor’s current and only model, the M26x, is a classic example of the wedding cake look that eschews traditional aesthetics for the sake of comfort below.)

With two quarter berths and a V-berth, the Venture 21 technically could sleep four, but this sort of arrangement probably would be brief and acrimonious. Although you could pack a lot of gear under the cockpit, actual locker storage is limited. Some ambitious owners have added sinks, small galleys, 12-volt systems, and port-a-potties below, but the boat’s cramped headroom restricts its suitability for more than a few days of cruising. For the 20-something adventurer with aspirations of camp-cruising on one of America’s many inland lakes, it will do just fine, but more than a couple of days aboard a boat this size will be a sure test of any marriage.

Construction

During the Venture 21’s 15-year production run, from 1965-1980, the materials and construction methods used for its deck, rig, structural components, and keel went through several changes. Construction of the hull itself, however, remained virtually unchanged. The hull was hand laid up with woven roven and mat. The layup schedule was a single unit of alternating mat and woven roven. Owners do report flexing in some spots, although we noted none on the boat we tested. The early boats are fairly resin rich, so hull thickness is not necessarily a reflection of strength.

The earliest Ventures had a stick-built interior, with bulkheads and bunks made of resin-coated cuts of plywood that were laminated in place. These earlier versions make it easier for owners to modify or rebuild an interior, and this is almost an inevitable project, given plywood’s propensity to rot and delaminate.

By the mid-1970s, MacGregor switched to a molded liner, which accelerated production and eliminated issues of rot, but added about 200 pounds to the total weight. Large sections of the boat are enclosed and filled with foam—a touted safety feature—but it is nonsense to consider the boat unsinkable, as some websites and blog posts suggest.

About 50 V-21s featured lead keels. The poured lead was anchored to a steel beam, and the entire construction sheathed in fiberglass. This process was not only expensive, but it also presented significant corrosion problems, as water eventually migrated into the fiberglass-encased keel.

Most models have solid iron keels; corrosion, however, is still a problem with these keels, but they can be removed, ground-down, faired, and sealed with an epoxy barrier coat to provide many more years of service. This is the biggest “problem” with the Venture 21, and any buyer should take a close look at the keel and the related components.

The original deck was plywood core, but this was later changed to balsa. In either case, rot is a potential problem (particularly in areas of the owner-installed deck hardware), but none of the 14 owners of Venture 21s who participated in our survey reported significant problems with deck rot.

The hull-to-deck joint was initially a bolted and adhesive-bonded shoebox joint, in which the lip of the deck flange fits over the hull just like a shoebox lid. This was later modified to an outward turning flange joint, with the hull lip turning outward to present a horizontal bonding surface for the deck. In both cases, the joint was bonded with a polyurethane adhesive sealant such as 3M 5200, bolted together, and then covered with an extruded aluminum and vinyl rubrail. Neither joint is as rugged as an inward-turning flange, but this is method is typical for a boat of this size.

Early versions of the Venture 21 were fractional rigs, but the majority were masthead rigs with overlapping jibs. An off-center backstay and upper and lower shrouds add support to the 22-foot mast. Early boats, like the 1969 model that we test sailed, did not have spreaders on the upper shrouds. In windy areas, where mast pumping is a noticeable problem, retrofitting spreaders—or looking for a more suitable boat—would be a good idea. The chainplates are through-bolted to the hull, eliminating the typically rot-prone attachment to plywood bulkheads found in some larger boats of this vintage. The original turnbuckles are the fixed-adjustment type that allow 1/8-inch adjustment intervals, making it hard to tune the rig at sea, but impossible to over-tighten, a common novice error.

The two biggest problems cited in our owners’ survey were the hand-crank keel winch and the keel-retaining bolt. Although the keel winches on later MacGregor models are braked mechanisms that will not spin freely under load, the one on the Venture 21 is a common ratchet-type trailer winch. If it is let go under load, the handle can whip around dangerously. Many owners have replaced this with a braked winch—a good idea, although these winches will require more maintenance. The keel-retaining bolt is a 3/8-inch diameter bolt that is slipped through a hole in the centerboard trunk and a corresponding hole in the keel. It is used to lock the keel in place when sailing in deep water, preventing the keel from flopping back into the hull should the boat capsize or surf down the face of a wave. The retaining bolts are commonly bent during a grounding, and any boat with a bent one should be inspected closely around the hull and keel trunk for other signs of damage.

Overall, the construction is light, but adequate for the boat’s designed purposes. If the deck isn’t too rotten, and the swing keel and keel box aren’t shot, most any other potential problem on the Venture 21 is easily remedied by someone who is handy and has the time.

Performance

During its heyday, the Venture 21 was promoted for it speed. MacGregor touted its position as the first of the “hot retracting keel boats” and the “fastest of its type,” with “planing speeds at over 16 miles per hour.” In this age of ultra-light monohulls and multihulls with eye-popping sail area (see PS, September 2009 and May 2010), this sort of hype seems quaint, but if you compare the Venture 21 to other boats of its era, it is clearly no slouch (See “Venture 21 in Context,” page 11). Its sail area/displacement ratio puts it ahead of several contenders, and its hull form—as mentioned—does give it an ability to hit double-digit speeds in the right hands.

