question about 1984 MacGregor Venture

[john3357]

I am looking to buy a 1984 MacGregor Venture. It is in excellent condition, but I have a couple questions. The owner says it is a 21.5, was there one built or is it a 21 or 22? The motor is a 6.5 hp, is this sufficient? He is asking 3K, is this a decent price for one in very good shape? Any body with one near the Chesapeake that is willing to take me for a sail? Thanks. John

[johnnyonspot]

Take a look at the title to see what the length is. I have seen both V21 and V22, so who knows. A 6.5 hp should be sufficient imho, though it is on the low end of what I consider acceptable for this boat. A 9.9 would be ideal, again imho. If it is in great shape then I would say $3k is reasonable. That said, however, my personal philosophy is to never ever pay asking price for anything used unless it is a very rare item or one-off in exceptional condition. No Mac satisfies this criteria. Offer him $2k and work from there is my suggestion.

[waternwaves]

The following info has been provided by other owners and is not verified or guaranteed. Further information can be found at sailboat owners.com select macgregor

more info is claimed on Iboats at http://www.iboats.com/Venture__Sailboat/bp/42br1523bt4


I

Macgregor/venture 22 Specifications
Back


Macgregor
I 24'
J 8' 10 in
P 21'
E 8' 9 in
PY
LI
EY
JI
loa 22'
hull_speed 5.71
dis_len_ratio 134
sail_area 177 sq ft
capsize 2.33
years_prod 1970-1987
lwl 18'2
beam 7' 4 in
draft 12 in / 5' 6 in
displacement 1800 lbs
ballast 500 lbs
mast_height
water_tanks
fuel_tanks
aux_hp
keel_material cast iron



Macgregor/venture 21 Specifications
Back


Macgregor
I
J
P
E
PY
LI
EY
JI
loa 21'
hull_speed 6.3
dis_len_ratio T
sail_area 175 sq ft
capsize 2.56
years_prod 1965-1986
lwl 18.6
beam 6' 10 in
draft 12 in / 5' 6 in (pr
displacement 1175 lbs
ballast 400 lbs
mast_height 27 ft.
water_tanks 0
fuel_tanks 10 hp OB (max)
aux_hp outboard - 10 hp max
keel_material Steel swing keel

[ChockFullOnuts22]

Make sure everything works, including the electrical system.

6.5 HP with a long shaft (saildrive) is adequate, but slow. It won't get you off the water in a hurry if bad weather surprises you. A 9.9 HP, as mentioned above, would be much much better. At least with a 9.9, you'll feel like you're moving. Again, long shaft is recommended.

Assuming everything, including sails, is in fantastic shape, $2500-$3000 is fair. Book values change from source to source.

One REALLY NICE feature about mid 70's-80's 22's is the cast iron keel. No delamination worries with that one. Good luck!!

[Lloyd Franks]

Nothing has been said about a trailer. Is there one, and what is condition?

[john3357]

Yes, there is a trailer in very good shape

[Pete]

What does very good condition mean to you. when I bout my V22 I would have said that it was in very good condition also. But I still had to compleatly redo the boat to make usable. These boats are very simplely built. Which is good for a 25-30 year old boat, Less to age and go wrong. This also makes these boat good fixer-uppers, as there is not that much to fix. I would guess a fair price for a V22 in good shape with all sails and rigging, trailer and older motor to be around $1500. I paied $1400 for mine. But I probubly could have found one in much worse shape for much less, and in the end i would be in the same boat. Now you may have added value with extras and well done owner mods, and could easly see the $3,000 they are asking.

The cast iron keel is a big one. Make sure this boat has one. The stock trailer axle is very weak and easly bent so look for even tread ware. Make sure the breaks work. If the trailer was never regestard you will have to have it inspected my the HP. They are going to want to see working breaks and lights.
On the boat look for newer sails and which sails are included. All the rigging should be in good shape, the origonal rigging should have survived this long and still be very usable. I would not put too much value in eletronics on a boat this size. If the owner went crazy with electronics thats his loss, not your gain. Is the interior dry. Probubly not as these boats leak rain water. If it is dry offer him more then his asking price. It would be worth it. I think the motor will do you fine if it works. The motor should be more relible then the family car. If its not, its of little vlaue and you will need a new one. 5-6hp should be fine. I have a 9.8hp and feel it is too much motor and have never had it over 1/4 throddle.

Pete

[MD Dunaway]

Did you figure out if it is a V21 or 22? I'm looking at my original 1980 literature. Externally they are very similar but the interior was completely different. The V22 also had the raise up cabin top (if it has this then it is a V22). I have a V21. Check all the compartments for water and hull damage. Take all the cushions out. Really get down in there and look. Take a flashlight. Check the keel pivot bolt (the big one lower on the trunk) and take the keel lock down bolt out and look it (this is the smaller one at the top). Is it bent? Are there any cracks around the hole in the trunk? Make sure they have left in all the foam floatation blocks. The space under the hull liner (floor) should be full of them. Look at the foam. If it is brown and deteriorated then the boat leaks. if it white and looks new then it probably doesn't. Check the bulk heads where the shrouds connect to the hull inside the cabin. Check the winches (on the trailer and keel cable). The boat is going to have some fine cracks in the gel coat but make sure there are no major failures. Check the standing rigging for any serious oxidation or damage. The V21 is a great little boat but I suspect the V22 is significantly better( due to the interior design and raised cabin top) and I would pay more for one in the same shape. The V21 will move in wind you can barely feel and the swing keel is well designed. As far as a motor I have a couple of 2 cycles (7.5 and 6hp Merc) but prefer the convenience of a 4 cycle and am currently use a 5hp long shaft Honda which works quite well. one advantage of the Honda is weight 62lb vs about 80 for the Mercs). Good luck and happy to help if I can. Mike.

[john3357]

Mike: I think the one in question is a 21. However, I have someone with a 22 who has just lowered the price to 2K. It is a 1986. Is there any way you could send me some pics of where to look on the keel for these bolts, etc. If so, you could email them to [email protected]. The boat is in long island, NY are you any where close to there? Thanks, John

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[MD Dunaway]

Go to another thread. "first sail would like some feedback though" On page 2 near the bottom. Go to the link labeled album and then to close up pics. Sailorja took some excellent photos of the bolts. The bolts to be concerned about are almost directly under the post that supports the mast step and under the cockpit floor just behind the wooden bulkhead. These pics show both. Look in the storage area just to the right side of that support post. You will see the large bolt down near the hull. The keel pivots on that bolt. The smaller one at the top locks the keel in position once it is almost all the way down. The other bolts (aft of the bulkhead) hold the tube in place that the keel cable runs through and the cable runs over the other "wear bolt". Neither of these carry much of a load. There is probably nothing wrong with them though a boat can leak there.

[john3357]

The boat in question is definitely a 21 foot.

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