New here with my first Venture 21

[Curious Sailor]

Hi all, happy to be here amongst other proud Macgregor owners. Recently picked up a 1973 venture 21 sailboat. She needs a lot of work but when I'm done I hope to learn to sail with it! Look forward to meeting all of you and sharing the experience!

[kmclemore]

Welcome aboard!

New guy brings the pizza. I take mine with anchovies, please.

She needs a lot of work but when I'm done I hope to learn to sail with it!

Sounds like my wife when I first met her.

[Curious Sailor]

Anchovies it is.. Lol

[JohnCT]

Welcome
I have had my '75 V21 for about 12 years and have done a complete restoration.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

[Curious Sailor]

Welcome
I have had my '75 V21 for about 12 years and have done a complete restoration.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Hi John!... That's awesome.. Would love to see pics.. I have some pics loaded on a blog I started to document the restoration. http://curioussailor.blogspot.com/

I actually have tons of questions... Lol but I'll start with one for now...

I noticed there is no drain hole on this boat.. Do you have one or did you just add a bilge pump. If you added a bilge pump, where did you put it?

[Russ]

Welcome to the club.
Extra cheese


That's a great story on your blog. "Make me an offer". The trailer looks excellent and way oversized for that boat. All the better. You could put a much heavier Mac on it.

The bullet holes are interesting. Kind of goes well with your Godfather offer story


I would start with bleach. Lots of it. I like that Thompsons Composite Deck wash cleaner. Basically bleach and detergent. Then scrub scrub scrub. Then you'll see what you got. Should be fun to restore.

--Russ

[Curious Sailor]

Lol thanks Russ! Glad you liked it..

Yes, bleach, bleach and more bleach! You are absolutely right.
The trailer is oversized for the boat... And I can't wait to get a mac26 or bigger. This little 21 will act as my training wheels though since I still don't know how to sail yet.. Lol

[JohnCT]

No, no drain in the hull.

I use a hand pump through an inspection port when I needed to, but since the new windows and resealing all the deck hardware, there hasn't been water inside except for that one day I left the hatch open.

Everything is packed for winter, I'll see what I have for pictures, I'm don't do a very good job of keeping photo records

[Russ]

The photo shows at least a mast. What other rigging did it come with? Boom? Sails?

Fiberglass is basically indestructible (except with a pick ax). Once it's cleaned up, you'll see what you got. It will be an excellent starter boat. It was the boat my dad fell in love with sailing on. He passed his love of sailing down to me. For what you paid, you are way ahead of the game. Sandford will hopefully chime in. He's restored similar boats and now has a fleet.

You'll find this site is full of great info and advice. Got a question, post it here and surely someone will have an idea.

--Russ

[Curious Sailor]

No, no drain in the hull.

I use a hand pump through an inspection port when I needed to, but since the new windows and resealing all the deck hardware, there hasn't been water inside except for that one day I left the hatch open.

Everything is packed for winter, I'll see what I have for pictures, I'm don't do a very good job of keeping photo records

A hand pump might be the way to go. She actually stays pretty dry unless we get a torrential rain. Unfortunately, we get a lot of those in Florida. Lol

I guess I'm just so used to powerboats because that's all I ever had.. I've trained myself to always check and double check for the drain plug and bilge pump operation. wet vac is working for the moment though...

[Curious Sailor]

The photo shows at least a mast. What other rigging did it come with? Boom? Sails?

Fiberglass is basically indestructible (except with a pick ax). Once it's cleaned up, you'll see what you got. It will be an excellent starter boat. It was the boat my dad fell in love with sailing on. He passed his love of sailing down to me. For what you paid, you are way ahead of the game. Sandford will hopefully chime in. He's restored similar boats and now has a fleet.

You'll find this site is full of great info and advice. Got a question, post it here and surely someone will have an idea.

--Russ

Yes, a pick ax did the trick.. Lol. It came with the boom, a main, a jib and ( each with a hole in it) and a kick up rudder wich is cracked and rotted ...

Cool to hear about your dad passing his love for sailing. True gift!

[Obelix]

Welcome to the forum.

Obelix

[Curious Sailor]

Thanks Obelix,

Glad to be here, this place is awesome!

[Freedom77]

HI Curious: Welcome to the Legion of the Damned! Our first yatch was a '68 V-21, Penny Sue. Hull number was pretty low? kept her for a year, upgraded to a V-222. Penny Sue Too, kept her for five years. Upgraded for 1976 V-25. Almost 40 years old and still floating. Interesting pics. Especially holes in hull. Is PO in witness protection program? With lots of TLC and elbow grease your new prize should be a beaut. I would of course replace wood in port quarter berth with some support struts under. That is a substantial trailer. Keep us posted on progress. Lots of help and advice on this site. Also look at sailboatowners.com. Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt.

[Curious Sailor]

Hi and thanks for the warm welcome!

Nice range of sailboats! That's exactly the path I'm on...

I agree about the port quarter berth... I had to cut into that stringer and dig out all of rotted wood. It was sopping wet!
I also made a cross stinger that I will glass in perpendicular to that particular stringer... Although there wasn't one there I think I was able to see witness marks of the original cross piece which was absent when I got the boat. That is one tricky angle though, took some hand shaping but it's made and waiting to be installed...

You guys are awesome! Will definitely keep you posted...