The boat we test sailed was handicapped by ancient sails and an outboard that could not be fully tilted out of the water. Although the boat had a masthead rig, the headsail was a fractional working jib. A 140-percent genoa, found on many boats, would have added about 25 percent to the total sail area. To windward, the boat tacked smartly through 90 degrees, although we’d expect a boat with good sails to point higher. The boat was initially tender on the wind, but once the full effect of the 400-pound keel exerted its influence, the boat settled into a comfortable heel. Despite the deep bellies in her sails, the boat handled gusts surprisingly well, and by adjusting the swing keel’s depth, testers could easily achieve a balanced helm. Off the wind in 12 to 15 knots of breeze, we were able to sustain speeds of 7 knots under working sails alone with the keel almost fully retracted. While not wind-in-your hair sailing by today’s standards, it meets our definition of fun.

Conclusions

After spending some time aboard the Venture 21, we were reminded how much and how little has changed since the boat was introduced more than 40 years ago. Most comparable modern “weekenders” with big cockpits and modest cabins, like the Precision 21 or Catalina Capris 22, offer much more in terms of safety, systems (limited as they are), and modern conveniences. And entry-level daysailers like the thermo-molded Hunter 216 offer more in terms of performance options, such as a sprit for the asymmetrical sail and rigging conveniences like a hydraulic lifting keel. If true small-boat performance with a potential for one-design racing is what you’re after, then a boat like the J/22 presents a more sensible choice.

While overall construction quality has improved over the past 40 years, most daysailer hulls (the Hunter 216 and the balsa-cored J/22 excepted) are still solid fiberglass and laid up by hand, an economical and forgiving method. Many daysailers with cabins are actually much heavier than the lightly built V-21, but they also have much better finish quality.

The bottom line with the Venture 21 is the bottom line. If you hunt around long enough, you are likely to pick up a sailaway boat with a trailer and outboard for less than $3,000­—about the cost of a new trailer. The boat we sailed sold for far less, including the trailer and 4-horsepower Evinrude. If you are really patient, you can probably find a fixer-upper that someone will give to if you promise to drag it off their property.

Is this 40-year-old, mass-produced boat still a viable option for the entry-level sailor, or someone looking to downsize? No question about it. The Venture 21 is not a boat we’d recommend for someone with offshore aspirations or in places like San Francisco Bay where heavy air and a stiff chop would render it wet, slow, and uncomfortable. However, if you plan some coastal or lake adventures and are limited by a 2,000-pound tow capacity and a recession-era budget, then the Venture 21 definitely deserves a look.

There is one key caveat: Because it is easy to underestimate the amount of work required to revive barn-found boat, we would strongly urge looking for a Venture 21 that is in sailaway condition, rather than a project boat. Dealing with the iron keel alone can be a time-consuming project, and despite the boat’s interesting history, this adds little or no to resale value. On the good side, however, should you decide to embark on the restoration of a Venture 21, you will not be alone. Plenty have done it before, and given the boat’s irresistibly low price tag, more will surely follow in their wake.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

What kind of Trailer did your boat have. Mine (1972) is a 4″ welded C Channel, Is this a factory style trailer or somebody’s back yard built. It has the right v notches for the C/B etc.

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macgregor venture 17 sailboat review

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VENTURE 17 Detailed Review

https://images.harbormoor.com/originals/9d812079-49a9-4546-9848-413627128737

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of VENTURE 17. Built by Macgregor Yacht Corp and designed by Roger MacGregor, the boat was first built in 1968. It has a hull type of Swing Keel and LOA is 5.28. Its sail area/displacement ratio 25.96. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

VENTURE 17 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about VENTURE 17 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, contributions, who designed the venture 17.

VENTURE 17 was designed by Roger MacGregor.

Who builds VENTURE 17?

VENTURE 17 is built by Macgregor Yacht Corp.

When was VENTURE 17 first built?

VENTURE 17 was first built in 1968.

How long is VENTURE 17?

VENTURE 17 is 4.57 m in length.

What is mast height on VENTURE 17?

VENTURE 17 has a mast height of 5.64 m.

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  4. 1974 Macgregor Venture 17 sailboat for sale in Pennsylvania

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  5. 1970 Macgregor venture 17 sailboat with trailer and electric motor

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  6. Macgregor Venture 17: Found!: MacGregor 17' Venture Sailer/Trailer

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VIDEO

  1. MacGregor Sailboat Drag Race stabilized

  2. Venture 17 Trolling Along

  3. McGregor Venture 17 sailboat tour #sailboat #sailing

  4. Sailing the Waves: The Macgregor Venture 222 #sailing #boat #shorts

  5. MacGregor Sailing Canoe on Lake Wivenhoe

  6. McGregor Venture 17 Sailboat Interior #sailboat #sailing #boat

COMMENTS

  1. Considering a MacGregor Venture 17

    Aug 1, 2006. #1. I looking to purchase my first sailboat. Recently I found listed a 1972 MacGregor Venture 17'. I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about this boat such as: quality, layout, ease to sail, availability of parts, and potential problem areas. I posted this question on a local powereboating bored and recieved a few replies ...

