New to me Venture 22

[Skysail]

My dad and I just bought our first sailboat, its a 1975 Venture 22, and I'm looking for some help. The boat is in great shape, and everything was included. I put the mast up, put up the main sail, and thats about as far as I can get. I'm kinda lost with all these pulleys/attachment points. I have a friend that can potentially help me, but is too busy for now and we would love to get out on the water. Can anyone lead me in the right direction for help. I have been doing reasearch and reading forums, but havnt found what I am looking for. All I really need are some pictures of the same/similar boat thats all assembled properly. Oh yeah and Im located in Chicago and will be sailing lake michigan.
Thanks in advance!

[Steve K]

Hover over "resources" in the blue band, at the top of the page.
Then click manuals. Your boat's manual is there. I would also look at some of the other manuals in this area, as the pictures are better in newer ones. And the rig is very similar on all of these boats.

Best Breezes,
Steve K
Mac 26D "Three Sheets"

[Skysail]

Yeah I saw that, but some real world pictures would really help

[sublime08020]

http://members.iowatelecom.net/wabutter/srig.htm thats a link to a 1980 v 22 rigged

[Skysail]

That's perfect, thanks a lot!

[usererror]

Sublime - Could you post more of your mainsheet rigging? Mine is nothing like that and yours looks much much better. Is that how it was from Macgregor? Or is that a modification you did yourself?

Thanks!!

To the O.P. congrats on the boat! I'm still learning my way around mine as well that I got last year.

[Skysail]

Anyone know where I can get new cushions for the inside, or does that have to be custom made?

[gedaggett]

My dad and I just bought our first sailboat, its a 1975 Venture 22, and I'm looking for some help. The boat is in great shape, and everything was included. I put the mast up, put up the main sail, and thats about as far as I can get. I'm kinda lost with all these pulleys/attachment points. I have a friend that can potentially help me, but is too busy for now and we would love to get out on the water. Can anyone lead me in the right direction for help. I have been doing reasearch and reading forums, but havnt found what I am looking for. All I really need are some pictures of the same/similar boat thats all assembled properly. Oh yeah and Im located in Chicago and will be sailing lake michigan.
Thanks in advance!

I am in the southwest suburbs if Chicago (flossmoor homewood area) I sail out of michigan city in my M22 and can tell you everything you need to know. PM me and I will give you my e-mail. Where are you in chicago?

[Russ]

Anyone know where I can get new cushions for the inside, or does that have to be custom made?

Hmm.. I don't know of any vendor for the Venture 22 cushions.

I would take cardboard and cut out templates and bring them to a shop to custom make them. Probably would be nicer than anything pre-made anyway.



Another idea

Interior can be pretty easy. Quick cut of 1/4" plywood to the shape of the cushion, a trip to the fabric shop upholstery clearance rack, and fold the cover like a christmas present and staple gun worked for us. Eliminates the need for the storage covers too.

[Paul]

Ive owned a222 from 1994. In2008 we had a 100 year storm. The boat was in a slip and the intire dock with 11 other boats broke loose in 97mph wind.10 boats sunk. Guess witch one didnt. A1979 venture222.It ripped off the mast. Pulled the bolts right out of the deck. The marina didnt even call me to tell me what had happend. So i went to go sail one day.By that time the parts were stolen. Im resroring. Im looking for a bow pulpit . Also all the rigging .im building 2 rudders solid burtch and glass. And i just finnished. A sliding rotating mast step.most of the holes and tears in the deck are repared. This is my first post thanks. Ps this sail boat is tuffenuff. Paul

[Skysail]

Well thanks to gedaggett and a crash course in sailing, we took the boat out on our own for the first time today. Had a great time and everything went smoothly. Probably sailed about 10 miles. My dad and I practiced gybing, turning about, and playe around with adjusting the sails. Winds were perfect at about constant 10 knotsish, but the waves were pretty big because there werent any protected waters outside the marina. The forecast called for 1-3 feet and they for sure were 3 feet. This made it tuff to hoist the sails. I'm gonna buy longer halyards and route them to the cockpit to make it easier.
I can't wait to get out there again!

[Catigale]

Glad things went well! Waves dont listen to the forecast, and a good rule of thumb is that you should expect a wave roughly 2x the forecast peak on occasion....especially true on Great Lakes sailing

Occasional 6 footers are okay in water ballasted boats, constant 6 footers gets old pretty fast, imhe.

[stone_love]

what size sheets are you guys using for hoisting the main sail? (diameter + legnth)

I'm missing more than a few lines in my standing rigging and need to get a shopping list together to place one order all at once

[gedaggett]

Well thanks to gedaggett and a crash course in sailing, we took the boat out on our own for the first time today. Had a great time and everything went smoothly. Probably sailed about 10 miles. My dad and I practiced gybing, turning about, and playe around with adjusting the sails. Winds were perfect at about constant 10 knotsish, but the waves were pretty big because there werent any protected waters outside the marina. The forecast called for 1-3 feet and they for sure were 3 feet. This made it tuff to hoist the sails. I'm gonna buy longer halyards and route them to the cockpit to make it easier.
I can't wait to get out there again!

Good to hear you got out there again. Boat handles well in 3 footers doesn't it.
10 Knot winds is good for those waves because you don't get over powered but you can keep speed. You are missing 1 deck mount per side to run those halyards. You can get them pretty cheep though. Hear is a link to what you need.


You want 1 on each side positioned slightly aft of the standing block at the base of the mast. This will turn them aft and run them to the cleats. Make sure you put some sort of backing plat on the underside so they don't pull out.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... Br8f6DYFIY

[Skysail]

Ok well I'm back. Had a good summer, I sailed my boat several times, and now it's time to get to work on it. Work got slow, so I pulled the boat inside my shop and started prepping for paint. I'm looking for some advice/links on how to properly paint. Hopefully the boat will be kept in the water this summer so I gotta do it right. So far I pressure washed it and am starting to remove hardware. I plan on painting everything, and only touch up inside the cabin. I'll get pics up when able.