It's a small world...

[DrewFours]

I thought the participants here would find this an interesting story:

I bought my Venture 17 a month ago via a Craigslist ad. It was sitting in a yard nearly two hours away, and I dealt with the son-in-law of the owner who was moving into a managed care facility. As part of our discussion, I learned that the family had space on the same lake I live near, just a few miles from my house. The Venture had "lived" there for several years before being moved south about five years ago.

I towed her home, settled her into the driveway, and began the tedious process of identifying what I could sail with and what needed replacing.

A few days later, while out puttering around, an older gentleman walking up the road waved and asked if I'd just bought her. My affirmative answer got him asking if he could come up the drive and take a closer look. As he approached her he bee-lined for the bow, and ran his fingers over the very faint outline of her former bow number, which began with SC...

"Funny, I bought a similar boat in South Carolina more than twenty years ago."

We got to talking, and it turns out, he had in fact purchased MY boat from its original owner in South Carolina, sailed it on our lake for a few years and then sold it to the family I bought it from. "Henry" now has an open invitation to work on her with me whenever he likes, and to go sailing when she's water-worthy. He only lives about a mile from me.

The first few pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 90ea696a20

Drew

[Hamin' X]

Small world indeed, Drew. Thanks for sharing it and welcome aboard.

~Rich

[SkiDeep2001]

Serendipity Nice to hear your story in these times Drew. Rob

[JoeVacs]

That is very cool. Have you figured out, or could Henry tell you, the age of your boat ? And do you know the hull # ?

[technicalman]

I purchased my '69 v17 about 6 years ago from a couple up near Redding CA. on Ebay. I went up there from Los angeles to pick it up. I just recently sold her on Ebay to another couple from near the same location. That boat has travelled on it's trailer more than it ever did on the water. Yes, it's a small world.

[DrewFours]

I love stories like this, and to be part of one is great.

Hey all, I got some significant work done on her today - there are some new pictures in this album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 90ea696a20

Drew

[JoeVacs]

Looks good buddy. I love that goose neck

Oh, and YOU DO HAVE A SOLID KEEL ! WOW !

[DrewFours]

Got some more work done these past two weeks - gonna try to get her wet VERY soon!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 90ea696a20

[Catigale]

That is very cool. Have you figured out, or could Henry tell you, the age of your boat ? And do you know the hull # ?

JoeV - the HIN (hull number) is usually tatooeed on the back of the transom, starboard side...either on a plate or stenciled into the hull itself.

On the there is another plate on the seat aft of the galley

[JoeVacs]

That is very cool. Have you figured out, or could Henry tell you, the age of your boat ? And do you know the hull # ?

JoeV - the HIN (hull number) is usually tatooeed on the back of the transom, starboard side...either on a plate or stenciled into the hull itself.

On the there is another plate on the seat aft of the galley

They didn't put the HIN # on the outside until 1975 I think it was. Most of the Venture 17s , if not all of them, don't have that. The hull # is under the starboard quarter berth. I was curious as to the age of his boat, and the number would give a clue to that.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25826781@N ... 736968896/

[Catigale]

Thx - I forgot some of these boats date back to the era of platform shoes and bad hair...

[DrewFours]

Joe & Catigale - I could see the leading edge of the hull number (holes punched or drilled through the starboard support structure for the 1/4 berth) but couldn't make out enough of it at the time. Right now she's up on supports on the port side while I finish the hull paint. Over the next few days she'll get raised on the starboard side to paint the area that was sitting on that bunk (getting new bunks/carpeting while she's off them too) Once she's settled back square on both bunks I'll take another look at that panel - I'm not climbing aboard while she's up on supports...

Drew