  2. First Boat Advice: MacGregor Venture 17

    Peter. Aug 1, 2006. #2. The smallest Venture... my first boat with "sleeping space" was a Venture 17. It's cheap, easy to rig, a trailable behind the smallest vehicles. It's a light weight and not a very well sailing boat. Somewhere I have a photo of two of us sailing my Venture, and it is so low in the stern from our combined weight in the ...

  3. Review of Venture 17

    The Venture 17 is equipped with a centreboard keel. A centreboard keel is a pivoting lifting keel, allowing to sail both coastal and inland waters. The boat can enter even shallow marinas as the draft is just about 0.43 - 0.53 meter (1.41 - 1.71 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

  4. Talk to me about the Venture 17....

    A forum for discussing topics relating to older MacGregor/Venture sailboats. Forum rules. 5 posts • Page 1 of 1. Toller Posts: 2 Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:49 pm. ... I had a 1972 Venture 17 from 1980 to 1988 (when I replaced it with a new 1988 Mac 26D). It has been a long time but a few things come to mind.

  5. VENTURE 17

    It takes into consideration "reported" sail area, displacement and length at waterline. The higher the number the faster speed prediction for the boat. A cat with a number 0.6 is likely to sail 6kts in 10kts wind, a cat with a number of 0.7 is likely to sail at 7kts in 10kts wind. KSP = (Lwl*SA÷D)^0.5*0.5

  6. Venture 17

    Venture 17 is a 17′ 3″ / 5.3 m monohull sailboat designed by Roger MacGregor and built by Macgregor Yacht Corp between 1968 and 1974. Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session.

  7. Just got a 1972 MacGregor Venture 17'

    3 posts · Joined 2016. #1 · Mar 5, 2016. I just picked up a 1972 Macgregor Venture 17'. This is my 1st sailboat. I have a 1981 Searay 22' cuddy inboard V8. I have sailed a couple sailboats before but they were all rigged. I will be lurking around to see what I can learn. Thanks in advance to everyone that has contributed.

  8. Venture 17 By MacGregor ShortyPen Sailboat Guide

    Boat Name: Venture 17: Manufacturer: MacGregor: Hull Type: Pocket Cruiser: LOA: 17'4" (5.28m) Beam: 6'4" (1.93m) Weight: ... 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. ... but it's great for storage, and since I sail alone pretty much and ...

  9. Venture 21 Used-boat Review

    Sailboat Reviews; used_sailboats; Venture 21 Used-boat Review The vintage MacGregor is a good example of a budget-friendly boat. By. Darrell Nicholson - Published: March 25, ... the 17-foot Day Sailer, designed by George O'Day and Uffa Fox in 1958, and, to a lesser degree, the Phillip Rhodes-designed Rhodes 19, first offered by O'Day in ...

  10. Macgregor 17 as my first sailboat? : r/sailing

    The Macgregor, Venture 17 is not a bad first boat and would be a fine boat on the Lakes in light to moderate conditions. ... A MacGregor 17 is just a normal sailboat, not the funky water-ballasted motorsailer thing that the 26 is. And even some of the earlier 26s are just regular keelboats, I believe.

  11. VENTURE 17: Reviews, Specifications, Built, Engine

    If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of VENTURE 17. Built by Macgregor Yacht Corp and designed by Roger MacGregor, the boat was first built in 1968. It has a hull type of Swing Keel and LOA is 5.28.

  12. Venture 17 Sailboat Fun !

    This is footage of 2 days of sea trials at Lake Coeur D' Alene ID. I have been restoring this 1972 MacGregor Venture 17 sailboat with new rigging , repair...

  13. 1970 Macgregor Venture 17, I've rebuilt boats, never a sailboat. Should

    79K subscribers in the boating community. A place to discuss all things boating.

  14. MacGregor 25: Used Boat Review

    Emmanuel Flatten. Designed in 1973 by small-boat maven Roger MacGregor, the 25-footer has proven to be a successful design. Innovations included a retracting keel, pop-up rudder, that pop-up cabin top and an easy mast-stepping system, all of which enhanced its trailer-cruiser mission. The MacGregor 25 was in production for 14 years, with 7,000 ...

  15. MACGREGOR 25

    The first version was called the VENTURE 25. With relatively few changes, it became the MACGREGOR 25 (around 1980). With more than 7000 boats sold, it's one of the most popular models from this builder. Masthead Rig: I: 28.3'. J: 9.75'. P: 24.5'. E: 10.5'. Photo of Venture 25 courtesy Adam Hunt.

  16. MACGREGOR 21

    Macgregor Yacht Corp. (USA) Designer: Roger Macgregor: Sailboat Calculations ... Related Sailboats: VENTURE 21 : Download Boat Record: Notes. Called the Venture 21 from 1966 - 1979 ... to the bottom of the keel or fin. Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat ...